Mother + Entrepreneur, Humana People to People India, Rajasthan, India, 2013

Here is a portrait of another recipient of a micro-loan sponsored by Humana People to People India almost 8 years ago. At that time I was collaborating with this great team and helped to document this project in Virat Nagar, Rajasthan. This is one of my favorite places in India, since it also was the site of 16 beautiful schools for girls.

As an extension of the development programs in the region, micro-finance provided access to loans for certain portions of the population without such. This wonderful mother decided to use her funds to purchase this machine, and was able to feed her animals more efficiently. This in turn enabled her to purchase more animals, and have more milk for her family as well as for the market. 

Seeing real change as it happens is a marvel, and I cannot thank Humana People to People India enough for such an education!  

Etsy 

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Young Migrant + Company Wall, Jaipur Slum, Rajasthan, India

One afternoon this past April we arrived to Jaipur from the Muzaffarnagar region of Uttar Pradesh, and landed in a familiar neighborhood near to our wonderful hostSombeer Singh Summy. We went straight to our favorite family and asked to photograph their daughters with only thirty minutes of sunshine remaining. Without any hesitation whatsoever, the father agreed although he had only met us for a few minutes over three weeks ago.

We walked over to the cement factory's wall and set up our camera. We photographed three of the five daughters before the sun was too soft for my film camera, and then went on to photograph some other children for fun with the digital camera. This portrait is of the most mischievous ones from the bunch, finally put in front of the lens for all to behold without his usual antics to protect him!

He was marvelous, and truly enjoyed his time in the spotlight!

The wall behind him belongs to the concrete factory just across from their homes. The entire neighborhood is basically illegal in its construction, and almost all live a hand to mouth existence. They have across from them a factory that does nothing but produce concrete for the buildings being constructed all around them, while they will never see their interiors.

The dust produced as trucks come and go is almost unbreathable, yet these children play directly in front of this wall. When one truck passed we had to stop our photography because the dust alone prevented any of us from seeing well enough to work. This is their daily existence, just incredible.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100II.

Elder + Slum, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, April of 2015

Every once in a while a elder walks up for his portrait, and such happened with this beautiful man. We were photographing a few girls in an impoverished neighborhood of Jaipur when he stepped onto the platform for his portrait. He was quiet, and respectful. We of course made way and adjusted the equipment since he was much taller than the rest of us, thus the angle of this image.

At first the boys watching started to have a little fun with the situation, then they settled down a bit when we looked their way. This was after all an elder to them, in a society where elders mean everything. The girls were different however, and moved out of his way with respect, returning immediately for their portraits.

We were standing on an abandoned temple, yet I felt that the magic of the place was within this man. He was serene, and at peace with it all. He refrained from speaking a single word, allowed his portrait to be made and walked away most grateful through his expressions.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2 with natural light only.

Young Boy + Concrete Factory, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, April 20, 2015

Just a few hours ago we arrived to Jaipur from the Muzaffarnagar region of Uttar Pradesh, and landed in a familiar neighborhood near to our wonderful host. We went straight to our favorite family and asked to photograph their daughters with only thirty minutes of sunshine remaining. Without any hesitation whatsoever, the father agreed although he had only met us for a few minutes over three weeks ago.

We walked over to the cement factory's wall and set up our camera. We photographed three of the five daughters before the sun was too soft for my film camera, and then went on to photograph some other children for fun with the digital camera. This portrait is of the most mischievous ones from the bunch, finally put in front of the lens for all to behold without his usual antics to protect him!

He was marvelous, and truly enjoyed his time in the spotlight!

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2 just five hours ago.

Young Student + Home, Humana People to People India, Jaipur, India, 2015

Yesterday we are here with Ashook and his wonderful team at Humana People to People India near the slums of Jaipur, where they do incredible work with and for the communities nearby. They have been working in this area for the past six years and have had great success with children otherwise lacking a chance for an education.

Rather than making photographs in the school, we ventured into the neighborhood for some photography, and were greeted by the most beautiful students in their own homes. This is an honor I have otherwise lacked during my previous visits, and feels just right.

Who says that a girl in a slum needs to be photographed with garbage all around her? Who says that she wants to be photographed in such a way?

Here, the girls chose their outfits and their positions, as well as their expressions. This young girl was a natural, truly a vibrant example of what it means to be human in the most difficult of circumstances.

www.halimina.org