Qafqaz is a literature graduate by education, and shepherd by choice. Every year at the end of spring the 59-year-old gathers his flock, packs his family and belongings, and leaves this native Dmanisi, a village in Georgia’s southern region of Kvemo Kartli, to travel to the green pastures up on the mountains bordering Armenia. They will live on those hills until before the first snowfall, in October. here from May till October.
authors
Ehtiram Jabi
Ehtiram Jabi was born in 1996, in Baku. Ehtiram’s photo series called “On the top”, “White Swan”, and “Veterans” were released in leading local portals. In 2015, during the exhibition “Friendship of Peoples” in Moscow, he was invited to speak at a creative meeting and in the same year he received a prize from the Union of Photographers of Azerbaijan Award called “Hope”. In 2017, he finished working on his first full-fledged project “Polio”. His works were displayed in group exhibitions in Russia and Georgia. Currently, he is based in Baku and works on different personal photo projects.
Author's stories
Beyond The Hills
Public displays of affection are a no-go in Azerbaijan. In this largely Muslim yet secular country, tradition dictates social norms and young couples are frowned upon if spotted cuddling and kissing.
Lovestan: No Space for Love in Baku
Physically, shrines can be elaborate building complexes, piles of rocks or simply a ribbon on a tree. What matters is their spiritual significance – and popular belief in their healing powers.
The healing powers of Azerbaijan’s shrines
Azerbaijan is suffering from water shortages and the problem is only expected to worsen, according to local and international forecasts.