logo

Return to Gallery

Rio L Helmi

Rio L Helmi

Pasola Warrior

Every year in west Sumba there are series of rituals for fertility during the monsoon, one of the most important is the Pasola ("rain of spears") battle on horse back between the upper and lower clans of districts. Here the first rider during the initial sally in Wanokaka.

Travel

About Artist

Rio L Helmi

Born in 1954 from a Turkish mother and an Indonesian diplomat father, Rio traveled extensively from an early age, and speaks 5 languages fluently. He was introduced to the darkroom at age 11, and finally turned pro in 1978. working extensively in Indonesia national media as a photojournalist and documentary photographer up to the mid 80s. He went freelance for international media (Geo, Vogue Living, Vanity Fair, Harper'sBazaar) in 1987 through the 90s, traveling through Asia. He has published several large format photo books including "River of Gems, a Borneo Journal" and "Memories of the Sacred" about Balinese ritual and trance. He has held solo exhibitions in Sydney, Jakarta, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Madrid, and Bali where he has been based since 1978. He is currently still actively photographing, and travels on his motorbike on solo trips around Indonesia.

Rio L Helmi

Photographic Areas of Focus

Aerial, Landscapes, People, Photojournalism, Portrait, Street, Travel

Location

Indonesia

Related Entries

View All Entries

Titch Tetley

Titch Tetley

Travel

JW

Jon Wrigley

Travel

Paul Bride

Paul Bride

Travel

logo

Contests

Info

FAQ & RulesTerms of UsePrivacy Policy

Links

Facebook

Instagram

Contact Us

© Creative Resource Collective, LLC 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Exposure One Awards is managed by Creative Resource Collective, LLC.

Learn More

Creative Resource Collective, LLC.