The Enchanted Ones is a powerful visual and narrative tribute by photographer and filmmaker Stephanie Pommez, honoring the Ribeirinhos – river-dwelling communities living deep within the Brazilian Amazon.
At the heart of this work are the traditional midwives, who not only welcome new life but also carry ancestral stories and cultural memory as they navigate the waterways that shape their world.
Through compelling photography and intimate storytelling, Pommez captures the myths, legends, and everyday moments that define Ribeirinho life. This book offers a deeper understanding of the Amazon rainforest and the spiritual, ecological, and cultural ties between the Ribeirinhos and their environment.
'The origin of The Enchanted Ones goes back many years, to when I spent several years documenting the daily lives and the work of traditional midwives across the Amazon. I traveled through multiple states, over extended periods, drawn by a curiosity and interest to tell the story of the ribeirinho (river dweller)  communities, particularly that of the women. The project began with a broad scope, and I focused on the midwives as it evolved. They stood out as guardians of life and keepers of traditional medicine and local culture while connecting homes and communities through their travels, visiting pregnant women, and attending births. Much of my time was spent listening to stories while we canoed from one riverside home to another, during long hours attending births, or visiting women to check on their well-being.' Stephanie Pommez
Stephanie Pommez, now based in New York, grew up in Brazil. She studied International Development and Art History at McGill University in Montreal and began her career as a photographer in the late 1990s after working in the humanitarian field. Her photographs have been exhibited and published internationally, and her documentary films have been broadcast on National Geographic, ARTE, TV Cultura, TV5, and other major platforms.
The book is edited by Régina Monfort, a France-born photographer and editor who has worked in the U.S. for institutions such as the Dallas Museum of Art and Yale University, as well as with legendary photographers including Irving Penn and Richard Avedon. She has edited numerous acclaimed photo books for FotoEvidence Press and other publishers.
The Enchanted Ones (published by Kehrer) is a poignant testament to the interplay between people, nature, and tradition — a striking example of how visual storytelling can preserve cultural heritage and amplify voices often unheard.