PHOTOS: African Tribesmen Come to San Juan Capistrano

Fifteen-time book authors and African-trotting photographers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher remember bringing one of their first books back to the Sahara tribesmen they captured on film.

“He looked up at us and said in his language, ’This is medicine not to forget,’” Beckwith said.

The pair of these 60-something women have spent the bulk of their lives dedicated to chronicling in photographs the customs of African tribes people. They’ve been to 48 countries, but they’re not done.

“We’d like to finish the 55,” said Fisher, a native of Australia now living in London.

The two were in San Juan Capistrano Thursday, where the House of Photographic Art is premiering an exhibit of Beckwith and Fisher’s work. The Bowers Museum also sponsored the evening.

The pairing began more than 35 years ago. Beckwith had started her career independently when her father traveled from the United States to spend her birthday together. As a gift, he bought passage on a hot air balloon, Beckwith said.

Working the craft was Simon Fisher, Angela’s brother. Being quite fetching, Beckwith said she got a little weak in her knees as he looked deeply at her.

“'You ought to meet my sister,’” she reported him saying. “My heart sank.”

But a year later, the two ladies did meet and found they indeed had a kindred spirit.

“We shared a dream that one day, we’d create a comprehensive photographic record of the most important African ceremonies,” Beckwith said.

They’re so simpatico that they decided early on that they would put both their names on every photograph.

“To this day, it’s a big mystery and secret who took each picture,” Beckwith said.

“Actually,” interjected Fisher, “we don’t always remember ourselves.”

Those pictures, compiled in books, have also been featured in magazines such as National Geographic, Time, Life, Vogue and more.

The photos are on display in San Juan Capistrano, at 27184 Camino Capistrano and available for purchase.