Camille + Sky, El Mirage Dry Lake Bed, California, 2016

This past year was a truly remarkable one thanks in part to this exquisite dancer, and her incredible heart. She responded to my casting call for dancers this past October, and never let the communication go as we went back and forth. She was totally engaged in the concept, giving her 100% throughout the process.

Even before we met she shared the clothing options, all dark and timeless according to my preferences. With respect she asked for the company of a friend, a friend who turned out to be a dancer and as wonderful of a spirit. We met in Los Angeles in front of her apartment and headed out to El Mirage for the afternoon.

We were lucky on that day, for earlier in the week the wind was howling in the valley. When we arrived it was warm and just slightly windy. When the wind did pick up a little, they never complained and incorporated it into their vision. We exposed a few rolls per outfit, and moved the car from one location to the next in order to change the background as well.

Watching Camille move from one expression to another was like sitting down for a performance. There were times when it was necessary to remind myself that my job was to document the performance, while still enjoying it. To have been granted the opportunity was both an honor and a privilege; and my hope is that the images are a testament to her physical talents and spiritual kindness. 

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180mm combination onto Ilford Delta 100 film.

Young Student, Panipat, Haryana, India, 2016

Three years after my initial visit to this region we were taken to this young girl's school, thanks to our hosts from my first visit. The years had helped form a bond between us, and they wanted to introduce us to a school in which they were involved. So one morning Nirvana Bodhisattva and I were introduced to this community,and its beautiful students.

For the sake of efficiency, Nirvana Bodhisattva and his team went about speaking with the teachers while I walked to each classroom making portraits of every single student. She was one of these students, and walked over near to the doorway to have her portrait made. She seemed calm while her friends had their portraits made, and became a little anxious when it was her turn to do so. She did however make the most beautiful portrait, and at the same time a deep impression on me.

While I am in love with the single image, there is so much that is missed with the single exposure: the way she sat while her friends had their portraits made, how she reacted when it was her time to stand up, and how her eyes moved in between shutter releases.

Her school will be the third one in this region to be presented for collaboration, and we hope that the success in our first two schools will inspire all of you to join us.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Anyel + Patricia, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2016

Today was a long day in Salt Lake City, but a thoroughly rewarding one with a wonderful team doing its best for our patients. When I returned to my room, I was greeted by the best news: the film from this summer in Cuba is now ready for review!

So in light of this news two images are being shared from one morning with these two wonderful women. One has been a friend for a few years, while the other was brand new to our photography. They however worked perfectly together, one in front of the lens while the other changed in Alejandro's 1954 Chevrolet.

Our work in this small town made Alejandro quite the star, as we visited many times with different dancers and models. He took to his stardom quite well, always smiling and waving as we drove slowly down the streets.

For our session we were blessed with the stylings of Yudel R. Contreras Garcia, an incredibly gifted clothing designer living in La Habana, Cuba. This beautiful man gave us a selection of designs for our use, and allowed us to use his clothing on more than a few occasions. This is our second year of collaboration, and I look forward very much to next summer's inventions from his studio.

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Note: These images were made with a Sony RX100M3. 

Neighbor's Son, Village near Alwar, Rajasthan, 2016

This beautiful boy lives next to my dear friend in a small village just outside of Alwar, Rajasthan. He and his sisters' features immediately caught my attention when visiting my friend one afternoon, and we photographed them the very next day. There was something about these children, always smiling and smiling beautifully!

Their smiles exuded pure love and understanding. They watched as my interest increased as each one of them was photographed. They were naturals in front of the lens, and my friend Mukesh knew that they affected me deeply.

After we were finished with the portraits for the morning, we continued with the digital camera in the neighbor's courtyard. The children loved being photographed, and I loved photographing them. Every time we returned to their village, I remembered their names and this made them smile even more.

I cannot wait to see them in February, and to see this very smile on their angelic faces!

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Boys Will Be Boys, Rural Kisumu, Kenya, 2007

Going through the negatives from almost ten years ago in Kenya has made me want to go back to the continent as well as print some of the negatives never printed. The scenes have a timeless feel to them, and they are complimented by the traditional school uniforms of the students. 

During my time in Kenya boys and girls were photographed equally, a departure from my work in Asia. The boys were wonderful, and had their own flavor to present. Some were serious, some were withdrawn and some were anything but either such as the young boy in between the two!

On this afternoon we visited a school deep in rural Kenya, and made photographs of the students under cloudy skies. We decided to make group photographs to see how individuals in small groups would react to each other. The results were all over the place, and all were wonderful to document.

Next year around this time will be my return to the continent, and this time perhaps to the southern half. 

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Note: This image was made with a Nikon analog system.

Young Student + Field, Village near Kairana, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2016

Continuing the series from this region of India, this student's portrait is presented. Thanks to our generous hosts Imdadullah Nadvi Imdadullah Nadvi Imdadullah Nadvi and Munshad Ali Chauhan, we were able to spend a week in this troubled region of India and make portraits of the most exquisite children. 

This school happens to be the school in their village. These two brothers are now in a position to change the system of education in their region, as one is an Islamic leader while the other is the political leader. They both hope to make serious advances on behalf of their community, and especially the children.

Soon we hope this young girl will have access to a full education, in addition to her traditional training. Her portrait was made just behind the mosque, right before their classes began. Her expression is etched in my mind, and moves me to fulfill my end of the conversation from earlier this year.

The place is beyond my ability to describe adequately, and upon seeing it for the very first time I knew this was a place I needed to be. Next year when we do return we will return with a plan, and the funds to help that plan come to fruition. I can feel it in my bones, as real to me as her image is to all of you.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Field + Shapes, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, 2016

Today I head back to Salt Lake City with this incredible space on my mind. While my trip to Lebanon has been delayed until the end of December, my time in Utah has been transformational... allowing me to get a taste of landscape photography really for the first time.

This image was made as I was returning from the end of the park, and towards Delicate Arch. The sun was rising from behind these shapes, and caught my attention immediately. The field was a beautiful and bright yellow, leading right up to these towers.

While it will be colder for the rest of the month, more visits to parks will be planned, including Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks!

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Brush + Boulders, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, 2016

The entire day was spent at this sublime location, walking around pristine landscapes and trying to control myself in documenting the beauty all around me. Such scenes as this image are everywhere, really everywhere!

From the saturated, red soil rise the most beautiful monuments made from stone. Within many of these structures exist the arches for which this park is known. There are snow covered mountains in the distance, green covered mounds which look out of this world and barren landscapes as well.

The end of the day was spent hiking to the most famous of the arches, called Delicate Arch. The hike took a little out of me, but the scene which was waiting really took my breath away. My hope is that the film images will contain this same feeling.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Contrast, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, 2016

This weekend is being spent in one of the most beautiful places in Utah. Being assigned to Salt Lake City for two months has its silver lining, as its landscapes are incredibly sublime. Every weekend will be spent in a different national park, and hopefully the weather will hold up for my stay.

This image was made towards the end of my time in the park this afternoon, and makes me look forward to tomorrow's adventures even more so. Tomorrow will be completely spent in this park, and I will walk to the famous arches for more intimate images.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Young Students + Field, Kairana, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2016

Since my first visit to this region in 2013, the communities have embraced me and my work fully. Although they are deeply conservative, they have allowed me to photograph their daughters without limitation. They know of my work, and understand my admiration and adoration of the girl spirit.

So when Anna showed interest in another school for this region, it gave me further impetus to present it once again to our FB family. So in this spirit, and over the next two months, I will once again present a second school for your collective review. We do so on behalf of girls just like these two students, who are as hungry for an education as any in the world.

We met them through our hosts in a village near the city of Kairana, in Uttar Pradesh. We were allowed to photograph all of the students in the school, including all of the girls. This is almost unheard of in such a conservative society, but this is the privilege we have been granted by our friends.

They were so excited to see us, and got up quickly when their turn came to be photographed. We found a spot behind the mosque where they had been studying, with the most beautiful fields as our backdrop. Until we arrived that morning they had no idea they were going to be photographed... so none of us could have imagined the surprise in store for us that morning!

So Anna, should we be able to gather another 24 people for this school, we will make it happen immediately. We have 3 months to make this happen!

Thank you for the inspiration!

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Note: This image was made by a Sony RX100M3.