In 1955, the photographer Edward Steichen created The Family of Man exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art and categorized it as the most ambitious and challenging project photography has ever attempted. In his introduction in the catalog that was created from the exhibit, Steichen says: “it was conceived as a mirror of the universal elements and emotions in the everydayness of life – as a mirror of the essential oneness of mankind throughout the world”. The photographs were made in all parts of the world to show the gamut of life from birth to death and with emphases on the daily relationships of man to himself, to his family, to the community and to the world we live in.
Inspired by Edward Steichen’s landmark 1955 exhibition The Family of Man, this presentation showcases a lesser-known side of Onne van der Wal’s photography—powerful portraits captured during his travels around the world. While best known for his nautical imagery, Onne has spent decades documenting the people he encountered along the way: in shipyards in China, on the streets of Cuba, in villages in Thailand, and beyond. Through these photographs and the stories behind them, the slide show celebrates our shared humanity and the universal spirit that connects us all.
Based in Newport, Rhode Island, he has spent decades photographing regattas, expeditions, ships, and remote destinations around the globe, becoming one of the world’s most respected marine photographers. Renowned for capturing the power, beauty, and humanity of life on the water, Onne also teaches workshops and presents lectures and slide shows that share his passion for the sea and storytelling through photography.