Young Student + Corner Shop, Nirvanavan Foundation, Rajasthan, India, 2016

A few days ago as we were walking out of the village a few of the foundation's students were hanging out by the family's shop. They shared their smiles of recognition, allowing us to take a few minutes to make their spontaneous portraits. They sat down on a small stool in front of the shop, and let us snap a few images of them near their home rather than at the school. This young girl was one of three to be photographed.

The team at Nirvanavan Foundation is doing incredible work here. They have managed to build more than a school in the midst of five or so villages. The children attending these schools have an air about them, as they go through the first period of non-activity and then create art during the period of joy. The place is surreal at times to me, with geese waltzing around and birds flying through the classrooms as they bring food for their young in the nests above.

The main school is called Advaita Garden, and spans pre-school to eight grade. The children all have uniforms supplied by the foundation, and now can take the foundation's new bus to school from the villages. It is really a remarkable feat, one which impresses me continuously to this day.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3 with available light.