Toddler + Wooden House, Managua to León, Nicaragua, 2017

A few days before my departure we visited this village for the second time, and were beyond fortunate to have had a quiet moment to photograph this young boy. At first his mother had held his hand while he stood next to her, then I placed a bucket upside down for him to sit down... and he did so ever so calmly. Amazingly he sat still for about ten minutes while his mother and I made as many photographs as we possibly could!

He and his family live in between Managua and León on the old highway, the same path my father would have taken as he arrived in Nicaragua. He would have passed by this village as well, perhaps passing by the grandfather of this young boy as he was a toddler himself. The people in this tiny village welcomed us as they would have welcomed family. After the photography on both days we talked for hours about topics ranging from rural life in Nicaragua to their experiences in Cuba.

Two of the men from this house had traveled to Cuba in the 1980s, giving us plenty of subject matter to talk about other than our mutual history in Nicaragua. They loved my old passport, and the picture of me when I was somewhat the age of this young boy. It was the link between the present and the past, something tangible which brought us closer together.

I do hope that the film contains at least one image comparable to this digital image, and look forward to seeing the film images once processed in a month or so.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Group Selfie + Lakeside, Grenada, Nicaragua, 2017

It has taken a few days but the photography has finally found its place in Nicaragua. We drove to Grenada this morning in order to meet the team at Education Plus, and had enough time in the morning to look around. By happenstance we ended up driving by this small village near the lake, and were embraced by the community almost immediately.

During their entire time in this village, they had never been visited by the countless outsiders visiting their region. They do wave to everyone, but rarely get a wave back. So it was with great surprise that they saw us walking towards them, and with even greater surprise to learn that we were deeply interested in photographing their community.

We talked for some time, and began photographing the oldest girl in the family, the one to my left in the group selfie. She was incredibly confident and truly aware of the moment, making some of the most beautiful portraits thus far. With her as an example to the rest of the children, all stepped forward without hesitation and truly made an impression on all of us.

After the photography we ended up making some spontaneous images, including this selfie with her releasing the shutter. One look at her expression should give the viewer an idea of her personality, of her self-confidence... so impressive. This is after all an 8 year old girl living in rural Nicaragua with a visitor for the first time in her village. What an experience it was, and all credit goes to these beautiful children!

When we were ready to leave for our meeting later this morning, she had one of the most serious expressions ever experienced by me. She truly connected with us this morning, the truest of honors in my humble opinion. We are heading to her village once again tomorrow morning, and let her know that before we headed off for the day.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Nica + Fence, Rama, Nicaragua, 2017

Her portrait was the result of happenstance earlier today, as we tried to make our way to the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. Spontaneity is the name of the game for the next two weeks, and as we followed the map on the phone to the eastern coast we ended up at a river and this village. It seems that the phone thought we had a boat, since it gave us the directions which included a river for the last 2 hours of our ride.

Without hesitation we dumped our drive to the river and walked into this village immediately. The majority of the homes are made of wood, and the people are as friendly as anywhere on the island. This has been my experience so far in Nicaragua, being embraced by my cousins as well as strangers anywhere we go.

We walked into this village last evening even though it was cloudy in order to speak with the people. They welcomed us without reservation and invited us to come back this morning if the sun was shining. Well, the sun was shining and we returned to find the children more than happy to be photographed.

One such girl is the one smiling in this portrait. She was a treat to photograph, so young yet so confident in front of the camera. Their shyness is one of the most beautiful aspects of the Nicaraguan people, especially those in the countryside. She was something else, a truly remarkable spirit living the most difficult life yet rising above it all with humility.

The people in her village lack running water, sewage system, toilets, medical access while at the same time sleeping in homes without screens and at the mercy of mosquitos every single night. The fact that she can present to the world with such a smile makes me pause.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Turning Portraits Into Books, Gallery+, Cleveland, Ohio, 2017

Thanks to Zack Hoon and Gallery+, two events supporting the new school by Nirvanavan Foundation are happening next month. Selenium-toned silver gelatin prints of the very students in the school are up for sale, as well as landscapes from India as well. 100% of the sales will go to support their education, thanks to the brilliant work of Nirvana Bodhisattva and his team. It is a way to bring art into your family and to share your family's generosity with the world!

Young Girl + Room, Miramar, Nicaragua, 2017

The people of Nicaragua are as gentle and kind as any in my work over the last two decades. In every single village they embraced us like family and allowed us to document their lives without hesitation. Sure there were a few along the way with more than their share of questions, yet the questions always came with respect and genuine concern.

This young girl lives in a village next to my cousin Victor's home, and those within her village have the deepest respect for our family for their parents had worked with our parents. Here we were, the children of the previous generation getting to know each other over four decades since those memorable days.

Her portrait was made in her neighbor's house, as we were allowed to use this room for portraits. The young children came dressed for the occasion and we did our best to honor their trust. We made both film and digital images until the sun set, and returned just the day before yesterday with photographs for all.

The feeling of connecting with the children of Nicaragua is hard to explain, and my hope is that the film to be developed over the next four weeks will display the emotions more effectively than words can.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Young Boy + Madrasa, Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2017

While this work began with the girls, the boys are certainly being included. This young student attends the madrasa daily, and will be attending the new classes as soon as they begin. Two of the five teachers have been located, with a promising lead on a third. While we are beginning in a humble manner, the vision is grand and we hope to include at least a dozen villages over the next five years.

In this portrait he is standing in one of two existing classrooms, facing the window to the rear of the room. We had just finished photographing the girls, and were now ready to make portraits of the boys. He was one of the first to be photographed, and was happy to be included. His smile lights up the room, as much as the light coming through the window.

The first quarter of the budget has now reached the foundation, and soon plans will turn into action. Nirvana and his team are approaching this first stage with the patience necessary for its long-term success.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Farmer, Manzanillo, Cuba, 2016

His portrait comes to mind as my visit to Nicaragua nears. My hope is that rural Nicaragua is as welcoming as its counterpart in Cuba, and as beautiful. Thanks to my family in Nicaragua plans are being made to do just that, head to the countryside in search of those working with their hands.

This beautiful man's portrait was made as we drove to the eastern part of Cuba in search of a family. We found that family, and over the span of five days made portraits of its daughter, an inspiration well worth the 14 hour drive. In the mornings we photographed her, and in the afternoons we drove to the villages on the outskirts of the town and photographed the farmers in the villages.

Our connection in this village was a cousin to the family in the larger town, and one of her neighbors was this man. He was just returning to his home when we ran across each other. We talked for a few minutes and then he gave us permission to make his portrait. We had a mixture of sun and clouds on this day, yet the sun came through just for his portrait and that of his neighbor before heading back behind the clouds.

It was an honor to have produced his portrait, and I can only look forward to doing the same in Nicaragua in less than one week!

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/100 mm combination.

Charcoal Maker, Manzanillo, Cuba, 2016

His portrait comes to mind as my visit to Nicaragua nears. My hope is that rural Nicaragua is as welcoming as its counterpart in Cuba, and as beautiful. Thanks to my family in Nicaragua plans are being made to do just that, head to the countryside in search of those working with their hands. 

This beautiful man's portrait was made as we drove to the eastern part of Cuba in search of a family. We found that family, and over the span of five days made portraits of its daughter, an inspiration well worth the 14 hour drive. In the mornings we photographed her, and in the afternoons we drove to the villages on the outskirts of the town and photographed the farmers in the villages.

Our connection in this village was a cousin to the family in the larger town, and her husband was this man. The fire in the frame had lost its strength but was still strong enough to keep us at a distance. This incredible man however worked in the midst of it all, like it was nothing to him. He collected the precious bits of charcoal efficiently while we looked on and made his portrait.

It was an honor to have produced his portrait, and I can only look forward to doing the same in Nicaragua in less than two weeks!

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/100 mm combination.

Rachel in a Piece by Yudel, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2016

Two summers ago this was the spot on so many days. Getting out of the city and heading to the countryside gave the models the space in which to be creative, and to breathe freely. On this morning we were accompanied by the magnificent Rachel Hortensia Lopez Thompson in pieces provided by the most talented Yudel R. Contreras Garcia.

It is an incredible honor to be provided fabrics by one of the premiere designers on the island, and to have such a talent on whom such pieces could be placed. This is to me the reward of being engaged for a dozen years in Cuba, to have the trust of the community in these collaborations. There is something so magical about really knowing the people being photographed. All this of course was made possible thanks to the genius of Gysleda Virginia De La Barca Vega and her modeling school at ModaEgos.

We had worked together a few times before, making this session so natural. She was always on time and always in a good mood even though we usually left for our location an hour before sunrise. For this session we drove to a neighborhood familiar to us about half an hour out of the city. We located four spots and began just as the sun came up. 

The formula is by now familiar to all of us, starting with 400 ISO film and then moving on to 100 ISO. This allowed us to take advantage of the early light and let Rachel work with a more subdued sun. By the time we arrived to this house it was perhaps 7:45 a.m. and the sun had cleared the trees across the small path. Rachel was of course ready in her third outfit and we exposed a few rolls, both in black and white and in color.

This beautiful spirit has since moved to another country, yet remains in contact with me to this day. She has my appreciation for the beautiful images she more than helped us create, and I do hope that one day we can continue this collaboration!

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/100 mm combination.

Syrian Refugee + Fabric, Zahle, Lebanon, 2017

The men driving me to the camps have been amazed by the beauty within them, especially this young girl living just fifteen or so minutes from my grandparents' home. The men have lived in this town since birth and have driven past the camps on countless occasions. Yet they had never stopped for a minute to interact with the populations within, had never seen such beauty.

Most are offended by the intense smell, or by the mere presence of the refugees within their country. In so many ways such a presence has put a strain on the country, with the economy in distress and the already fragile security more strained.

However for me these camps are the birth of my photography, for me the children within them are as beautiful, as strong and as vibrant as any encountered in my travels. They are the flowers amidst the chaos, they are the inspiration behind my work.

This young girl's smile erases the difficulty in achieving her portrait. While men look on at times in disapproval, she stands her ground and speaks her mind through her portrait. She refuses to be silenced, refuses to be ignored. If this portrait can communicate such to the viewers, then it has done justice to her spirit.

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination onto Ilford Delta 100 film.

My Father + Family, Managua, Nicaragua

The excitement is building as plans come together for Nicaragua. Thanks to dear Lilliam, we have this portrait of my father and uncle. The looks on their faces are priceless to me, showing a clear confidence and joy in the lives that they had built for themselves with their own hands. The search for remnants of that past will begin in three weeks!

Forest in Rajasthan, India, 2017

My last visit to India included a spontaneous trip to the deserts of Rajasthan, to the furthest west of that beautiful state. We were within miles of the Pakistani border and felt an eerie silence during our time there. My companion for this trip was my dear brother Mukesh, who sacrificed so much time away from his family for the sake of work.

Instead of pure portraiture, we decided to photograph the forests and deserts. One day we were driving around and spotted this forest on either side of the road. Mukesh decided to stay in the car and get some rest while I walked around the forest and did my thing.

The whole experience was surreal. Away from the hustle of the immense cities of India, here we were without another soul in sight. The silence was interrupted only by the sounds of the most colorful birds. Now and then a blue bull in the distance would look up, before moving on.

I walked for what seemed an eternity, but was more like an hour. The play between light and shadow made me pause on so many occasions, putting the tripod down for a few exposures. During one of these times, I heard breathing in the distance and looked up.

There was a line of camels walking just past the trees. Their size took me by surprise, for this was my first time in the presence of such large animals. Time stood still it seemed, for here we were in the wild and with only a line of trees between us. It felt right to just enjoy the moment, leaving the camera on my back, and then walk back to Mukesh to share the experience.

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad V system, onto Ilford Delta 100 film.

Taylor + El Mirage, Los Angeles, California, 2016

A little over a year ago El Mirage was the scene for a most incredible collaboration. Thanks to Cami's selfless spirit we were blessed to have Taylor on our team for the afternoon. From a photographer's perspective, it is deeply moving to watch two creatives want the other to succeed even more so than themselves.

Regardless of what many may presume, the photographer is the least important aspect of the equation. We may have the most perfect location, the latest gear and the best weather. All would fall flat without two such beautiful beings in front of the lens. A point-and-shoot camera with Cami and Taylor would be better than a Hasselblad and those without vision.

Suffice it to say we had that Hasselblad for the session, and thankfully so. The session started with a great drive out, as it was refreshing to have two other people in the car. The conversation was wonderful, and we arrived at El Mirage with the most beautiful sky as our backdrop. They exchanged ideas, as well as outfits, and took their turns in front of the lens. The images from that session are as beautiful as any in my work, and these two sublime women have my deepest gratitude for sharing their talents on that afternoon.

Hopefully 2018 gives us another chance to collaborate!

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination.

Carolina + The Stylings of Lunara, El Mirage, California, 2016

A little over a year ago it was my honor to document the creations of Lunara Love, as presented by the most talented Carolina. We met at the apartment first, where the team was getting the pieces ready for our session. We packed everything up and started the two hour drive to the dry lake bed.

The sky was a little hazy, but allowed the sun to shine for extended periods. This gave the team enough time to change, while keeping in mind the sun for the photography. Unlike other sessions earlier in the week, the wind allowed us to work without worry.

We exposed less film than usual because the changes were extensive. This however allowed us to concentrate on the presentations more so and was a needed change for me. The excitement was in the air and carried us back to Los Angeles energized.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M

Young Student + Home, Rajasthan, India, 2017

She lives right next to Nirvanavan Foundation's Advaita Garden. Her walk to school takes less than a few minutes, and she does so with her younger brother and sister. She is at times shy and at times outgoing. When she smiles she does so completely, and when she is noticed she will usually run away in joy. 

Her independence is remarkable, for she lives in a home without neighbors. She lives with her three siblings, parents and grandparents. Every minute of her day seems busy, from helping her mother with chores to caring for her younger siblings.

Usually when I photograph her I do so alone, without help from the foundation. We communicate with a few common words, and with hand gestures. Her parents know me well enough and allow me to interact with their children freely, quite remarkable for such a society. While this is wonderful, it makes for some very difficult photography. Child psychology would have been a smart minor to have taken in college!

There are few instances when my work demands color film, and this is certainly one of them. Everyone at the foundation has noticed her beauty, and her eyes. Whenever I mention her name, the teachers nod in agreement. Hopefully in four months she will allow me to document her once again, and color film will certainly be included in my bag in case she does!

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination.

Carolina + The Stylings of Lunara, El Mirage, California, 2016

A little over a year ago it was my honor to document the creations of Lunara Love, as presented by the most talented Carolina. We met at the apartment first, where the team was getting the pieces ready for our session. We packed everything up and started the two hour drive to the dry lake bed.

The sky was a little hazy, but allowed the sun to shine for extended periods. This gave the team enough time to change, while keeping in mind the sun for the photography. Unlike other sessions earlier in the week, the wind allowed us to work without worry.

We exposed less film than usual because the changes were extensive. This however allowed us to concentrate on the presentations more so and was a needed change for me. The excitement was in the air and carried us back to Los Angeles energized.

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination.

Young Student + Window, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2017

This afternoon was spent with incredible Anna Discenzo and her classroom of inquisitive souls! It was a deep honor to present the school in India to her students. The questions took me by surprise in the nicest of ways, for her students were incredibly bright. The questions ranged from the political system in India to the way garbage is recycled, and everything in between. Anna and her students, with the help of  Ayman Alkayali, have raised a substantial amount to help Nirvana and his team establish the new school.... and all received a portrait of their counterpart in that very school as a physical reminder of their dedication!

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Two Students + Classroom, Panipat, Haryana, India, 2017

Our host in Uttar Pradesh invited us to visit his school in the neighboring state of Haryana since we were visiting the region to document the local schools. We had known each other since 2013, when his family hosted us during our documentation of the Muzaffarnagar refugee crisis. 

So one morning we left his village and drove out to the school. We were received warmly and were of course offered tea to start our morning. All of the students looked at us in dismay, as they rarely received visitors from the outside. This was especially true for the girls.

Our hosts told us about the school, that it supported the local communities which were made up mainly of migrants from further east in India. They had travelled to Panipat in search of work, mainly in the local garment industry. Their children were in need of education, and our host's friend had taken it upon himself to make this happen. He organized the effort to build the school over a dozen years ago, and also put together the funding... a remarkable feat considering the socioeconomic nature of the region.

After our conversation they offered us access to photograph the children, and we immediately took it. The hours of the school made it difficult to photograph early, so we made portraits with indirect light as the children stood in front of their classrooms. My presumption was that they would be shy. However they were anything but shy, allowing themselves to smile and laugh in front of their friends.

We photographed all of the classrooms, every single one of the students. This was a testament to the trust the staff had in our host, for doing so in an islamic center of learning is anything but straightforward. We have since then photographed this school several times, and next year will be establishing a sewing center within its campus for the elder sisters of these very students through the hard work of Nirvanavan Foundation.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Young Student + Madrasa, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2017

For those of us working with this school, and for those of us looking to join, we present this young student's portrait. This was her first year with us, and she took to the camera in the most natural of ways. Her features were exquisite, and certainly without equal. She had a way about her expressions, beyond confident while being photographed for the first time in her life.

She lives in a village near a mystical river, surrounded by the most sublime fields. The village itself is quite small, yet it has a government school and a madrasa. While all of the children are registered in the government school, few actually attend. We visited the school on many occasions to see the well-meaning teachers sitting around with less than a dozen students playing in the courtyard.

This is the thought of our host from the village, and it is his intention to try and change the standing of the village's children. He runs the local madrasa and would like a formal curriculum introduced. Thanks to those involved, we have begun the search for three teachers at this time, and have also organized a list of sewing students who are more than ready to begin classes.

Later this year, guided by Nirvana and his team, the formal curriculum will be introduced and the sewing machines will start turning as well!

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Suley + The Blue Chair, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2017

This was the scene of many sessions over the past three years. We have fallen in love with this chair, the most beautiful blue in color. The house itself is also blue, albeit a weathered sense of this color. The neighborhood is familiar with us by now, especially when we had come so many times before with families from the city, ranging from ballerinas to models in search of a different backdrop. The people in this neighborhood are as kind as can be, allowing us always to work without hesitation.

On this morning we came with Suley and another model, a veteran of our work dating back almost a decade. The two young women brought a few changes of clothes with them, and we used my friend's 1951 Oldsmobile as a changing room. We began at a different spot just down the street, more open to the rising sun. People walked by and watched as the young women performed for the lens, in admiration and without judgement for the models in front of them were very much like them. 

We then moved to this spot and continued with our session. Both changed into new outfits and took turns in front of the lens, and then were photographed together. They were ready so quickly that it took me off guard, for usually there is a bit of time between models to make some adjustments to the cameras. At one time the tripod was knocked over with my feet, and all gasped as the cameras hit the ground with such force. Luckily the cameras came back to life after a few minutes, and we continued with the session. 

These are the moments when words fail to describe the feelings inside, the experiences of being with such grateful people. The time they made to help create such images was priceless. The families in these collaborations impress me deeply every single time with their willingness and desire to collaborate. Where else could one meet someone in the street, talk about a possible session and have that session turn into reality the very next day?

They are the reason for my return every single summer, period.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3 mounted adjacent to a Hasselblad V system, both triggered simultaneously.

Elder Refugee + Muzaffarnagar Riots, Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2013

Her portrait was made while in the middle of a refugee camp, a place she called home due to the riots of 2013. While the origin of the violence was up for debate, what was perfectly clear was the hardship being experienced by hundreds of thousands now without homes.

This incredible woman was forced to leave her village in the face of unimaginable violence. Thanks to the generosity of those in the neighboring district, she and her community were provided land on which they could begin rebuilding their lives.

They were doing the best that they could, building homes out of wood and fabric for the time being. Soon they would be provided bricks in order to construct better homes in which their children could sleep safely. As recent as my last visit earlier this year, most had moved back to their villages. Our hope is that they found their homes intact, even though their lives had been irreversibly damaged.

When we arrived on the morning of this portrait, my friend told me to get the camera and head to the center of the camp. He told me to put the camera together, and be ready for his arrival a few minutes later. This I did as people gathered around me, wondering about my purpose. My friend spoke with the leaders, and then we were allowed to photograph.

My friend Asrar asked me to point the ones out, even though it was impossible for me to be so direct. So we agreed on choosing the color of the fabrics in English, then he would ask each person to come forward for their portrait if they so desired. This was how we worked for an hour or so, until the sun had set.

As we visited the area of these camps this year, it was great to see only the evidence of the camps, and nothing more. To know that the people had returned home meant everything.

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad V system.

Two Refugees + Wall of Fabric, Muzaffarnagar, India, 2013

As Nirvana and his team move to establish a school in this region, memories of the crisis leading to this very movement come rushing forth. Four years ago I was invited to document the refugee crisis as a result of the Muzaffarnagar Riots of 2013. During our walks my eyes witnessed people doing the work on the ground, donating their land so that those without could begin to rebuild their lives.

We walked around tent where children had nothing more than the clothes on their bodies. The only protection between them and the world was a wall of fabric, and so we decided to make some portraits with the girls behind these walls. We did so in order to show the fragility of their circumstances. For most of us it is nearly impossible to imagine such an existence, especially in light of the fact that these very children were forced out of their villages in a most tragic manner.

Over the years the good people of this community brought to our attention the possibility of a collaboration. While public schools do exist in many of the villages, the quality of the schools are so that most parents refuse to send their children, especially their girls. This holds even more so when it comes to anything higher than primary school, since sending their girls to a secondary school further away is out of the question.

The community does however have incredible faith in their traditional, religious schools. The elders of one village advised that they would of course donate the building and the land, should Nirvanavan Foundation be able to implement a school worthy of their children within these schools. For such to work, a proper curriculum would need to be implemented, which would include the traditional classes as well as the arts, and so forth.

A sincere conversation was had earlier this year as Nirvana made it a point to visit the area personally, and with his team. He also invited the leaders of this community to Rajasthan in order for them to witness the foundation's work in person.

Long story short, the generosity of those here on FB will soon be realized on the ground, as the school begins to take shape over the next few months. My aim is to be there in February to document the changes, and of course to make portraits of the very children benefiting from this collaboration! 

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad V system.