Mirella Ricciardi

Ricciardi is Italian/French, raised in Nairobi, studied under Harry Meerson, and now living in England, did three other photo-documentations, including VANISHING AFRICA before this epic work.

The Anthropology of the visits with three jungle tribes was described by Marcus Colchester, who evidently did not accompany the photographer, but studied Amazonia culture and "lived among them".

The Kampa, Marubo, and Yanomami, and their environs, are the focus of the documentation. GREAT portraits and scenes of life in the jungle.

There is mention of the archeological evidence, not shown, of complex "hierarchical societies" inhabiting the Jungle, with expressive pottery {cf.see rocking water instrument}, groves and tanks of "domesticated turtles". [24]

Point of View: "So what was it like in the Amazon?" "Awful" [10]

"I had set out to photograph the Indians themselves." [10a]

The author introduces us to Ailton Krenak, the magician native activist who walked through the Continent.

And just when I think she is just TOO fussy to appreciate the jungle, Ricciardi eagerly drinks some AYAHUASCA. I am skeptical, from her description of the experience -- no fits, vomiting, or diarhea. But I appreciate the contribution of her description [35]. "The images kept coming."… (más)