October 2026 Photo Contest Thread: "Stay Covered"! (page 4 of 4)

I would’ve loved to vote if Attila had posted her photo with that blue turban and sunglasses in the contest! I think she totally deserved first place!😂

Kate, A little dive into the VF archives Can you recognize which VF members these are below??? (Photos shared by members in August 2020 as temporary avatars after a collective craze) .

. Julie

So funny 😄 I recognize a few of these… As for me, after thinking it over, I’m going to file a complaint about something my late grandfather did… he photographed me in a compromising situation 😏

Photo 9: Having tea in the shade

Photos 10 and 11: The tengaade, a Fulani hat, is handcrafted from woven plant fibers (such as straw, reeds, dried palm or banana leaves). It’s characterized by its conical shape with dyed leather ornaments in red or chocolate brown at the top (often featuring a button or pom-pom) and along the brim, as well as a sturdy chin strap (a leather cord) that ties under the chin. Its large circumference (diameter: approx. 40 to 60 cm) provides effective protection for the head, face, and body against the sun. It’s widely worn in everyday life in countries like Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, and more, as well as at ceremonies...

Originally and to this day, this hat has primarily served nomadic herders as practical protection against the sun, but also against rain and wind. Over time, it has become one of the strongest symbols of cultural identity, status, and pride for the Fulani (Foulbés)...

hgb

Unusual for this month: half a dozen visitors shared their thoughts on the exhibit without having entered themselves. Feels less lonely now. 😉

While tens of thousands of its kin are lounging on the beach, this sea lion sniffed out a great spot. No way we’re taking that bench. And no way we’re turning it into a coat either. Cape Cross, Namibia, is home to the continent’s largest fur seal colony.

photos 10 and 11: Le tengaade

These women are stunning! Thanks for these always very interesting explanations 🙂

While tens of thousands of its buddies are lounging on the beach, this sea lion sniffed out a great tip.

Goes to show, even among sea lions, some know how to stand out from the crowd!

These women are gorgeous!

Aren’t there any Specsavers deals?

These women are gorgeous!

Aren’t there any Specsavers deals?

Unless they’re actually men 😕

These women are stunning!

Hi Catherine,

You’re slightly mistaken here. These two people (in blue) are young Fulani men wearing festive attire. And there’s a reason for that: Mali’s biggest weekly markets also double as marriage markets, where young men come to find young women.

What’s more, the *tengaade* is only worn by men (especially shepherds, elders, or young Fulani men)—never by women, at least not in Mali. I’ve never seen a woman wear this hat.

Cattle herding is a man’s job. Women milk the cows and sell the milk the same evening in the village.

Among Fulani women, traditional headwear or hairstyles take other forms (like scarves or turbans), along with jewelry (e.g., large twisted earrings) or traditional tattoos (on the lips, gums, palms, and soles of the feet). But, as I said, they don’t wear the *tengaade* (maybe it’s too heavy for them—it can weigh up to 2 kg).

That said, Fulani women *are* incredibly beautiful… wow.

hgb