ASSIGNMENT CYCLE STARTS – PNG’S VOLCANO ISLAND – INITIATION INTO SECRET SOCIETY

My assignment cycle has started and I’m typing this quick post on a plane heading to PNG on an assignment to shoot the Volcano Island of East New Britain (you may remember, its capital, Rabaul, was largely buried under Volcanic ash about 20 years ago).

Efforts are now underway to turn East New Britain into a tourism hub for PNG’s northern islands so I’m off shooting for the new promotional collateral (brochures, posters, web site etc). Two seven day stints; I’m back in a couple of weeks with talent.

Last time I was there, I had to be initiated into a secret society (below) before I could photograph anyone involved. Following instructions to bend over in a remote jungle location in nothing but  a red loin cloth with lime sprayed across my body, a Duk Duk (custodian of Tolai culture) bounded from the bushes behind me and beat me across the back with a large cane.
……I’m hoping to avoid the initiation this time around.