Todd Antony captures brutal Tajikistan buzkashi sport in black and white
Photographer Todd Antony discusses his black-and-white series on buzkashi, a brutal Central Asian sport dating back to Genghis Khan. The game involves horsemen competing to grab a headless goat carcass and drop it over a goal line, with no teams and matches lasting up to six hours. Antony traveled to Tajikistan, hiring a local fixer to navigate the informal match schedules spread by word of mouth. He chose black-and-white photography to focus on light and tone, departing from his usual heightened color palette.
Key facts
- Buzkashi is a sport played across Central Asia.
- The sport dates back to the time of Genghis Khan.
- Players on horseback try to grab a headless goat carcass.
- There are no teams; it is every man for himself.
- Games can last up to six hours.
- Todd Antony shot a black-and-white series on buzkashi.
- Antony traveled to Tajikistan for the project.
- He hired a local fixer to find match locations.
Entities
Artists
- Todd Antony
Locations
- Central Asia
- Tajikistan