Images and their stories

After a two-hour overnight break - with some sleep on the rocky ground and some distance from the volcano - we headed back. And now, on the return journey into the day, I can see the exhaustion on my face. Daytime temperatures in the Danakil Desert often reach 50°C. Nighttime temperatures reach 35°C and more. The camp where our jeeps are parked is a four- to five-hour walk away. In this volcanic region, even an off-road vehicle won't get far. It's also the border region with Eritrea. The Ethiopian government is doing everything it can to prevent any attacks. Therefore, I am accompanied by armed security forces.

And down there, in this hellish abyss, a flowing, bubbling stream of magma. A glimpse into the Earth's interior and its history of formation. This roar, the rising gases and smells, are indescribable. It's not a place to linger for long. Concentration is paramount. Don't make a false step. A quick few photos and then head back.

Crazy, goosebumps...! After a strenuous four-hour hike, we arrive at the crater rim of the active Erta Ale volcano in the middle of the night. We take a camera and look into the hell's mouth. Down there, it's bubbling, glowing red. Heat rises. The Erta Ale volcano is located in northeastern Ethiopia, in the middle of the scorching Danakil Desert. It's just 613 meters above sea level and sits on the continental junction of the Great East African Rift Valley.

While ancient tribal cultures, deeply rooted in their old rites and religions, still exist in southern Ethiopia, Orthodox Christianity is strongly represented in the central and northern parts of the country. The people here also look different—their faces appear less African.
I was standing in the central square in front of the chapel of the Church of St. Mary of Zion in Axum when a wedding procession began to form. The people were beautifully dressed in white garments, among them a woman with gold jewelry adorning her forehead. For a moment, she was completely immersed in prayer.
Incidentally, the biblical Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments, is said to rest in that very chapel of the Church of St. Mary of Zion in Axum.

This is not a tourist performance. This is deep African life. The woman belongs to the Hamar tribe in Ethiopia, shown here during a traditional Evangadi dance. At first, I wasn’t sure if my camera would be accepted. But then, the dance and the dancers seemed to take no notice of me anymore. The necklace this woman wears is not just a random accessory. Everything has meaning. Every Hamar person can recognize her social status and relationships through it. However, it is not merely a symbol of display, but a signpost for respect.

This shy girl from the Hamar tribe looks down, not yet knowing what life will bring, but full of curiosity about it. And already with a sense of knowing she is a beauty. Photographed in a village in southern Ethiopia in front of her hut.

This was my first stay in Vietnam. I lived with a music teacher in a village on the coast of South Vietnam. How I got here is a beautiful story, one that began in an Asian supermarket in Berlin where I often shopped. I was brought here through several stops. But my Vietnam story actually began much earlier. Back in school. Back then, we had to make posters against the Vietnam War. And now I was living here privately with a family who had been through everything. Sometimes in the evenings, we sat on the steps of the house facing the street and talked. Or rather, my hosts talked. I mostly listened and tried to interpret the sign language – mixed with simple English.

Bernd Bieder, Vietnam Trip 1994/95

One of the few photos from that time. Here, I'm eating a durian in Vietnam. When I first encountered durian, it was a bit strange. But a few days later, I was addicted to it. For me, it was the most delicious thing I'd ever eaten up to that point. Deeply satisfying. Vietnam, in particular, has fantastic varieties.

Bernd Bieder, Vietnam Trip 1994/95

Here in the south of Vietnam, my many travels around the world, especially through Southeast Asia, began. Vietnam is and remains like a second home to me. I often return to the south of the country. This photo shows the Mekong Delta from that time. Unfortunately, there are very few photos from that time. But there are stories. I'll try to tell them here.

Bernd Bieder, Vietnam Trip 1994/95