MEMOGRAPHER | Travel Photo Journal

This is the second part of my photo-trilogy “Rapa Nui- The Island. The People. The Museum”.
Rapa Nui are native people settled on Easter Island in the first millenium CE and created a thriving Rapa Nui culture, as evidenced by the moai and other artifacts. However, human activity and overpopulation led to gradual deforestation and extinction of natural resources, which caused the demise of the Rapa Nui civilization. By the time of European arrival in 1722, the island’s population had dropped to 2,000–3,000 from a high of approximately 15,000 just a century earlier. Diseases carried by European sailors and Peruvian slave raiding of the 1860s further reduced the Rapa Nui population, down to 111(!) in 1877. According to the 2012 census, Easter Island has about 5,800 residents, of which some 60% are descendants of the aboriginal Rapa Nui. [Wikipedia]

The photos below have been taken during the Vai Te Mihi show, which I highly recommend to see. The show is so impressive that it’s hard to believe the Rapa Nui dancers at night are “normal” Rapa Nui people during the day- the artists, sellers, LAN Airlines reps, etc.

Click on image to view full size.

Photo Trilogy: Rapa Nui – The People

16 Comments

natasha says:

July 13, 2013 at 08:55

the shadows, the play with light and the expressions have all contributed so well to the presentation of this post :) love it alex
natasha recently posted..Vision boards, do they really work in manifesting goals and dreams?

- Memographer says:
  
  July 13, 2013 at 13:15
  
  Thank you, Natasha! There are two other shows in Hanga Roa similar to this one. I haven’t seen the others. As I had been told, Vai Te Mihi is different from others b/c they use better color lighting of the stage.
  Memographer recently posted..Photo Trilogy: Rapa Nui – The Island. The People. The Museum
  
Marisol@TravelingSolemates says:

July 13, 2013 at 10:54

Beautiful capture of people and their expressions and movement. Looks like a nice cultural event.
Marisol@TravelingSolemates recently posted..Dominica: The Hike to the Boiling Lake

- Memographer says:
  
  July 14, 2013 at 07:09
  
  Thanks, Marisol! It is a nice cultural event, and I highly recommend to see it when you go to Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
  Memographer recently posted..Easter Island: My New Friends Moai
  
Colleen Brynn says:

July 14, 2013 at 08:54

It’s cool… because even though I was there 3 years ago, I can still recognize some of the people in these photos. If I dug deep enough, I could even pull up names. GREAT shots! x
Colleen Brynn recently posted..I Live For You

- Memographer says:
  
  July 16, 2013 at 20:52
  
  Thanks, Colleen! Yes, same dancers, same wonderful show.
  Memographer recently posted..Panoramas of South America
  
Freya says:

July 15, 2013 at 07:37

Your captures our very impressive, great work it truly shows that an expression can tell more than a 1000 words.
Freya recently posted..The Taj Mahal, a true masterpiece

- Memographer says:
  
  July 16, 2013 at 20:54
  
  Thanks, Freya! Totally agree with you on the “expression vs 1000 words”.
  Memographer recently posted..Photo Trilogy: Rapa Nui – The Island. The People. The Museum
  
Andrew Graeme Gould says:

July 15, 2013 at 20:21

Beautifully captured, Alex. These are lovely studies of the dancers — every one!
Andrew Graeme Gould recently posted..Valparaíso, Chile: More from Cerro Alegre

- Memographer says:
  
  July 16, 2013 at 20:56
  
  Thank you, Andrew! I wish I was sitting in the first row. It was challenging to deal with people’s heads in front of me :)
  
Shawna says:

July 15, 2013 at 20:37

Those costumes look really incredible! Just from the pictures it looks like a great show and with your recommendation too it seems like something that will definitely need to go on the list of travel plans.

- Memographer says:
  
  July 23, 2013 at 20:21
  
  Thanks for your comment, Shawna or Dana or whoever. Contact me via contact form if you are interested in posting your links here. Please don’t spam the comments with your “reliable-mail” accounts.
  
Mary {The World Is A Book} says:

July 16, 2013 at 15:26

These are beautiful! I don’t know much about Easter Island but have always found it fascinating. I love these types of cultural shows that let you learn more about an island’s history and people.
Mary {The World Is A Book} recently posted..Our 2013 European Castles and Palaces Tour

- Memographer says:
  
  July 16, 2013 at 20:59
  
  Thank you, Mary! Yes, I always try to attend shows like this or any cultural events when I travel. They give you a much wider perspective.
  
Arianwen says:

July 17, 2013 at 03:49

Brilliant shots as always! It may be a very long way away, but this reminded me of a recent Maori experience I attended. I love getting an insight into other cultures, even if the experience is very tourist orientated – as it was in my case!
Arianwen recently posted..Rafting and Sledging with Kaitiaki Adventures

- Memographer says:
  
  July 17, 2013 at 20:16
  
  Thanks, Arianwen! Definitely, the show is for tourists. However, I don’t regret. There are not many “real tribes” left in the World travelers can get to. I’ve never been to New Zealand, will see Maori when there.
  Memographer recently posted..Photo Trilogy: Rapa Nui – The Museum