Photographer of the Week
From June 02, 2025, to June 08, 2025 – Week 23
Behind the Shot: Shepherd children
In the highlands of Adjara, during the summer, people move to the alpine zones with their cattle for grazing. They often take their young children along. While it's partly a time of rest, the children also help with various tasks. They wake up early to assist in driving the cattle to pasture.
I took this photo while hitchhiking with a family. Looking out the car window, I saw the children herding the cattle. What caught my attention was the frame created by the window and the girl's hand — she had a heart drawn on it and was gripping the door tightly because the road was rough and the car was shaking intensely. This photo is part of a series I took in the highlands of Adjara.
About The Mountainous Adjara Series
Georgia is a country in the Caucasus, rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity. This photo series explores the highland villages of Adjara, a coastal region where most settlements lie in alpine zones. Muslims and Christians have lived here peacefully for generations. Many residents still lead a nomadic lifestyle—spending summers in the mountains, grazing cattle, and cooking traditional dishes. Modern infrastructure is limited, and some villages still lack phone or internet access. Although fewer young people go to the pastures now, community traditions remain strong. Festivals are held in honor of each mountain’s special day, while in winter, the pastures fall silent.
