Photo Gallery

The strength of age - In his village in Sardinia, old Azeglio does not age. In fact, there is no age limit for him. Or age simply no longer exists – unless it is hiding behind his beard. How come? In Sardinia, as in all places where wisdom is not easily acquired, the youth of the heart lasts as long as life. - 1980

Living memory - From the banks of the Indus River through the steppes of Central Asia to the gates of the West, this man remembers the camels and the caravans that brought fragrant spices to Europe's tables. Did he get to see them? At least he remembers being told about them. And the memories will live on as long as the eyes and the words do. (Jodhpur, Rajasthan) - 1990

Every year, the largest carnival in South America – after Rio, of course – takes place in the city of Oruro, Bolivia. Life here is not easy, though, particularly after the closing of most mines. The simplest meal is a luxury, even if it costs just a few Bolivianos.

This wrinkled old man from Tarucani with his woollen chullo is chewing coca leaves to banish hunger and fatigue. I wonder if he remembers that ‘the divine leaf’ was once reserved only for the emperor, the nobles, the mummies and the gods?

The legends are only available in German or Spanish
Campesino aus dem Dorf San Antonio de Chuca, Departement Arequipa, Peru. Die chullo genannte Ohrenmütze schützt gegen die oft beißende Kälte auf dem Altiplano. Gelegentlich tragen die Indios als Schutz gegen die grelle Sonne über dem Chullo einen Hut. - 1969

Fabien Romero, called Chavi, is an old hunter and used to be an Indian slayer. He lives on the estancia “Miraflores” (Santa Fe province) and is said to be 112 to 115 years old. Like all Argentines, he likes to sip his mate tea. - 1973

An elderly man, often referred to as a baba or sadhu, sits in a relaxed posture on a platform made of logs and ropes. He wears a light brown turban and has a distinctive full white beard. Desuri region – 1990

Chibani is an elderly man from Jodhpur who wears a traditional, very colourful headdress. The vibrant patterns are often based on traditional dyeing techniques such as bandhani or colourful woven designs. In the hot desert regions of Rajasthan, the long, artfully wrapped strip of fabric effectively protects the head from the intense sunlight. – 1990

These elderly men are engaged in deep conversation outdoors, whilst a little girl watches from the background. The group is standing in front of an ornately decorated, sandstone-coloured wall, typical of the architecture in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. – 1990

Four elderly men are enjoying the warm spring sunshine and reminiscing about days gone by. A typical street scene from Istanbul in Turkey. Such authentic moments, featuring elderly gentlemen sitting on wooden benches, have been a familiar sight in the cityscape of this metropolis on the Bosphorus for decades. – 1989