Super men in pictures: The Sherpas of Nepal

Old and new: While Kathmandu is modern enough - complete with ATMs, even - to serve the hordes of tourists that visit, the century-old tradition of using human muscles to carry goods remains.

A lensman is inspired to document a traditional occupation still clinging stubbornly to life.

They really do look like supermen, carrying almost their body weight on their backs. And they mostly do it while walking paths that go sharply up and down mountainsides. These are the Sherpas of Nepal. Their load-carrying ability is so famous that the word “Sherpa”, which actually refers to one of the country’s ethnic groups, has come to mean “porter”.