Lomography

A Yemeni fishmonger. Note the bulge in his cheek, which is stuffed with 'qat' - a mildly narcotic plant that most Yemeni men chew almost constantly

Shots from a photographic trip I took in 1997 to the glorious, rarely visited, oft-maligned and massively underrated ancient land of Yemen - one of only a few countries in the world continuously populated since at least 2,500 BC, whose capital - Sana'a - is named after the biblical Noah's son, Shem. Despite its reputation for war, kidnapping of foreign tourists and, more recently, breeding terrorists, this is truly a magnificent country that abounds in history, culture, uniquely beautiful architecture and stunning landscapes — as well as some of the most fantastically generous and hospitable people I've ever met. It's also one of the most exciting places in the world to roam around with a camera, and I hope these shots give you some flavour of the wonders that await you should you ever get the opportunity to travel there.