Young Woman + Kanjar Community, Rajasthan, India

Let’s imagine for one minute sitting on a bench on the side of the road, looking into a mirror making sure the presentation is just right. Then imagine one of the countless truck drivers passing by notices and stops. The man then walks over to inquire about certain services. Then let’s imagine that our uncle comes over to agree on the price before we are expected to perform those services in our own home.

This is the reality for this young women, her aunts, her nieces and neighbors. Her community trades in sex, and the women are the products which the men of the community trade. 

Our minute of our imagination is her reality for 1,440 minutes each day.

Etsy 

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Young Student + Classroom, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2018

It's nearly impossible to describe the gentle nature of the girls in rural India, their noble humility. She is a student in the school run by the headmaster in the previous post, and this is the classroom right behind the two men. Even after 16 years of visits to India, I am continuously amazed as to how they could connect with me, with my camera. 

Sometimes I think that this is impossible, then time and time again the girls prove me wrong. Even when called from their lessons to sit down on a bench, they can compose themselves instantly and stand with such elegance. What goes on in their minds is a mystery to me, but what I sense is pure happiness and love.

This may be the first time that they are put first, in a society which treats them with indifference. They are of course right about my approach, and they know it. That is what I see in this girl's gaze, in her peaceful expression.

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Love and Peace, Zahle, Lebanon, 2019

At her tender age she knows more than the fools in charge of the land in which she lives. She understands what we need now and displays it with her hand and her sweater. The ruling class needs to have such wisdom.

For 23 years I have had the privilege of photographing the Syrians living within Lebanon. Her camp was a new one for me last year, yet the children were as warm as those from the familiar camps. This is the expression they shared with me, such kindness! 

They are barely surviving in these strenuous times, even worse after the explosion and the failures of the economy and the ruling class. My hope is for better, for a brighter future. 

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Syrian Girls + Tent, Near Zahle, Lebanon, 2019

The darkroom has been the saving grace for this summer's inability to travel, especially to see my family in Lebanon... both blood and photographic. Moments like the one in this image are unforgettable, and inspire me to believe in a better future. These girls and their families were forced to leave their homeland of Syria due to the civil war, and have done their best to survive in Lebanon. We were finished with our photography for the afternoon and decided to have some fun with the digital camera. A bit of joking and they were off to the races with their laughter... missing moments like this, and will wait patiently until the next time! 

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Young Syrian + Scarf, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2019

As the series from last year in Lebanon continues, more and more familiar faces rise through the developer. This young girl lives but ten minutes away from my family's home in Zahle, and in the very first encampment which gave birth to my images in Lebanon over two decades.

Her portrait needed to be printed close up, cropped and large, embracing the grain of #kodaktrix and her incredibly strong expression!

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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 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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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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Girl at Play, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, 2018

My photography in Lebanon is different than my photography in other countries, for my family lives here also. The contrasts are as striking as the similarities. The children I photograph speak the same language as my family, yet they are from another country. In the morning I may be with my family in the town and then photographing in the camps located below in the valley.

There is the contrast in religions, the difference in nationalities... while there is the similarity in ethnicity, in culture. It is a fascinating experience and one perhaps which has been taken for granted. Next year that changes, for I will be spending more time with both families, one blood and one photographic.

Speaking of culture, on the morning this image was made the girls decided to imitate what they see on their television screens. The films of India have made their way to Lebanon in a dramatic fashion. The children watch the films with fascination, and know the popular songs by heart. They even recognized some of the songs on my phone, videos of girls in Uttar Pradesh performing popular pieces from Bollywood.

So after an hour of formal portraits, the girls decided to dress up and have some fun. They changed scarves and pulled jewelry out of nowhere it seemed. The energy level during this phase of photography was much different, more vibrant. They exchanged scarves and helped each other with styling.

It was also chaotic, almost too much on the mother of the tent in which we were photographing. She endured as much as she could, and then came up with a reason to end it all as the situation was almost out of control!

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Letters + Chalkboard, Shamli District, India, 2018

Thanks to a generous circle of friends here on FB these letters were written onto the wall by an entire class. Each young girl walked to the wall and wrote two to three letters. It was a team effort, and then the class was dismissed. Portraiture is my thing usually, however such a photograph had to me made!

Nirvanavan Foundation opened the school earlier this year within the local madrasa, thanks to the cooperation of Imdadullah Nadvi Nadvi and Kari Shokeen. In addition to the Koranic classes provided at the madrasa, now close to 100 girls are sitting down to the Uttar Pradesh curriculum which includes Hindi, Urdu, English and more.

At least once a week they also sit down to draw, and paint. This is something completely new and is embraced by the students wholeheartedly. What surprised me pleasantly even more so was the men's reaction to the art... they sincerely enjoyed it.

The school is doing well, and we are looking to support the progress. I will be reaching out to the present donors, as well as embracing those looking to join this movement. Anyone interested please do let me know.. all information will be provided of course.

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Note: This image was exposed using a Hasselblad V system.

Syrian Girl + Tent, Bekaa Valley, Zahle, Lebanon, 2018

This young girl lives in the spot where my photography was born over two decades ago. This past month was my chance to photograph them again, following the documentation from last year. Her parents were the ones photographed by me so many years ago, now it was her turn. She is a young Syrian girl living in a camp just outside of Zahle, Lebanon. Her community has lived there for over three decades, prior to the current influx of Syrians from the hostilities in their homeland.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

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.

Syrian Refugee + Garden, Zahle, Lebanon, 2017

The generation before her gave birth to my photography over twenty years ago, as a taxi driver dropped me off near to this camp. The generosity of the Syrians living in these tents was immediately felt as the women invited me to have some tea. Ever since that first moment the children of this community have been documented, their stories recorded.

The boys who used to give me trouble have now become the leaders of the camps. Instead of teasing me, they referred to me as Uncle Halim and attended to me as they would attend to their elders. The transformation was unlike any in my photographic experience, perhaps showing me the future of my work in the various communities as time passes.

This year was different than previous years, since the conflict in Syria has changed the region entirely. The number of Syrians seeking safety in Lebanon has increased dramatically, and amongst them may exist those intent on doing harm to an outsider.

Thus my Uncle asked to come along for my first visit this summer. We drove to the camp and realized that the families had relocated due to construction. They were about one mile away, and a little further from the main road. We arrived and were immediately greeted by those young boys who had become the leaders. Immediately hugs and kisses were exchanged, and smiles were on everyone's faces. My Uncle was relieved and comfortable enough to allow me to visit on my own for the rest of my time.

This young girl was of course unborn at the time of my early work, and has energized my work once again in the region. To know her language is such a relief, unlike my work in other countries. Watching her react as we speak is priceless, hearing her story firsthand without translation is irreplaceable. 

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

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

This past visit to Shamli was filled with hope, and we held onto this as we visited village after village. With the help of our host Imdadullah and the guidance of Nirvana Bodhisattva, we were able to document the students.

Face after face, student after student, they came forward. This was for most their first time in front of a camera. Their expressions touched me deeply, as this was their chance to communicate from someone outside of their community.

She was as strong in front of my lens as any model has ever been. In front of her headmaster's office she stood, with the field behind her school as a backdrop. We hope to introduce a sewing class to her school, and hope to include the older girls from the village.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Sisters + Embrace, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2017

This year we spent considerable time in this beautiful part of India, and visited many villages thanks to our wonderful host Imdadullah and family. It all began in 2013 when we were invited to document the refugees in the region, and continued through last year when we were asked to take part in an interfaith effort.

These two sisters attend traditional classes in their village's madrasa, and look forward to a fuller curriculum thanks to their headmaster's desire to provide such. This idea has been made possible thanks to the generosity of those on here who responded to my posting a few months ago. We have organized a small group of people, and have begun the process of helping this village achieve its goal.

The girls loved the spontaneous sessions, when they would be called up from the classes below to make photographs on the rooftop of the school. At first holding each other seemed a stretch for them, especially in front of a lens and their friends. After a few days however they took to the closeness and allowed their expressions to flow freely.

These sessions were so popular that the girls allowed me to do my film work without any hesitation, knowing that the fun images were to come next!

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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 Student + Chalkboard, Panipat, Haryana, India, 2016

After three dozen people came together over the past year to fund our three schools in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, we have found further inspiration to continue in this direction. One person from this circle even asked me, how about a school for 1,000?

Well, we are heading in that direction as Nirvana Bodhisattva travels to Uttar Pradesh to discuss the upcoming school in the region. This first school will be established early next year, and with its success we will proceed with the neighboring village hopefully.

However, there is a school just over the border in Haryana which deserves support, as all schools do of course. Our hosts introduced us to this school early this year, and we fell in love with the students as well as the efforts being made on behalf of the children.

We were allowed to photograph all of the children, even including some of the older girls, albeit after some insistence by me. The children were so happy to be photographed, and it was spontaneous to say the least. We walked from one classroom to the next, stepped inside and started with the portraits.

The boys were great, remained relaxed throughout. The girls were just as beautiful, and took the chance to express themselves to the stranger with the camera. This young student's smile says it all, as she stood facing the doorway to be photographed with the chalkboard as her backdrop.

We will be working with her school, and will be visiting her classmates again in a few months. Let's support Nirvana as he helps establish the first school, and then hope we can do the same on behalf of this young girl the following year.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Two Students, Village near Kairana, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2016

These two boys stand to benefit from the school being proposed here. Like so many boys in my work from around the world, they are a mix of naughty and innocent, making for wonderful snapshots truly!

We look forward to establishing a model school in their village, one which will then gain traction in village after village like a virus with a noble purpose. What makes this incredibly important to me is that the community presented this idea to us, rather than the other way around.

Although we only have the view in the direction behind them, rest assured that the entire region looks as beautiful. Fields of wheat extend into the horizon in every direction, up to the shores of the magnificent Yamuna River... where "Krishna and the Gopis also used to play on the banks of the Yamuna as children" like these two very boys.

With your collective help we will establish annual funding for this school, and I will visit in four months to bring the good news to these two boys, and the elders in the previous post.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Child Laborer + Bricks, Haryana, India, March 16, 2015

She is but one of millions bearing the brunt of globalization, making possible the gleaming buildings rising all across the Indian landscape for example. She works in this position all day under the hot sun, turning one brick after another in a seemingly endless line of bricks, as her fragile body moves along the lines gracefully.

Her family came from the northeastern portion of India in search of work, for back home there was even less. She lacks access to a school, medicine, running water, safe housing, electricity and so much more. Her family lives in a small brick room with a corrugated, metal roof... making the interior unbearably hot. The room lacks windows, yet is unable to protect the children from mosquitos, roaches and the like.

She represents a sizable portion of the population, those responsible for harvesting the rare earth elements for the sake of modern phones, for making the bricks necessary for the gleaming high-rises. She is the price society pays for its progress, hers is the pain few in power will ever see.

So while countless politicians argue about what is to be done, she gets up every single day and pays the price for their inaction with her labor, with the loss of her childhood. For her the new school is being introduced, she is our inspiration.

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Note: This image was made with a Fuji GA645 system, onto Kodak TMX film.

Three Women, Alwar, Rajasthan, India, November 18, 2008

So who are the women who have endured the world of human trafficking? Where are the faces behind the numbers and charts?

These three women live within the Kanjar Community, and have witnessed with their own eyes the world of the sex trade. This has been the reality within which they have had to live, and into which their labor has been forced.

So who are the women who have endured the world of human trafficking? Where are the faces behind the numbers and charts?

These three women live within the Kanjar Community, and have witnessed with their own eyes the world of the sex trade. This has been the reality within which they have had to live, and into which their labor has been forced.

They stood for their portraits 8 years ago so that perhaps their daughters would have a better chance, so that perhaps the world would wake up. Nirvana Bodhisattva and his team at Nirvanavan Foundation are doing their absolute best to honor these women, and their daughters.

Jesse Bach and Elana are also doing their best here in Northeast Ohio, where countless women also share this most unfortunate of stories. Let's support them in their quest for human rights and justice.

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Note: These portraits were made with a Hasselblad V system.