Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts

Monday, January 23, 2023

Young Girl, Banjara Community, Rajasthan, India


Between 2006 and 2010, this tribe was photographed in collaboration with the good people of Humana People to People India. In the beginning, this specific tribe was associated with a foundation school near Behror, Rajasthan. They then move further away in order to remove themselves from the urban chaos and in search of their more traditional way of life.

This resulted in their children losing access to the foundation's school, one in which they are enrolled for about three hours per day, outside of their daily chores and work duties. While outside of class, these children collect plastic and so forth in order to sell in bulk later. They also approach certain people for donations in the streets.

As noted in Wikipedia, 'women are known to wear colorful and beautiful costumes and have tattoos on their hands.The dress is considered fancy and attractive by Western cultures. They use mirror chips and often coins to decorate it. Women put on thick bangles on their arms Their ornaments are made up of silver rings, coins,chain and hair pleat are tied together at the end by Chotla.'

Note: canvas print 36” x 36”

Monday, December 26, 2022

Patricia + Railroad Tracks, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2016



What would photography on the island be without Profe Gysleda and her students?

Let's just say that my interactions with her students are nothing short of miraculous. Here we are, welcomed into the most prestigious school for models in Havana, and allowed to interact equally with her students. These relationships over the years have turned into true friendships, and the collaborations are like times with friends. 

Patricia is all the above and more, as this session in the countryside exemplifies. She brings a great attitude with her, as well as a great selection of clothing. Some say that this is anything but real photography, that photography in Cuba should be about photographing life as it presents itself in the streets. I say why not photograph the people as they would like to present themselves, as models and dancers and actors?

Well here is Patricia as a model, something that she has aspired to be in her young life. A incredible one truly in my humble opinion.

Young Girl + House, Crimea, Cuba, 2015


Driving into the Cuban countryside is a privilege, both because few can do so and also because of the people we meet. We arrived at this spot by happenstance, as we turned left off of the main road to venture. We met a man at a fruit stand and purchased a few items, all the while having a conversation and making his portrait. He told us of his village and invited us to visit. We decided to go and, long story short, ended up photographing this young girl's neighborhood. I'm grateful for her time, and the warmth that her family showed us during our times there. It's been many years since 2015 and I look forward to the possibility of visiting them once again in 2023.

Etsy 

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

9 Frames of a Boy, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, 2010


So glad I took color positive film with me to Ethiopia back in 2010, and to have had the privilege of photographing the various tribes of the Lower Omo Valley. While the trip was a most difficult one, the images have brought me a sense of peace from the experience. My hope is to return one day and to do more than just visit, photograph and disappear. 

Young Girl + Dress, Miramar, Nicaragua, 2019


My visit to Nicaragua came as my 50th year approached, the same age my father had when we left in the aftermath of the 1973 earthquake. The feeling of walking the same streets as my parents cannot be described. The embrace by the rural communities as we travelled took me by surprise and made me realize that I was home after so long. 

Such was this morning session near Miramar. The people of this neighborhood embraced us immediately, such as this young and her family. Their lives are extremely hard, as they endure an existence without running water, access to healthcare, proper electricity, sanitation... while living in homes with dirt floors and open windows. These were the people that I wanted to meet, these are the lives that I needed to document. 


Thursday, December 8, 2022

Anais as a Boy, Centro Habana, Cuba 2018


Nothing like looking through a large loupe at my life's memories, including this special image of Anais during my last trip to the island. We have been collaborating since she was barely 8 years old back in 2008, when we met in front of her dance school. Now she wanted to make a series as a boy, and we borrowed some clothes from a dear friend for this occasion. This space was next to my apartment in Centro Habana. So we picked her up early in the morning and headed to this apartment building. She was just perfect, as always.

Monday, December 5, 2022

Patricia + Dress from Yudel, La Habana, Cuba, 2018

Thanks to Yudel Contreras and Gysleda with ModaEgos for helping me a better photographer, and for enabling this series. The dresses of Yudel are just magnificent, and Gysleda's vision is incomparable. More than 14 years have passed since we first met at ModaEgos and the relationship continues building to this day. My hope is that 2023 sees us collaborating once again in the streets of that incredible city, La Habana.

Thank you Patricia for that great morning with you in the streets of your beautiful city!

PS Negative exposed with a Hasselblad 503CW/180mm combination.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

School Children + Classroom, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019


This is what happens when the digital camera comes out. The girls get even more adventurous and call me over while the men are having tea. I’m blessed to have film portraits of all these girls, and some digital images as a reminder of our times together. Their school is one of the schools with which we will be collaborating in 2023. Their headmaster is interested in providing a fuller education to these young girls, who don't attend the government school in this very conservative community.

Monday, November 28, 2022

Audra + Brush, El Mirage Dry Lake Bed, California


In the darkroom with the negatives from California, and with this frame of Audra at El Mirage. One of my favorite people in one of my favorite places on earth, such is the truth.

PS This negative was exposed in 2019 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination onto Ilford Delta 100 film. It was printed in the darkroom to Ilford MGIVWTFB 11x14, toned in selenium for permanence.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Proof of Friends, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2018


I can’t imagine taking only monochrome film with me to India and am grateful to have taken the chance years ago… the colors of the shawls and faces in Uttar Pradesh. These two girls live in the village which hosts me during my time in that state. From this village we travel in the mornings to various madrasas in order to make portraits of their students. Every once in a while we stay in the village and make portraits of the children in the village. To know that these students live within a few blocks of where my host family lives is a remarkable feeling. Seeing them walking by as we sit at the house in the middle of the day is even more amazing.

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Helene + Sky, Outside of Los Angeles, California, 2016


My first sessions in Los Angeles were made easier by open minded individuals such as the creative Helene Tråsavik. We headed out of the city and to the other side of the mountains where the sun was best. It was cooler than usual that day and very windy. Nonetheless she was a professional in every sense of the word and did her best!

Friday, November 11, 2022

Cami + Wind, El Mirage Dry Lake Bed, California, 2019


This image reminds me of a windy session at El Mirage with @camimccullough years ago. It was so windy that we couldn't hear each other speak, and had to watch out for any items we put aside. She was as professional as anyone could have been, dealing with the wind and including it in her movements. Since then we have collaborated again and at the same place, reliving that session and making new memories.

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Claudia + Wind, La Habana, Cuba, 2016


Han pasado cuatro años desde mi último verano en Cuba y más desde este retrato de Claudia. Tenía diez años cuando conocí a su familia y ahora está en la universidad, haciendo su propio camino. Estoy orgulloso de sus logros hasta ahora y espero con ansias lo que hará en el futuro.

Sunday, June 5, 2022

Patricia + Campo, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2016


Beautiful memory of a great morning in the countryside with Patricia, missing yet another summer in Cuba due to the pandemic. Hope all are healthy and safe on the island!


Thank you @modaegos and team!


Nica + Forest, Miramar, Nicaragua, 2019


My visit to Nicaragua came as my 50th year approached, the same age my father had when we left in the aftermath of the 1973 earthquake. The feeling of walking the same streets as my parents cannot be described. The embrace by the rural communities as we travelled took me by surprise and made me realize that I was home after so long. 

Such was this morning session near Miramar. The people of this neighborhood embraced us immediately, such as this young and her family. Their lives are extremely hard, as they endure an existence without running water, access to healthcare, proper electricity, sanitation... while living in homes with dirt floors and open windows. These were the people that I wanted to meet, these are the lives that I needed to document. 


Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Melissa + Racquetball Court, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, 2018

Another day in the darkroom reliving my mornings at the racquetball courts of Cuba. This is one of my favorite places in the world for photography, the light is just perfect. Those sunglasses were just right, served her eyes so well under the glaring sun!

Thank you Melissa and ModaEgos for everything!

PS Negative exposed with a Hasselblad 503CW/180mm combination, the print toned in Selenium. 

Monday, March 28, 2022

Anays + House, El Campo, Cuba, 2018


Just looking at this negative reminds me of that wonderful morning in the countryside of Cuba, with the talented Anays Diz Pe. We have collaborated ever since I met her walking the streets of the island, back in 2008. She is now in serious demand as a dancer, a model and an artist in general. For this frame we drove around the countryside looking for places. We saw this house to the right and stopped to ask the family for permission. A sweet woman opened the door and was surprised to see us, agreeing immediately to our request.

Anays was of course ready like always, listened to my requests and performed as she desired for 12 frames. Then we changed to another film back and made another dozen frames before thanking the family, and moving onto our next location. These are the experiences that I miss, and hope to have in 2023.

 

12 Frames + Rooftop, Turkey, 2013


How I miss my friends in Turkey, and their selflessness in allowing me to document their art! 

Here we are privileged to witness @cafemullerart on the rooftop of a university building, a spontaneous session with her and her friends!

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Sewing Class, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019


Last year was like another world, and I hope that this community is safe during these difficult days. Soon we hope that the centers can reopen and that they can make more beautiful clothing for their families and learn a valuable trade at the same time. We hope to reopen the sewing centers in 2022, and also incorporate the government education system within the traditional madrasas as per the community. All interested in helping with this project are more than welcome to contact me as per the links below.

9 Frames + Students, Kisumu, Kenya, 2007


A dozen years ago I was privileged to have access to a beautiful community in western Kenya, thanks to a foundation named MACODEF. We went from village to village, from school to school, in search of incredible people and stories. This school was on the outskirts of Kisumu, and we walked just to the side to make portraits of the entire student body. Some children had shoes and some lacked, while almost all of the children were wearing the only uniform that they possessed. The foundation is doing remarkable work given the conditions, and I applaud their efforts sincerely.