Young Arbore Boy, Ethiopia, 2010, Limited Edition (50), 11x14 Handmade Silver Gelatin Print Toned in Selenium, Printed by the Photographer

The last 25 years of my life photographically are finally being printed in the darkroom, and the prints are being sold to support the sewing centers we will soon reopen in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Presently we have six sewing centers in two states of India, serving both the Hindu and the Muslim communities. 

In these sewing centers, young women learn a trade while also making clothing for their families. The centers are located in the rural areas, where young women have only one option normally, marriage and a family. At this moment, due to COVID-19, the work is on hold. However, we plan to restart the centers in 2022 and the funds from the sale of these portraits will be applied to the work in India. 

This print may be purchased through the Etsy link below.

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Woman + Humana People to People India, Rajasthan, India, 2010

These images are over 8 years old and from my time of innocence in this wonderful land. At that time I was following those around me and documenting the great work being done by Humana People to People India. They had asked me to photograph a micro-finance project in the Virat Nagar area of Rajasthan.

This was one of my favorite spots for many reasons, one of which was a group of girls schools in the villages. At the time there were 16 schools for girls, and Humana was doing its best to transition out-of-school girls smoothly back into school. In these same villages there were examples of women who had taken on small loans in order to help their families.

In this case, this young mother had used the small loan to purchase this animal... and had used the proceeds from her new endeavor to purchase the gold in her hands. She told us that she would accumulate more in order to pass it onto her daughter when he daughter gets married in the future. We were witnessing change at the grass-roots, as it was happening right before our eyes!

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Young Student + Bench, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019

Once again a young girl's portrait was made at one of the madrasas which we normally visit. This time of the year is our time to document a dozen or so schools in the district of Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. Imdadulla is the reason this work is possible and we hope soon that we can renew our efforts in the area.

This young girl and her friends walk to this madrasa from the adjacent village. The school is on its own, next to endless fields. This classroom is used during the rainy season, while classes are held outside during the dry season. 

At this point her studies are strictly religious, but the headmaster would like to include a full curriculum in the near future. This of course depends on finances and our ability to gather the support on behalf of her school. She and her friends inspire us to do more, and we hope that others will feel the same.Facebook

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