Saturday December 2, 2006, Orange, New South Whales, Australia

The mud, blood and beer of Australian rodeo

Australian cowboys and champion bull riders go for the adrenaline rush while practicing their dangerous sport. Like the old quote says; “That's the cowboy's life: drinkin', lovin', fightin', cowboyin'. Amongst the mud, the blood and the beer!î The latest rodeos at Outback Australia have been canceled due to animals suffering from severe drought and thus not being strong enough to perform in Australia's rodeo arenas.

Bull riders watch competitors from the chute late at night at the bull riding competition at Orange.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Friday August 8, 2008, Muliama, West Papua, Indonesia

Cultural Festival highlights traditions and history of Papua tribes

The Baliem Valley Cultural Festival, held in Muliama village, about 20 kilometers from mountainous Wamena, in Papua, is an annual event in which Papuan tribes renowned for their histories of war reenact mock battles and perform traditional ceremonies as a cultural attraction. Hundreds of residents from surrounding districts took part in the 19th Baliem Festival which lasted for 3 days beginning on August 8th.

Dani men smoke while waiting to perform at the festival

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Tuesday December 4, 2007, Merauke, West Papua, Indonesia

West Papua facing AIDS epidemic

n Merauke, the most eastern settlement in west Papua, HIV/AIDS are soaring among the Indigenous population. AIDS was brought in by traders, Thai fishermen and prostitutes from other parts of Indonesia who had unprotected sex with the locals. Advertising in brothels clearly states safe sex and compulsory testing has been made by local government. Experts say that Papua could face a social and economic catastrophe in the near future, with as many as 1,359 people contracting HIV in the province in 2008, with 502 showing signs of AIDS and 202 deaths.

A protitute, who suffers HIV, rests at the brothel in Merauke's harbor

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Sunday August 10, 2008, Wamena, West Papua, Indonesia

Indigenous people face poverty and loss of culture in Indonesian Papua

Wamena is the largest town in the Indonesian Papua's highlands and an isolated location with a population of around 10,000. The indigenous Papuans face extreme poverty and a loss of their land rights which has lead to a deterioration of their traditional culture, health and economic well-being. This has created an unstable situation that threatens to spill over into conflict between the indigenous population and immigrants from other Indonesian provinces, who are mostly Muslim.

Papuan woman pray in a church at Wamena.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Sunday December 2, 2007, Merauke, West Papua, Indonesia

West Papua facing AIDS epidemic

n Merauke, the most eastern settlement in west Papua, HIV/AIDS are soaring among the Indigenous population. AIDS was brought in by traders, Thai fishermen and prostitutes from other parts of Indonesia who had unprotected sex with the locals. Advertising in brothels clearly states safe sex and compulsory testing has been made by local government. Experts say that Papua could face a social and economic catastrophe in the near future, with as many as 1,359 people contracting HIV in the province in 2008, with 502 showing signs of AIDS and 202 deaths.

A young Papuan student who moved from his village to Merauke in the hope for a better future sleeps on his bed

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Sunday August 19, 2007, Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea celebrates Independence Day with cultural dance festival

Every year around Independence Day, September 16, 1975, when Australia granted full independence to Papua New Guinea, over 70 tribes from all over Papua New Guinea, gather in the remote Highlands of Mount Hagen, for the cultural festival of traditional dance. Papua New Guinea, located on the world's second largest island is the world's most culturally diverse nation, populated with 826 different languages.

The Omo Masalai Tribe performers from Simbu prepare near the dressing hut at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Sunday December 17, 2006, Nyngan, New South Whales, Australia

The mud, blood and beer of Australian rodeo

Australian cowboys and champion bull riders go for the adrenaline rush while practicing their dangerous sport. Like the old quote says; “That's the cowboy's life: drinkin', lovin', fightin', cowboyin'. Amongst the mud, the blood and the beer!î The latest rodeos at Outback Australia have been canceled due to animals suffering from severe drought and thus not being strong enough to perform in Australia's rodeo arenas.

Young Australian cowboys Curly (L) and Rowan (C) practice shooting at wildlife near Dave Hill's farm outside of Nyngan. Dave Hill keeps about 200 bulls for use at rodeos across Australia.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Thursday December 13, 2007, Wamena, West Papua, Indonesia

Indigenous people face poverty and loss of culture in Indonesian Papua

Wamena is the largest town in the Indonesian Papua's highlands and an isolated location with a population of around 10,000. The indigenous Papuans face extreme poverty and a loss of their land rights which has lead to a deterioration of their traditional culture, health and economic well-being. This has created an unstable situation that threatens to spill over into conflict between the indigenous population and immigrants from other Indonesian provinces, who are mostly Muslim.

An old Dani man poses for a photo near the market in Wamena.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Saturday August 18, 2007, Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea

Daily life in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is the largest developing country in the South Pacific region and the most linguistically diverse area in the world with 826 different languages. PNG's population has suffered significant declines in living standards in recent years due to worsening economic performance, poor health and social indicators show that poverty is a serious problem. PNG still has limited primary health care. Infectious diseases are claiming many lives, and there are serious public health risks from endemic diseases such as malaria, and an emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic. An estimated 2% of people in PNG carry the virus.

A boy waits for his mother to finish working at the coffee plantation in the highlands around Mount Hagen. Coffee is the most important agricultural export for the native people of Papua New Guinea.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Saturday December 9, 2006, Sydney, New South Whales, Australia

Australian men launch makeshift strip-clubs

The Deviates are a group of men who have organized strip shows since 1991in houses and garages throughout western suburban Sydney. A small selective audience of regular customers knowing the erotic dancers from clubs around Sydney, participate in a performance which involves mutual respect and admiration. The founders of 'The Deviates Club' have been through a long history of having had to deal with resistance from the hotels and clubs were they had organized shows in the past.But thanks to their persistence, they are still every month continuing their venues at their own homes and garages.

Stripper, Charlie, preparing for a performance at "Sefton Deviate's Club" member Scott.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Sunday August 10, 2008, Wamena, West Papua, Indonesia

Indigenous people face poverty and loss of culture in Indonesian Papua

Wamena is the largest town in the Indonesian Papua's highlands and an isolated location with a population of around 10,000. The indigenous Papuans face extreme poverty and a loss of their land rights which has lead to a deterioration of their traditional culture, health and economic well-being. This has created an unstable situation that threatens to spill over into conflict between the indigenous population and immigrants from other Indonesian provinces, who are mostly Muslim.

A man sleeps at night on the streets of Wamena.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Thursday December 13, 2007, Wamena, West Papua, Indonesia

Indigenous people face poverty and loss of culture in Indonesian Papua

Wamena is the largest town in the Indonesian Papua's highlands and an isolated location with a population of around 10,000. The indigenous Papuans face extreme poverty and a loss of their land rights which has lead to a deterioration of their traditional culture, health and economic well-being. This has created an unstable situation that threatens to spill over into conflict between the indigenous population and immigrants from other Indonesian provinces, who are mostly Muslim.

A Dani man, decorated with bird feathers, walks from the market at Wamena.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Thursday February 26, 2009, Sydney, NEW SOUTH WHALES, Australia

Australian Sally and Tamsin perform stripper grams in and around Sydney in suburbian living rooms, backyards as well as known hotels and bars and other surprising locations, accompanied by their driver Peter. Sally and Tamsin have been working in most men's clubs in Sydney and perform own private strip shows for different agencies who organise stripper grams. They both started erotic dancing at 17. Sally (L) and Tamsin (R) wait in the dressing room to start their show at brothel 'The Site' in Grenville, Sydney on May 26, 2005. Credit: Anoek de Groot / Polaris

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Friday August 8, 2008, Muliama, West Papua, Indonesia

Cultural Festival highlights traditions and history of Papua tribes

The Baliem Valley Cultural Festival, held in Muliama village, about 20 kilometers from mountainous Wamena, in Papua, is an annual event in which Papuan tribes renowned for their histories of war reenact mock battles and perform traditional ceremonies as a cultural attraction. Hundreds of residents from surrounding districts took part in the 19th Baliem Festival which lasted for 3 days beginning on August 8th.

Armed Indonesian Policemen pose for a photo with a Papuan Dani man at the festival.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Friday November 16, 2007, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia

Daily life in Jakarta

Indonesia's capital Jakarta, is the country's economic, cultural and political center and has grown to be the twelfth largest city in the world. Jakarta has its origins in its harbor, where the Dutch domination of Jakarta and the rest of Indonesia began, and still is a important trading center for the development of the city. The city also features Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, build after independence from the Netherlands in 1949.

Children play between woman at "Mosque Istqlal" in Jakarta

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Thursday December 13, 2007, Wamena, West Papua, Indonesia

Indigenous people face poverty and loss of culture in Indonesian Papua

Wamena is the largest town in the Indonesian Papua's highlands and an isolated location with a population of around 10,000. The indigenous Papuans face extreme poverty and a loss of their land rights which has lead to a deterioration of their traditional culture, health and economic well-being. This has created an unstable situation that threatens to spill over into conflict between the indigenous population and immigrants from other Indonesian provinces, who are mostly Muslim.

A Muslim man prays before he enters the mosque at the center of Wamena.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Friday December 14, 2007, Wamena, West Papua, Indonesia

Indigenous people face poverty and loss of culture in Indonesian Papua

Wamena is the largest town in the Indonesian Papua's highlands and an isolated location with a population of around 10,000. The indigenous Papuans face extreme poverty and a loss of their land rights which has lead to a deterioration of their traditional culture, health and economic well-being. This has created an unstable situation that threatens to spill over into conflict between the indigenous population and immigrants from other Indonesian provinces, who are mostly Muslim.

A Papuan man is arrested by police in front of a hotel

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Sunday August 10, 2008, Wamena, West Papua, Indonesia

Indigenous people face poverty and loss of culture in Indonesian Papua

Wamena is the largest town in the Indonesian Papua's highlands and an isolated location with a population of around 10,000. The indigenous Papuans face extreme poverty and a loss of their land rights which has lead to a deterioration of their traditional culture, health and economic well-being. This has created an unstable situation that threatens to spill over into conflict between the indigenous population and immigrants from other Indonesian provinces, who are mostly Muslim.

A Glue sniffing street kid hanging out at the market in Wamena.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Sunday August 19, 2007, Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea celebrates Independence Day with cultural dance festival

Every year around Independence Day, September 16, 1975, when Australia granted full independence to Papua New Guinea, over 70 tribes from all over Papua New Guinea, gather in the remote Highlands of Mount Hagen, for the cultural festival of traditional dance. Papua New Guinea, located on the world's second largest island is the world's most culturally diverse nation, populated with 826 different languages.

The Ko Kaimah from Pangia hangout after their flying fox dance at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Wednesday December 5, 2007, Merauke, West Papua, Indonesia

West Papua facing AIDS epidemic

n Merauke, the most eastern settlement in west Papua, HIV/AIDS are soaring among the Indigenous population. AIDS was brought in by traders, Thai fishermen and prostitutes from other parts of Indonesia who had unprotected sex with the locals. Advertising in brothels clearly states safe sex and compulsory testing has been made by local government. Experts say that Papua could face a social and economic catastrophe in the near future, with as many as 1,359 people contracting HIV in the province in 2008, with 502 showing signs of AIDS and 202 deaths.

Indonesian prostitutes waiting for clients to come to visit the secluded brothel named 'Nusantara' in Merauke

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Saturday November 24, 2007, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia

Daily life in Jakarta

Indonesia's capital Jakarta, is the country's economic, cultural and political center and has grown to be the twelfth largest city in the world. Jakarta has its origins in its harbor, where the Dutch domination of Jakarta and the rest of Indonesia began, and still is a important trading center for the development of the city. The city also features Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, build after independence from the Netherlands in 1949.

Workers from Surabaya and south Sulawesi, the so-called 'boogie men', are off-loading from the "perahu pinisi" (sailing cargo vessels) with tropical wood from Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Saturday July 5, 2008, Sydney, New South Whales, Australia

Australian men launch makeshift strip-clubs

The Deviates are a group of men who have organized strip shows since 1991in houses and garages throughout western suburban Sydney. A small selective audience of regular customers knowing the erotic dancers from clubs around Sydney, participate in a performance which involves mutual respect and admiration. The founders of 'The Deviates Club' have been through a long history of having had to deal with resistance from the hotels and clubs were they had organized shows in the past.But thanks to their persistence, they are still every month continuing their venues at their own homes and garages.

Two strip dancers dressed as bunnies waiting outside the show room before a performance at the home of "Sefton Deviate's Club" member, Peter.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Monday November 19, 2007, Jakarta, Java, Indonesia

Daily life in Jakarta

Indonesia's capital Jakarta, is the country's economic, cultural and political center and has grown to be the twelfth largest city in the world. Jakarta has its origins in its harbor, where the Dutch domination of Jakarta and the rest of Indonesia began, and still is a important trading center for the development of the city. The city also features Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, build after independence from the Netherlands in 1949.

A woman walks over the remains of her old village devastated by project developers in Jakarta

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Saturday January 28, 2006, Sydney, New South Whales, Australia

Australian men launch makeshift strip-clubs

The Deviates are a group of men who have organized strip shows since 1991in houses and garages throughout western suburban Sydney. A small selective audience of regular customers knowing the erotic dancers from clubs around Sydney, participate in a performance which involves mutual respect and admiration. The founders of 'The Deviates Club' have been through a long history of having had to deal with resistance from the hotels and clubs were they had organized shows in the past.But thanks to their persistence, they are still every month continuing their venues at their own homes and garages.

Stripper, Nadienne, waiting outside the residence of "Sefton Deviate's Club" member Scott before her performance.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Saturday August 18, 2007, Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea celebrates Independence Day with cultural dance festival

Every year around Independence Day, September 16, 1975, when Australia granted full independence to Papua New Guinea, over 70 tribes from all over Papua New Guinea, gather in the remote Highlands of Mount Hagen, for the cultural festival of traditional dance. Papua New Guinea, located on the world's second largest island is the world's most culturally diverse nation, populated with 826 different languages.

Members of the Omo Masalai Tribe from Simbu relax next to a coca cola sign after the 46thsing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Saturday December 16, 2006, Bathurst, New South Whales, Australia

The mud, blood and beer of Australian rodeo

Australian cowboys and champion bull riders go for the adrenaline rush while practicing their dangerous sport. Like the old quote says; “That's the cowboy's life: drinkin', lovin', fightin', cowboyin'. Amongst the mud, the blood and the beer!î The latest rodeos at Outback Australia have been canceled due to animals suffering from severe drought and thus not being strong enough to perform in Australia's rodeo arenas.

Bull rider Peter Salter sits on the chute, behind-the-scenes of the bull riding competition on the show ground in Bathurst.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Friday December 14, 2007, Wamena, West Papua, Indonesia

Indigenous people face poverty and loss of culture in Indonesian Papua

Wamena is the largest town in the Indonesian Papua's highlands and an isolated location with a population of around 10,000. The indigenous Papuans face extreme poverty and a loss of their land rights which has lead to a deterioration of their traditional culture, health and economic well-being. This has created an unstable situation that threatens to spill over into conflict between the indigenous population and immigrants from other Indonesian provinces, who are mostly Muslim.

Kids play with a toy-gun in the streets of Wamena.

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Sunday August 12, 2007, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Daily life in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is the largest developing country in the South Pacific region and the most linguistically diverse area in the world with 826 different languages. PNG's population has suffered significant declines in living standards in recent years due to worsening economic performance, poor health and social indicators show that poverty is a serious problem. PNG still has limited primary health care. Infectious diseases are claiming many lives, and there are serious public health risks from endemic diseases such as malaria, and an emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic. An estimated 2% of people in PNG carry the virus.

Ambai Lingio waits to die from tuberculosis in the decrepid AIDS ward of Port Moresby General Hospital

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Sunday September 10, 2006, Sydney, NEW SOUTH WHALES, Australia

Australian Sally and Tamsin perform stripper grams in and around Sydney in suburbian living rooms, backyards as well as known hotels and bars and other surprising locations, accompanied by their driver Peter. Sally and Tamsin have been working in most men's clubs in Sydney and perform own private strip shows for different agencies who organise stripper grams. They both started erotic dancing at 17. Credit: Anoek de Groot / Polaris Sally waits with her driver Peter to start performing for clients at a hotel in Sydney on September 10, 2006

Credit: Anoek De Groot / Polaris

Anoek De Groot

Anoek is a Dutch-born photojournalist and documentary photographer who has worked on self-motivated stories and for AFP since 2006 in Australia and The Netherlands. With a degree in Fine Arts, she chose photography after long travels in Asia and Australia where she studied photojournalism in Sydney. Her photographs have been published in papers around the world, including the International Herald Tribune, The Guardian, The South Morning China Post, The Japan Times, the Bangkok Post, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, and other newspapers in Asia and Europe. Her photographs have been exhibited at the Sydney Museum as part of the exhibition 'Sydney now' where her work is held in the collection, and in Cross Projections (2006, 2007) as part of the Kings Cross Arts festival. She was a finalist in the ACMP (Society of advertising, Commercial and Magazine Photographers) competition 'Projections 2007'. Anoek's philosophy is to immerse herself in the lives and environment of her subjects. "My photographs become a play back of the film I am experiencing in my own life which I want to explore and find important to document, especially stories neglected by the mass-media" she says.

Personal web site of Anoek De Groot