Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Yaniuska + Columnas, La Habana, Cuba, 2018


Ella ha cambiado mucho a lo largo de los años, pero su talento expresivo se ha mantenido magnífico. Hemos documentado esta hermosa bailarina durante los últimos cinco años o así, y cada vez que se mueve de una posición a otra con una ferocidad.

Ayer tuve la oportunidad una vez más de fotografiarla, y lo hicimos en la ciudad por primera vez. Se ha convertido en una hermosa joven y me enorgulleció con su disposición a ser fotografiada. Ella vino con su madre, y caminamos por la ciudad buscando lugares.

La ciudad, por supuesto, es un lugar mágico para la luz y las sombras, perfecto para su talento. Usamos la primera hora de luz solar hermosa y tuvimos la suerte de tenerla. Espero ver las imágenes cuando se procesa la película, y volver el próximo año para hacerlo aún mejor para ella y su familia.

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She has changed much over the years, but her talent at expression has remained magnificent. We have documented this beautiful dancer for the past five or so years, and every time she moves from one position to another with a fiercness.

Yesterday I had the chance once again to photograph her, and we did so in the city for the first time. She has grown into a beautiful young woman, and made me proud with her willingness to be photographed. She came with her mother, and we walked around the city looking for spots.

The city of course is a magical place for light and shadows, perfect for her talent. We used the first hour of beautiful sunlight and were lucky enough to have it. I look forward to seeing the images when the film is processed, and to coming back next year to do even better for her and her family!


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Note: This image was made with a Fuji XT-2.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Anays y Suley, El Campo, Cuba, 2018


Como siempre Anays y Suley trabajaron juntos, y me ayudaron hacer fotos magnificas en el campo el mes pasado. Fuimos a un pueblo con un casa de madera bella, con una iglesia también. La mañana fue fácil gracias a las dos... y ojalá tenemos otra sesión en 2019!



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Note: This image was made with a Fuji XT-2.

Monday, September 17, 2018

Anays + Iberodance, Havana, Cuba, 2018


This past summer in Cuba was filled with dance, as in this image with Anays Diz Pe and her magnificent troupe. Over the next few weeks more images of dance will be shared. On this afternoon we gathered at this walkway in Havana to make some images for the company. We had a great time, and they came together quickly as this ship passed by on its way out of the harbor!


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Sunday, September 16, 2018

Young Girl + Hand of Mother, Rama, Nicaragua, December of 2017


45 years after we lost our home to an earthquake I returned to my birthplace of Nicaragua. The experience of walking in the footsteps of my parents cannot be described fully, for my mind still needs to process the events of last December.

One thing is for sure, the people of Nicaragua treated me like a prince, like one of their own. Thanks to my cousins Victor and Carlos, it felt just like home. Their homes were my homes, their hospitality was as generous as any in my travels. Certainly this was a reflection of our culture, of their respect for my parents... but it was so much more, and I may begin to understand more so when we meet once again this December.

Then there were those we met on the road, such as this girl and her mother, on our way to the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. We never did reach the coast, but this neighborhood of Rama was as kind as we could have imagined. The people were so generous with their kindness, and allowed us to have a morning session which resulted in this portrait.

These beautiful people work hard day in and day out, and their lives are anything but easy. Their entire neighborhood was built on the outskirts of the town without planning nor distribution of basic services from the municipal government. Yet they endure and do their best for the sake of their children.

Their homes are as basic as can be, wooden walls with dirt floors. There are times when the making of a portrait makes me pause, such was this young girl's as well. I look forward to returning in December and going deeper into this family's history, as well as the relationships formed during my first visit in over 45 years.


Instagram

Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 503 CW/100 mm C lens combination.

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Young Student in Madrasa, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2018


We visited her school at least four times this year to attempt a documentation of the entire school. It is but a few minutes away from Nirvanavan Foundation's newest school, and we hope to include it in our efforts as the work develops.

Many of her friends remembered us from last year, and smiled as we walked through the classes trying to organize the photography. The brick wall behind her was the same brick that was used for last year's portraits, and this may be the last year that the bricks will be visible since cement was being placed on the walls as these images were made.

We selected one class at a time, with two classed being too large for one session alone. So we returned several times to include everyone, and the headmaster was more than willing to allow us the necessary time to make everyone's portrait.

She and her friends amazed me in that they were able to keep their eyes open even in the bright sunlight, and while standing in a very public space. Their composure in such a setting impressed me deeply.

It is their ability to look into the lens which makes these portraits so powerful to me. The fact is that very few of them have been photographed before these sessions, certainly out in the open while classmates and villagers witness the magnificent spectacle.



Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Friday, September 14, 2018

Elder, Rama, Nicaragua, December of 2017


45 years after we lost our home to an earthquake I returned to my birthplace of Nicaragua. The experience of walking in the footsteps of my parents cannot be described fully, for my mind still needs to process the events of last December.

One thing is for sure, the people of Nicaragua treated me like a prince, like one of their own. Thanks to my cousins Victor and Carlos, it felt just like home. Their homes were my homes, their hospitality was as generous as any in my travels. Certainly this was a reflection of our culture, of their respect for my parents... but it was so much more, and I may begin to understand more so when we meet once again this December.

Then there were those we met on the road, such as this man on our way to the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. We never did reach the coast, but this neighborhood of Rama was as kind as we could have imagined. The people were so generous with their kindness, and allowed us to have a morning session which resulted in this portrait.

These beautiful people work hard day in and day out, and their lives are anything but easy. Their entire neighborhood was built on the outskirts of the town without planning nor distribution of basic services from the municipal government. Yet they endure and do their best for the sake of their children.

His home is as basic as can be, wooden walls with a dirt floor. He has slept in the same bed for decades and his mosquito net does what it can to protect him on those long, hot nights. He lived alone and worked from sunrise to sunset just to have enough to eat. There are times when the making of a portrait makes me pause, such was his.

I look forward to returning in December and going deeper into this man's history, as well as the relationships formed during my first visit in over 4 decades.


Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 503 CW/100 mm C lens combination.