Photographer Scott Sporleder recently shared photos of his travels in Tibet. Now he’s created a photo essay of his photos of the Tibetan clashes in Leh, Ladakh and Dharamsala.
On March 10, 2008, the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against the Chinese, several riots and protests took place throughout Tibet and abroad. China hosted its first Olympic games the same year — a year of extreme tension amongst Tibetans and their occupiers.
Scott Sporleder documented those clashes from two different locations: a protest in Leh, Ladakh, the home of thousands of Tibetans who escaped across the border, and Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile.
Editor’s note: These images remain under the photographer’s copyright, all rights reserved. He was kind enough to grant Matador Change special permission to run them here. For more, visit his website.
Ladakhi girl
1. A young Ladakhi school girl crosses her heart during a speech about freedom for Tibet.
Protest banner in Dharamsala
2. Protest banner in Dharamsala.
The Dalai Lama
3. Posters of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.
Monk waves flag
4. A monk waves a flag during the protest march.
Tibetan woman
5. An elderly Tibetan woman during the protest march.
Soldier demonstration
6. A man dressed as a Chinese solider demonstrates the treatment of Tibetan monks held in captivity.
Monk in mourning
7. A young monk cries over the fallen body of his sister during the protest rally at the Polo grounds in Leh.
Crying monk
8. A crying novice monk.
School children
9. School kids join together while singing a Tibetan song.
Leh protests
10. Protesters march through the streets Leh.
Elderly Tibetan woman
11. An elderly Tibetan woman.
Local horse festival
12. A patron at a local horse festival.
Reading monk
13. A young monk in training reads through a Tibetan prayer book.
Scott Sporleder
Since graduating from San Diego State University, Scott has dedicated 3 months a year to travel and photographing the world's unique cultures. While not on the road, you can visit Scott every summer at the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach. You can can also view his travel photography at ScottSporleder.com.
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