Portrait of a wakhi nomad woman, Big pamir, Wakhan, Afghanistan.

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This Wednesday (8 Mar) marks International Women’s Day 2017.

In celebration of women of the world, photographer Eric Lafforgue shares a gallery of exceptional portraits of fascinating individuals he has met on his travels.

The Frenchman started taking photographs in 2006, and since then has spent most of his time travelling the globe documenting populations in dangerous and less visited regions.

This selection of work features females from countries that include North Korea, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Mozambique and Somaliland.

Highlights include a mother and her albino baby from the Mwila people of southern Angola, the hard stare of a Wakhi nomad woman in Afghanistan, and a striking portrait of the blue eyes of a young Syrian refugee in Iraq.

There is also a surreal image, taken in Pyongyang, North Korea, of a woman dressed in pink in the middle of uniformed soldiers.

Discussing his process of working, Eric has said: « I have realised that you can show so much with the eyes, the attitude and the smiles. Smiling is universal, from Papua New Guinea to North Korea, so if you come close to someone with a smile, it will break the ice. »

Where: Wakhan, Big Pamir, Afghanistan
When: 11 Aug 2016
Credit: Eric Lafforgue/Cover Images

**MANDATORY CREDIT: Eric Lafforgue/Cover Images. Editorial Use Only. No stock, books, advertising or merchandising without photographer’s permission**/COVER31138927/MANDATORY CREDIT: Eric Lafforgue/Cover Images. Editorial Use Only. No stock, books, advertising or merchandising without photographer’s permission/1703071805