Xtina + Lake, Cleveland, Ohio, 2017

This past weekend was my second weekend in as many weeks with Xtina, and we have continued to build on what had come before photographically. Being a film photographer as well, she comes to the table with an incredible vision, and many beautiful questions as well. 

She understands my work fully, and knows that she has been a sister to those in my work since we first collaborated years ago. The girls in India, Lebanon and Cuba have seen her portrait... and she has seen theirs as well. It is a sincere honor for me to be her photographer.

On this afternoon we decided to drive to the beach and find a spot. We tried a private beach at first, only to be turned around by the security guard. We then drove to the public beach, and were glad to be there. It was a bit cold, but Xtina was more than brave enough to enter.

We first made photographs of her hands with various objects, from a crystal to stones to a camera. So many people looked, and more than a few connected with us as this was unfolding. Xtina then stepped right into the water, and we photographed first from a distance and then together in the water. The sun was kind to us for some time, then it was blocked by the clouds which rolled in.

Nonetheless we exposed more than a few medium-format rolls, and I for one cannot wait to have them processed in a few weeks. A few weeks because the trip to DC will be made to pick up my Cuban film from the summer, and this is the only lab trusted enough to process my collaboration with Xtina. I cannot wait!

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Note: These images were made with a Sony RX100M3, mounted adjacent to a Hasselblad V system.

Xtina + Lake, Beach, Cleveland, Ohio, 2017

This past weekend was my second weekend in as many weeks with Xtina, and we have continued to build on what had come before photographically. Being a film photographer as well, she comes to the table with an incredible vision, and many beautiful questions as well. 

She understands my work fully, and knows that she has been a sister to those in my work since we first collaborated years ago. The girls in India, Lebanon and Cuba have seen her portrait... and she has seen theirs as well. It is a sincere honor for me to be her photographer.

On this afternoon we decided to drive to the beach and find a spot. We tried a private beach at first, only to be turned around by the security guard. We then drove to the public beach, and were glad to be there. It was a bit cold, but Xtina was more than brave enough to enter.

We first made photographs of her hands with various objects, from a crystal to stones to a camera. So many people looked, and more than a few connected with us as this was unfolding. Xtina then stepped right into the water, and we photographed first from a distance and then together in the water. The sun was kind to us for some time, then it was blocked by the clouds which rolled in.

Nonetheless we exposed more than a few medium-format rolls, and I for one cannot wait to have them processed in a few weeks. A few weeks because the trip to DC will be made to pick up my Cuban film from the summer, and this is the only lab trusted enough to process my collaboration with Xtina. I cannot wait!

Website

Tumblr

Twitter

Facebook
Instagram

Note: These images were made with a Sony RX100M3, mounted adjacent to a Hasselblad V system.

La Profesora + La Playa, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, El Verano de 2014

After six years of working with her students on the island, the professor from the highly acclaimed dance company asked to be photographed like her students. She was as kind and open to being photographed as her students, allowing us two sessions with her and accompanying us as a photographer thirsty for photographic knowledge.

In three weeks a suitcase of ballet outfits will be heading to Cuba with me, to this young woman's students at a prestigious dance school within Havana. Last year she allowed me the privilege of documenting her incredible talent, and left me in awe on that beach. When she moved to a position, she did so with great care and deliberation… demonstrating to me the immense vision she had for our session.

She was as gentle as she was skilled, treating the girls in our company with sincerity and kindness. The girls were after all her students, even though they were involved in my project well before her appearance. She knew that they would be more than excited to see her, and that they would be all over her since this was their first time around her outside of the school. Yet she accepted this role gracefully and spoke with them the entire time, never looked away nor looked uncomfortable for a split second.

Last summer I was unprepared for someone like her, someone at her level. I do however hope that my skills at anticipation have improved since that time, and that this summer she will once again allow me the chance to document her spirit more precisely.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination onto Fuji Neopan Acros 100 ISO film.

Ballerina + Hands, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, Summer of 2014

Here is yet another image of this priceless ballerina from our first session on the beach. Asked to provide some hand positions above her head as we finished for the morning, she did so without hesitation and perfectly. In less than four weeks we will be visiting her home, sitting down with her exquisite family and planning our next session on the beach. For those interested in our drive to provide outfits for these dancers, do follow the link below and make your impact felt… thank you in advance!

Costumes for Ballerinas in Cuba

Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination onto Fuji Neopan Acros 100 ISO film.

Young Student, Humana People to People India, Rajasthan, India, 2014

In this post I share one young girl's story. She attends classes in a school reopened just last year in collaboration with Humana People to People India, thanks to the generosity of those attending our benefits two summers ago.

"I am Aachi Gurjar. I am 13 years old. We are nine members in my family. My Father name is Mr. Ram Karan. My mother name is Kalli Devi. We are five sisters and two brothers. My father and mother are working as a labor in Kheda village of Virat Nagar. My family is very poor."

"Due to poverty, my elder sister and brother cannot read because during school time, we are working at our home to earn money. So due to poverty my family is not able to get education. One-day, Krishna Didi told to my father about a new school. However, my father and mother said that I did not have time as I take the goats for grazing. Then Krishna - our teacher said to my father and mother that our school time start from 12 in a noon. She can come easily. Then my father agreed and enrolled me in the study center."

"Now I am coming daily to the study center, and I am feeling very happy to start a new life. Now I am not only Anchi, but also a student in this school. I and my family are very much happy. My teacher is nice, and she loves us. Here I am learning Hindi alphabet and math also. We participated in the Baal Sabha on Saturdays. At the end, I wish to continue my study. I would like to thanks to this school to give me the opportunity for study."

www.halimina.org

www.humana-india.org

Dancer + Racquetball Court, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, 2014

As more and more teachers learned about my collaboration with their students, more wanted to be included in the work. This young woman was one such instructor, and approached us through one of her students. We talked over the phone and arranged to meet before sunrise the next morning, bringing along the student responsible for sharing our work with the school.

Unfortunately the clouds were against us, but we still managed to work with higher sensitivity film in the beginning and even the usual as the clouds disappeared for the rest of the morning. The water on the floor of the racquetball court gave us a beautiful texture missing from our previous visits.

This young woman was both kind and generous with her talent, cooperating with us the entire time without hesitation. When asked to step in front of the lens, she would do so ready to perform as if she was on the stage.

My hope for her is that we have a better morning this summer, that the clouds cooperate and that we produce images worthy of her spirit.

www.halimina.com
www.halimna.blogspot.com

Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180mm combination onto Kodak TMY 400 ISO film.

Model + Beach, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, Summer of 2014

A day in the darkroom made me want to post something a bit brighter. What is almost unimaginable for me is that this image was made six months ago, in a place worlds apart from here. Yet it was made in the same time zone, less than four hours flight from this very spot!

This was her first time with me, after meeting at my friend's school for modeling. She and a few others displayed serious interest in the idea of doing something different, and she sat less than a few feet away with the most serious, curious gaze as we spoke. She loved the idea of the abstract, and producing work outside of her usual circles. She was at the time of this session the most popular model in Havana, evidenced once she slipped this dress on and stepped in front of the lens. 

Wearing shorts and sitting down in the water alongside her was magical, felt like one with her. The beach has come to represent endless possibilities to me, just as it does to the Cubans.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2, mounted adjacent to and exposing at the very moment with a Hasselblad analog system.

The Face of Understanding, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, Summer of 2008

Those of us truly understood by others will recognize this face, for this is the face of understanding. Some say that we are fortunate to meet one such person in our lifetimes, but it has been my experience that almost every single street on my travels has revealed this face to me. While every single street has also revealed much of the opposite, those of understanding are etched into my mind. The others just faded away as fast as they appeared.

This young girl has been present in my work since the first days. She is an economic refugee from Lebanon, and her family works in the fields as migrants. Her father also happens to be the Chief of the local community, and is the person to whom the Lebanese farmers go when they need workers for their fields. He is a brother to me and has always protected me from the dangers of photographing the girls. While he is traditional in his customs, he also is quite aware of my work and promotes it with his soft yet powerful guidance.

An example of this is what happened previous to this image. I had finished photographing the girls in his camp when he asked me to take his family to visit his eldest daughter. This came as a complete surprise to me, that he would put his complete trust in me and send his wife and girls with someone other than himself in a car. The shock was also evident on her face, as she loaded her younger sisters into the backseat of the car.

The entire time we drove I looked into the rearview and saw this exact expression, and had to concentrate on the road while also reveling in the moment. She never spoke a word, even as we arrived to her sister's house and she sat for this portrait. Here was a young girl living as a migrant from another land, living without running water and a toilet, showing me that she understood me perfectly, that she understood my purpose in her life with complete clarity.

Throughout the years we would play a game between us, whispering our thoughts somewhat out loud in the middle of the chaos around us, almost like we were moving in slow motion while everyone around us hurried along. These have been the most memorable for me, and tell me that it is time to visit Lebanon in 2015.

www.halimina.org

Student + Shawl, 2014 International Day of the Girl Child, Rajasthan, India, November of 2013

Hers is the face of girls everywhere today, International Day of the Girl Child. She lives in the beautiful state of Rajasthan, among other beautiful spirits with access to education thanks to a collaboration with Humana People to People India. This is the face of determination, this is the expression which will put to rest any doubt of the Girl Child. A revolution is underway in her village, and in countless others just like hers! 

www.halimina.org