Ethiopia's Karo people decorate their faces and bodies with chalk and ochre to boost chances of finding love - and scare off rivals

• The Karo tribe use red ochre and white chalk to create intricate designs on their faces and bodies 
• Both sexes do it as a way to be more visually appealing and attractive, while looking intimidating to rivals
• American photographer Vicente Pamparo visited tribe to capture their beauty and learn of their way of life

Insight: Photographer Vicente Pamparo visited the tribe to capture their way of life on the river bank

Body art: Men, women and children from the Karo in Ethiopia paint their faces and bodies with white chalk 

Face mask: The markings are an important part of festivities and ceremonies within the tribe

Sex appeal: For the men, the body paint is meant to make them look more attractive and courageous 

Pride: The men carry weapons to guard their cattle from wild animals and other tribes and also to enhance their status

Welcoming: Vicente found the tribe to be welcoming and generous during his stay

Image conscious: The Karo people decorate their face and bodies to celebrate important festivities and for purely aesthetic reasons. They also do piercings and self-inflicted scars as a means of enhancing their appearance

Primative living: The tribe of about 1,000 people survive on agriculture and fishing and raise their own goats

At one with nature: The people rely on the land around them to survive

Behind the lens: Vicente visited the region last November to stay with the tribe

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