Two Students + Two Expressions, Humana People to People India, Rajasthan, India, November 18th, 2009

What never ceases to amaze me is the incredible variety of expression a single session can yield. Here are two girls living in the same village, attending the same school yet producing expressions worlds apart. In a world where girls must earn every bit of movement towards progress, they stand their ground and refuse to allow intimidation.

They seem relaxed, completely in control. In fact they are in control.

Here I am typing away, a man thousands of kilometers away and years later. I remember the day well but confess that certain expressions only come to me as the images are developed. They however are keenly aware of their expressions. Sometimes it seems to me that they are able to focus directly on the final viewer of the image and remove all variables unnecessary at the time of the exposure.

At the time of these portraits they were studying under the guidance of Humana People to People India in a Girls Bridge School. Hopefully at this time they are enrolled in a government program, and we hope to reopen the HPPI school in 2013.

In just these two images I find inspiration to continue with this work, to sit down at night and write down these stories. I hope that the viewers of these images find similar inspiration through these young spirits and apply it so to their own projects. Should you, the reader, feel close to this cause then the following links will lead you directly to them and to me. We look forward to hearing from you.

halim.ina@gmail.com
Halim Ina Photography