STEVEN R. TABOR
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Hold the Line

What does peace look like?

These images were shot in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka in January 2020, during visits to Anuradhapura, Mannar, Jaffna city, Point Pedro, Jaffna Peninsula, and the islands of Karaitivu and Nainativu. In pre-colonial times, much of the Northern Province was ruled by the Jaffna Kingdom. During the conflict years of 1983 to 2009, the Northern Province was under the control of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The entire province was then recaptured by the Sri Lankan military in 2009. Since then, reconstruction efforts have moved forward, and although poverty and unemployment levels remain stubbornly high, daily life has largely returned to normal.

Artisanal fishing is the main occupation in the North as the province is surrounded by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay to the west, the Palk Strait to the north west, and the Bay of Bengal to the north and east. The fisherman work long hours in the salt, sand and sun, and their families pitch in to help with the drying and the salting of the fish. But they also have good fun, both at work and in their spare time. They chant together when they bring in their nets; they repair their nets and boats together; and they catch short naps in the shade when time allows. On their rare days off, the fisherman and their families go to the temples and participate in village fairs and sporting events, such as the Point Pedro tug-of-war contest shown in the first series of images. Whether at work or at play, the fisherman of the Northern Province seem to have a rope, a net or a line close at hand. 


If you'd like to see the full series, download the PDF catalogue by clicking here.

Next series
  • Home
  • Portfolio Listing
    • Petanque
    • Joy
    • We live here
    • Photos of others
    • Jazz now
    • Dancing the night away
    • Kampung
    • On Safari
    • 3 October
    • Fun Swim Run
    • Forbidden Pleasures
    • Garden variety
    • Outsiders Painting Large
    • Streetvew Weddings
    • Hanging out
    • Marching to prosperity
    • I was there
    • Groovin
    • Pokémon GO
    • Fooled me
    • Markets
    • In the bathroom
    • I am Sri Lankan
    • The haunting of Rogers Forge
    • My early years
    • Conflict
    • Let their voices be heard
    • Pure light abstracted
    • Chap Go Mei Zumba
    • Wild Tales of Serendib
    • HONfest
    • Homage to the Anatomy Lesson
    • Celebrating Rembrandt
    • Pride
    • Painting bodies
    • Landings
    • Mia
    • Less is More
    • Inked
    • Noir et Blanc en Couleur
    • Girl and a cane
    • Poses
    • The bird people
    • Send in the Clowns
    • Picture Frames for People
    • Hold the Line
    • The Waking Hours Before Dawn
    • Bathing
    • 'Scapes
    • Ode to the Vegans
    • M in the House
    • Sofa Sofa
    • Big Fish
    • Lekker Lezen
    • Hands Off
    • Guitar Muse
    • Tulip Twins
    • Reflections
    • Bars
    • Bear Necessities
    • Sanity
    • Corona Spring
    • The Long Kiss Goodbye
    • Anahí: In the Wind
    • Sunset Beach
    • Projections
    • Anahí: Recumbent
    • Projections Volume 2
    • Projecting Malevich
    • Projecting Escher
    • Projecting Skin Deep
    • Projecting Léger, Miró & Pollock
    • Projecting Decorations
    • Projecting Mondrian
    • Projecting Mandala
    • Projecting Illusions
    • Projecting Words and Bodies
    • Projecting Kandinsky and Rothko
    • Projecting Mondrian on Zoi
    • Endurance
    • Soul Sisters
    • A Woman Within
    • Unsuitable
    • Stairs
    • Veiled
    • Veiled II
    • Fall Colors
    • Pulp Fictioned
    • Lakeside
    • Creation
    • Bed, Boots & Bath
    • Mask in the Mirror
    • Relaxing
    • Freestyle
    • Natural Light Portraits
    • Showerscapes
    • Unwrapped
    • Mirror, Mirror
    • Pieces
    • Projecting Nature
    • Projecting Origami
    • O'Keeffe Reimagined
    • The Rolling Stones' Tongue
    • Repetition
    • Lovebirds
    • Greece 1973
    • Bouzigues Remembered
  • Environmental Portraiture
  • Projection Portraiture
  • Conceptual Photography
  • Art Nude
  • Stories
  • Contact