A visual essay by Zico O'Neill
Little Tibet
Ladakh, India
A vision of India by Zico O'Neill
Ladakh, also known as Little Tibet, is one of the most sparsely populated areas in India. Much of it remains untouched by humans and the region’s raw beauty is on display everywhere you turn. It’s quiet, the air is clear, the people are warm, and the Himalayas tower over you wherever you are. It’s an incredibly peaceful place.
In 2017, soon after arriving in Leh, the main township in Ladakh, my mental health took a turn for the worse. I was in the early stages of what I later realised was depression. My expectations were high and the pressure I was putting on myself to create pictures was massive; there were many days when the last thing I felt like doing was taking a photo. However, even from the dark place I found myself in, Ladakh’s charm and unpolished beauty was impossible to deny, and would often offer moments of pure magic. Whether it was the people I met, the landscapes I saw, or my travelling companion; when I look at these photos I’m reminded of the things that were able to put me back on track, even if only for short moments at a time.
In 2017, soon after arriving in Leh, the main township in Ladakh, my mental health took a turn for the worse. I was in the early stages of what I later realised was depression. My expectations were high and the pressure I was putting on myself to create pictures was massive; there were many days when the last thing I felt like doing was taking a photo. However, even from the dark place I found myself in, Ladakh’s charm and unpolished beauty was impossible to deny, and would often offer moments of pure magic. Whether it was the people I met, the landscapes I saw, or my travelling companion; when I look at these photos I’m reminded of the things that were able to put me back on track, even if only for short moments at a time.
Photos and text by Zico O’Neill
Text edited by Naomi Perry
Edited by Bis Turnor
Traveller/s
Zico O'Neill
Photographer
Zico O’Neill is a photographer based in Auckland, New Zealand. Zico’s commercial and personal work travels between the space of portraiture and documentary photography. At the heart of his practice is a sense of curiosity and a desire for exploration and personal connection. Zico is represented by Loupe Agency.
@zicooneill
