ron cooper (author imprints)

From the Photographer

I’ve been privileged to meet and photograph people all over the world. In my travels, I’ve
documented a wide range of customs, prayer, spiritual practices, celebrations and traditions--
both sacred and secular. From their ancient origins, these public rituals have transformed
over generations into powerful connections between individuals and their communities and
ancestors. And the universality of our rituals connects all human beings to one another.
For this book, I’ve selected photographs that showcase the diversity of human life and offer a
glimpse into the myriad ways people express their beliefs, values and identities. These images
highlight the many facets of culture, illustrating how spirituality, tradition, and the everyday are
often deeply intertwined. Despite differences in appearance, dress, culture, faith, and way of life,
we human beings are more alike than we are different. Our communities all rely on ritual to
make sense of the world and our place in it. Our rituals are eternal, and they make us human.