Young Girl + Camp, Syrian living in Lebanon, 2019

Last summer I sat with this girl for a session of photography. In her camp my photography was born 22 years ago, but it was the first time specifically in this spot. To be able to sit down with these girls is an honor beyond my ability to describe. The trust their parents have in me is immeasurable, for in the end I am a foreigner with a different faith. Yet we are a family unlike any other. My love and respect for them is like that for my very family. While we were talking the leader of this refugee camp pulled out a picture I made of him over 17 years ago, and smiled with pride.

El verano pasado me senté con esta niña para tomar una sesión de fotografía. En este campo nació mi fotografía hace 22 años, pero fue la primera vez en este lugar específicamente. Poder sentarme con estas niñas es un honor más allá de lo que puedo describir. La confianza que sus padres tienen en mí es inconmensurable, porque al final soy un extranjero con una fe diferente. Sin embargo, somos una familia como ninguna otra. Mi amor y respeto por ellos es así para mi propia familia. Mientras hablábamos, el líder de este campamento de refugiados sacó una foto que hice de él hace más de 17 años y sonrió con orgullo.

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Young Syrian + Doorway, Near Zahle, Lebanon, 2019

Every time a negative goes under the light and the image is projected onto the paper, I'm thankful for last summer in Lebanon. While I was there for a month before my plans for the summer, complications upon arrival in Cuba forced me to change plans and head back to Lebanon... happenstance at its finest.

I was able to spend more than two months with my uncle and aunts, walked the streets of my mother's hometown every day, and visit the camps which gave birth to my work in my twenties. The children of the children were then photographed, a testimony to the relationships built back then.

This young girl lives in a familiar neighborhood, one which I visited twenty years ago. Her parents were children back then, and now it's her turn to be photographed, to share her story. Her connection to the camera was so remarkable that even looking down it was evident. This is the image chosen for the day. 

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Best Friends, Syrian Girls, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2019

There’s something magical about the darkroom, the place where light which was faithfully transmitted to film can then be transferred to light-sensitive paper. This is what film photography means to me, from the selection of the negative, to the placement under the light source, to the focus on the easel, to the test strip, to the setting of contrast and finally to the fiber print!

This was printed today, a portrait of two best friends from my time in Lebanon last year. They are Syrians living in Lebanon during these difficult times, and are on my mind as summer approaches. My hope is that their future is as bright as the light in this enlarger, and as pure.

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Syrian Girl + Camp, Near Zahle, Lebanon, 2019

This past summer in Lebanon was a special one for me. While my usual trip to Cuba was derailed thanks to customs officials on the island, the resulting two months in Cuba allowed me to revisit my work in my homeland. Thanks to help from various friends within the Syrian community, I was allowed to visit more than twelve camps and meet some of the most incredible children in the world. The expressions on their faces, and the faces themselves, took me by surprise. Here is one such expression, and face!

Next week the film will be finished processing, and I look forward to seeing her images and those of her friends!

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El verano pasado en el Líbano fue especial para mí. Si bien mi viaje habitual a Cuba se descarriló gracias a los oficiales de aduanas de la isla, las resultas en Cuba me permitieron volver a visitar mi trabajo en mi tierra natal. Gracias a la ayuda de varios amigos de la comunidad siria, se me permitió visitar más de doce campamentos y conocer a algunos de los niños más increíbles del mundo. Las expresiones en sus rostros, y los rostros mismos, me tomaron por sorpresa. Aquí hay una de esas expresiones, y cara!

La próxima semana el laboratorio va a terminar de procesarse los rollos, y espero ver sus imágenes y las de sus amigas. 

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Syrian Refugee + Window, Near Zahle, Lebanon, 2019

The processing of this summer's film is almost finished, and I cannot wait to see the negatives. Thanks to the trust of the Syrian community, my hope is that poignant portraits of their children have been made and that these can provide a greater sense of understanding between all in Lebanon.

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Note: This image was made with a Fuji X-T3.

Syrian Refugee + School Bus, Zahle, Lebanon, 2019

A month ago this young girl was going about her day, perhaps playing with her friends. I was also going about my day, driving around with a friend planning our next session.

We made our way to her camp and got permission from the leader to speak with the families. Only a few girls were present at that time, but we went ahead and set up. After 30 minutes, it was a gang of girls, then a real crowd which now included their friends.

At the end of our session the girls get to be spontaneous, and act as they wish rather than the usual. It is a rare view into this conservative society, but perhaps shows how similar they are to girls their age all over the world.

This is the magic of photography, once strangers then friends!

Hace un mes, esta niña estaba haciendo su día, tal vez jugando con sus amigas. También iba por mi día, conduciendo con un amigo planeando nuestra próxima sesión.

Nos dirigimos a su campamento y obtuvimos permiso del líder para hablar con las familias. Solo unas pocas niñas estaban presentes en ese momento, pero seguimos adelante y nos instalamos las cámaras. Después de 30 minutos, era una pandilla de niñas, luego una verdadera multitud que ahora incluía a estas dos mejores amigas.

Al final de nuestra sesión, las niñas se vuelven espontáneas y actúan como desean en lugar de lo habitual. Es una visión rara en esta sociedad conservadora, pero tal vez muestra cuán similares son a las niñas de su edad en todo el mundo. ¡Esta es la magia de la fotografía, una vez desconocidos y luego amigos!

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Film + Syrians, Zahle, Lebanon, 2019

It feels good to have film once again, as these rolls were exposed last month near Zahle, Lebanon.

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Syrian Girls + Camp, Zahle, Lebanon, 2019

Last month these young girls were going about their day, perhaps playing with theur friends. I was also going about my day, driving around with a friend planning our next session.

We made our way to their camp and got permission from the leader to speak with the families. Only a few girls were present at that time, but we went ahead and set up. After 30 minutes, it was a gang of girls, then a real crowd which now included these two best friends.

At the end of our session the girls get to be spontaneous, and act as they wish rather than the usual. It was at this moment when these two best friends showed their love for each other. It is a rare view into this conservative society, but perhaps shows how similar they are to girls their age all over the world.

This is the magic of photography, once strangers then friends!

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El mes pasado, estas niñas estaban haciendo su día, tal vez jugando con sus amigos. También iba por mi día, conduciendo con un amigo planeando nuestra próxima sesión.

Nos dirigimos a su campamento y obtuvimos permiso del líder para hablar con las familias. Solo unas pocas niñas estaban presentes en ese momento, pero seguimos adelante y nos instalamos las cámaras. Después de 30 minutos, era una pandilla de niñas, luego una verdadera multitud que ahora incluía a estas dos mejores amigas.

Al final de nuestra sesión, las niñas se vuelven espontáneas y actúan como desean en lugar de lo habitual. Fue en este momento cuando estas dos mejores amigas mostraron su amor mutuo. Es una visión rara en esta sociedad conservadora, pero tal vez muestra cuán similares son a las niñas de su edad en todo el mundo. ¡Esta es la magia de la fotografía, una vez desconocidos y luego amigos!

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Young Student + Classroom, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019

Here is a portrait of the young girl from the previous video. What gives me courage to present this work to all of you is nothing compared to the courage she had to get in front of her classmates. What was most incredible is that she did so without hesitation seemingly, and has my sincerest respect. 

What we are looking to do is establish four sewing centers, each supporting about 12 students. The students attend classes for two hours a day, and are supplied with fabric as well for their lessons. At the end of their course each will receive a sewing machine to take home.

A dozen people each putting $50 forward on a monthly basis is needed. Anyone interested in helping with this work may reach out to me directly. For those of us already supporting, this is our project and we are attempting to expand it. Your generosity is very much appreciated!

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Omar + I, Syrian Camp, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2018

This happened to be the scene after the photography one afternoon, as the community invited me to celebrate a wedding. The leader's daughter married and the groom's family had a full week's worth of feasts to prepare for the camp. I have known this young man for 21 years, and it was an honor to be seated next to the leaders of the community, men who once were boys of my photography. So they refused to let me leave and we dug right in a few hours ago!

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Syrian Girl + Garden, Zahle, Lebanon, 2017

She is as striking as her predecessors in her camp, as beautiful as any other in this world. Her homeland is in distress, and her life in Lebanon is anything but stable. Yet she does what she can to help her family, and endures with such grace.

On my second day to her camp she was helping her mother with the purchase of some vegetables from a visiting truck. She caught my attention right away, but her presence was missing as we had our first session.

As the third day arrived it seemed that she would never come, and then she approached us with a smile. She might have seen the photographs in her friends' hands from the day before, or just the commotion from the photography. Regardless she allowed me to make her portrait twice, in the shade and in direct sunlight.

She was silent the entire time, but spoke volumes through her expressions. My hope is that this portrait does justice to her spirit, and that she allows me once again to make her portrait tomorrow.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Two Refugees + Camp, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2013

This was the scene when I first visited this region in 2013, as these beautiful people were paying the price for the sectarian violence placed upon their shoulders. The families were doing their best to just provide shelter for their children, to provide a plate of food. Our hosts did something remarkable then, they gave their land for the sake of these refugees, actually signed the deeds to their land. It was this act of generosity which helped me decide that my work will continue here, and inspired me to present this new school to all of you!

They were displaced due to the riots in the Muzaffarnagar region of Uttar Pradesh. A short summary is included below from Wikipedia for everyone's review, and of course is only a basic reference. My experience was firsthand, and showed me the best of humanity in the midst of the worst. The scene of course was created by the latter, yet the resources put forth to aid the community showed the best of the former. 

When I returned to the region two years later, most of the camps were dismantled and the families had returned to their original villages. Although as a photographer I missed the children photographed two years earlier, I was truly happy that the were missing and back home.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

According to Wikipedia:

The clashes between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, India in August–September 2013, resulted in at least 62 deaths including 42 Muslims and 20 Hindus and injured 93 and left more than 50,000 displaced. By 17 September, the curfew was lifted from all riot affected areas and the army was also withdrawn.

The riot has been described as "the worst violence in Uttar Pradesh in recent history", with the army, as a result, being deployed in the state for the first time in last 20 years. Supreme Court of India while hearing petitions in relation to the riots held the Akhilesh Yadav led Samajwadi Party, prima facie guilty of negligence in preventing the violence and ordered it to immediately arrest all those accused irrespective of their political affiliation. Court also blamed the Central government for its failure to provide intelligence inputs to the Samajwadi Party-ruled state government in time to help sound alerts.

Young Girls + Refugee Camp, Muzaffarnagar, India, 2013

This was my introduction to the community back in 2013, when most of the displaced families were living in makeshift tents on land provided by our hosts. A friend made this photograph of me with the girls of this camp after we had finished their portraits. For this community we wish to establish a school, and we hope that there are those among us who see the meaning of such work.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Young Bedouin + Birds, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2008

Does she still live in Lebanon? Had she moved back to Syria since this portrait was made? How does she look? Does her family still live as migrants? Are they now considered refugees?

These are some of the questions in mind as plans are made to visit Lebanon very soon. Certainly everything has changed in the region, and the possibility of making portraits once again is less than slim. This time around the visit is about my immediate family, while of course keeping in mind my photographic family.

I will visit her camp, and hope to see her and her sisters as well. At least we will reunite, and plan for perhaps next year when we hope the region will be free from the present tragedies.

She and her sisters are on my mind today, and will be until we see each other this Fall.

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Note: This image was made with a Canon G10.

Child of Syrian Migrants, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

At the time this image was made, Syria was more stable than Lebanon. Regardless this young child and her family has migrated to the Bekaa Valley in search of better employment. Although they lived in tents and lacked anything resembling modern conveniences, they did at least have work and hope for a better future.

A decade or so later, I wonder about this young girl and her family. Where are they living now? Are they still in Lebanon or are they living in Syria? Have they migrated once again, perhaps to Europe now?

This is where my photography was born, with this young girl and her friends in the Bekaa Valley of my homeland, Lebanon. A simple taxi ride to their area and a subsequent cup of tea gave birth to this work, two decades of photography and hundreds of thousands of images.

The effects of the hot sun and dry wind can be seen on her skin, and in the texture of her hair. Most wear shirts and sweaters with words they will never understand. They play in the dirt paths in front of the tents and as soon as they reach working age, they begin walking down lanes of vegetables for a dozen hours each day for less than the price of a cup of coffee overseas.

When each of us purchases such at our local coffee shop, we are putting on the countertop the amount that this young girl works an entire day for under very difficult conditions. This applies to me of course, and makes me pause almost every single time.

I do hope that she and all children under such conditions are safer today than yesterday, and that such violence can be a thing of the past in the near future. I understand that to have this hope is to be naive, nonetheless I have it.

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Note: This image was made with a Contax G system.

Two Bedouin Girls, Partial Proof, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, Summer of 2015

Today was spent scanning the paper proofs from the first ten years of the work, so that all proofs can be viewed more easily. In two hours over 150 rolls were viewed, taking me back over a decade to that beautiful summer in Lebanon.

As each print was placed on the scanner, the memories came rushing back. Each and every facewas remembered, as well as some of the names such as Najwa, Maryam, Fatouma and Khawla. The names were as familiar as the locations for each portrait, from the walls of adjacent buildings to the sheets covering the tents of these communities.

I remember for example when these two girls walked in front of my as they went to collect water. Photographing them in their tiny hamlet was going to be hard, so I decided to ask for their portraits right there and then, in the alley leading to the well. We were already photographing the girls living in this alley, and all happened to be friends. They hesitated at first, but said yes as they were coming back.

A single roll was exposed for these two friends, six portraits each. We are looking at four expressions out of twelve, and two faces which have never been seen again by me.

Sometimes I need to pinch myself looking at these portraits, knowing that I was there, that I spoke to them, that they allowed me to photograph them and that I was in their divine presence for a few minutes before they walked into the distance.

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Note: This proof was made using a Hasselblad V System, onto Fuji Neopan Acros 100 ISO film.

Woman in her Kitchen, Refugee Camp, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2013

Before we began with the portraits we walked around the camp and talked with the residents. My friend Asrar guided the way, and did his best to translate their stories for me. He told me about their plight, how they had moved to this part of Uttar Pradesh in order to escape the violence back home. 

The families were doing their best to cope with the circumstances, and were granted considerable land by the surrounding villages. Most had fabric structures but many were beginning to construct more permanent housing. As in many villages, the women cooked over an open fire from an incredibly beautiful, earthen structure.

All welcomed us without hesitation and allowed us to document their stories photographically. Although they had experienced the worst of humanity, they showed to us the best.

I look forward to next weekend's benefit at the Cleveland Print Room, and to sharing these stories!

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Three Refugees, Uttar Pradesh, India, December of 2013

These three children were at the time escaping the violence brought upon them by an uncaring world. They were living in tents made of thin canvas, their only protection from the elements. My visits were made possible by my dear brother Asrar, as he sacrificed time with his family to be with me.

When we visited this encampment the children were beyond curious. They ran up to us immediately. I could have only imagined what they were thinking about the man with the camera, the only visitor from the outside that they had had up until that day we were told later.

They were nonetheless more than courageous when standing for these informal portraits, having fun with each other's time in front of the lens. Although they only had a minute to express themselves, all did so without exception… with such honesty.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Young Student, Mewat, Haryana, Spring of 2015

This is a young girl for whom next month's event at the Cleveland Print Room is dedicated, thanks to the generosity of Shari and her team. Most of you are of course familiar with my work, and so many of you have generously given since this work began. For those unfamiliar with these portraits and their stories, the week before Christmas will be a great opportunity to see incredible faces, read their stories, watch videos of the students as they attend classes for the first time, enjoy the company of like-minded people and purchase prints for your loved ones while supporting directly the education of such a girl thousands of miles away!

This young student is attending school for the first time in her life, thanks to our collaboration with Humana People to People India. The foundation has identified villages in need and approached the communities in order to initiate a conversation. Some of the communities responded favorably, and thus the schools have begun. The new model is to work with the local government schools, transition the girls out of school into a classroom within the school run by the foundation, and then mainstream them back into the government system.

This will allow the foundation to run sustainably since the government of India has made it a priority to bring education to all, while aiding the government in its outreach to the communities most in need such as this girl's village. Now she and her friends attend classes every single day in a safe environment.

For this young student next month's show is dedicated, and I hope that many of you will make the time in your busy schedules to attend and show your support. 

While the show is local, anyone interested in participating from a distance is more than welcome to share their thoughts... and I will do my best to include everyone interested in helping!

www.halimina.org
www.humana-india.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Refugee from Sectarian Violence, Uttar Pradesh, India, March of 2015

On our return to the refugee camps from two years ago, we were told that most of the camps were now vacant fields. Most of the families had either settled in the area or returned to their homes. While this was of course excellent news, for many their lives had changed very little.

Such was the case with this little girl, and her family. Over two years ago they were forced from their homes by yet another bout of sectarian violence. They had moved to this part of Uttar Pradesh and were provided land in order to begin the recovery process. A few organizations had stepped up and build public latrines and mosques, provided blankets and clothes, and even began the arduous process of documenting their stories. 

Two years later she was still living in the camp. When we arrived she was listening the Koranic lessons with the rest of the children as they gathered under the fabric of a large tent. 

The inhabitants of the camp were familiar with my hosts and allowed me to make portraits of the children. We began with the boys as was customary for our afternoon sessions, and then made portraits of the girls in front of the school. This young girl, in front of the men in her camp, had the courage to get up and stand for her portrait in front of yet another stranger. The determination in her eyes made me pause then, as it does now.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.