Showing posts with label Cover Girl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cover Girl. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Proof of Friends, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2018
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.
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Dancer + Beach, Santa Maria Del Mar, Cuba, 2018
Her spontaneous gesture best represents to me the hope of better times ahead. This young dancer has inspired my work in Cuba since we first met in 2016. She and her family are always in my thoughts, and I hope that the dire situation in Cuba has had little effect on their lives. I look forward to a better future which hopefully includes a reunion next year.
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Preparation, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019
Being trusted to fix the fabric means the world to me, and reminds me of my obligations to this community. Moments like this allow me to show these young students my dedication to them, a rare privilege for those outside of this region.
One look into her blue eyes makes it clear that the work is both important and necessary. The fact that this work is needed in more villages than one can possibly count only makes it more urgent. Anyone moved by this is more than welcome to join.
Blue Eyes + Green Field, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019
Her eyes are blue and as clear as the sky. This portrait of her was made behind the religious school she attends, with my friend Imdadullah's home in the background. This is his village and portraits of the children are only possible because of him. Over the past few years this has been the village in which I stay, thanks to Imdad's beautiful family and home. Every time we arrange a session with the children I ask for her by name, and someone goes running to call her. Sometimes she comes, sometimes she's missing. Regardless, just having this single portrait of her is everything to me.
Friday, February 12, 2021
Shanu + Book Bag, Rajasthan, India, 2020
She is always so serious when in front of a camera, even when receiving a new book bag in front of her classmates. All of the sewing students attended and presented each student with a new uniform as well, hand-made by them. This is an incredible house, home to both the sewing instructor and the elementary school teacher... both sisters. I have visited this home since before this classroom was built, even before the second floor was made. The young woman next to me, now the teacher, used to be a student in the girls' school back then. One look at the smiles of the sewing students tells me that the sewing center needs to open soon, and open soon it will once the virus eases its grip on the world.
Laura + Dry Lake Bed, Southern California, 2019
Last week Laura asked me to scan one of her color images, and I was glad that she did. We exposed one color roll towards the end of our session when almost all of the tones matched, with the exception of the sky which was the exact opposite in color. The location was magical and Laura sacrificed tremendously to make it happen. To have this image as proof of our time together on that dry lake is the gift of photography!
Monday, February 8, 2021
Young Student + Classroom in Construction, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2020
If at all in doubt, one look at her portrait and all falls into place. She attends a small, religious school in the state of Uttar Pradesh. For her portrait she was standing near a window in a newly constructed classroom. The confidence she shows is remarkable for her age, and for a young girl having her portrait made by someone so different from the men in her village.
Her headmaster is a good man and is planning to construct a new school for the girls of the region. He is moved by the fact that education for girls is less prized by the villagers, in comparison to the education for boys. His decision to pursue such a plan impressed me deeply, and I will work hard on my end to gather the funds necessary by reaching out to the Muslim Community on this side of the world... and every other source of course.
One look into her eyes makes it clear that the work is both important and necessary. The fact that this work is needed in more villages than one can possibly count only makes it more urgent. Anyone moved by this is more than welcome to join.
Monday, January 11, 2021
Anays + Water, Santa Maria Del Mar, Cuba, 2016
I do miss the days in the waters of Cuba, and with the talents of that island. Hopefully one day soon we will see the other side of this pandemic and get back to these waters.
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Melissa y Alejandra, Santa Maria Del Mar, Cuba, 2018
Quedan seis meses antes de mi verano en Cuba y espero que creemos imágenes como esta para mi familia fotográfica en la isla. Aquà tenemos una imagen del verano pasado con Melissa Martin y Nanda Aab.
Gracias al Plymouth de Idiovel Alvarez, pudimos llegar a Santa Maria del Mar temprano en la mañana. Bravo es una palabra que usarÃa para describir a estas dos jóvenes, porque entramos en el agua de inmediato.
Es un honor tener esta oportunidad y poder colaborar de esta manera. Mientras que otros buscan documentar la isla a distancia, mi enfoque es tener una conversación completa e incluir los sueños de las personas en estas imágenes.
Al hacerlo, las fotografÃas se convierten en una colaboración equitativa entre el fotógrafo y el modelo. Mi esperanza es que este verano me lleve más profundamente en la vida de mis amigos, y que nuevos amigos se unan a nosotros.
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Six months before my summer in Cuba, and my hope is that we create images like this for my photographic family on the island. Here we have an image from last summer with Melisa and Nanda.
Thanks to Idiovel's Plymouth, we were able to arrive at Santa Maria del Mar early in the morning. Brave is one word I would use to describe these two young girls, because we entered the water immediately.
It is an honor to be given this chance, and to be allowed to collaborate in this way. While others seek to document the island from a distance, my approach is to have a full conversation and to include the dreams of the people in these images.
In doing so the photographs become an equal collaboration between photographer and model. My hope is that this summer takes me deeper into the lives of my friends, and that new friends will join us.
Note: These images were made with a Fuji GA645i onto glorious film.
Monday, December 28, 2020
Young Student + Chalkboard, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2020
Before this year's visit to India much was up in the air and it was uncertain whether the work with the madrasas would continue. Thanks to great communication by Imdadullah and to the trust built over the past six years, the photography flourished even more so than last year. Her portrait was made earlier in March of this year, as we visited the last madrasa in question. Her strength in front of the lens impressed me sincerely, and my hope is that her portrait does her justice.
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Young Student + Soft Shawl, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2020
Over the past seven years it's been my privilege to photograph the young students of a dozen madrasas in the district of Shamli. For the majority this is their first time in front of a camera, as well as the stranger in their midst. Now they are familiar with me and feel more at home with the lens.
This makes such an expression possible. She is so young yet so present in the moment. Her portrait is from the waist up, but I felt that a severe crop of the negative would isolate her features and present her expression best.
I look forward to the dry prints tomorrow!
Note: this image was printed onto Ilford 11x14 fiber paper, and toned in Selenium for permanence.
Monday, December 14, 2020
Romy + Sky, Zahle, Lebanon, 2019
Last year I was working in Los Angeles for 3 months. One weekend I returned to Cleveland for a visit, and drove out to DC to pick up the processed film from Lebanon. It had been months since the film was dropped off for processing. Thanks to David and Dodge Chrome Imaging, the film looked beautiful!
A big thanks to Romy Drouby for her patience on that beautiful afternoon in Zahle, Lebanon!
Saturday, December 12, 2020
Student + Window, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019
Just as the pandemic took hold of the world around us this young girl and her friends were the focus of my attention in Uttar Pradesh. According to my friends in the area, their villages have been spared from the path of the virus. My hope is that she and her friends are healthy and safe.
She attends a large madrasa which we have visited since 2013. Their headmaster is planning on expanding to a second school which will be dedicated to girls in the region. He is quite the presence, at times intimidating and at times like a gentle giant.
As for her and her friends, they love to be photographed and make the sessions so much fun. This unfinished room will be a classroom for the students in the near future. Until then it's our studio. The ability of this young girl to connect with the lens while chaos is all around her astounds me. The confidence she has while never having met an outsider such as myself before cannot be overstated.
My hope is that the pandemic eases in our near future and that we can find support for her future school. The work will continue regardless!
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Cosset + Barrio, La Habana, Cuba, 2005
Justo este año nos reconectamos después de unos años de diferencia, y hablamos como si nuestra última reunión fuera ayer. Nos conocemos desde hace más de 15 años y en su barrio hay decenas de niños que hemos fotografiado. Los nombres son tan familiares como los de mi familia.
La primera vez que la conocimos fue cuando estábamos caminando por su calle, hacia la calle principal. Estaba de pie frente a su casa cuando la vimos. Ella sonrió y seguimos caminando, luego nos detuvimos y nos dimos la vuelta para hablar con su familia. Al principio, ella se negó a ser fotografiada, pero sentà que realmente querÃa hacerlo.
Yo y Billy dijimos gracias y seguimos caminando. Miré hacia atrás después de unos pasos y la vi hablando con un hombre al otro lado de la calle. Ese hombre amable y fuerte nos pidió que regresáramos, y Cosset nos dio permiso para fotografiarla a ella y a los niños de su barrio. Esta serie de fotografÃas fue de ese primer dÃa, tal como nos conocimos.
¡El mes pasado me preguntó sobre mi próxima visita, y compartimos la esperanza de que sea pronto en el futuro!
Monday, November 30, 2020
Tamy + Columnas, Museo, La Habana, Cuba, 2018
Hoy tuve una conversación maravillosa con Tamy, y me recordó que normalmente estarÃa en Cuba en este momento. Desde 2004, he estado en la isla todos los años con la excepción de uno, en 2009. Esta imagen me dice que mi tiempo en la isla fue una bendición y la conversación con Tamy hoy me dice que es mucho más que la fotografÃa.
Esta imagen se hizo hace dos años, cuando terminamos nuestra fotografÃa de la mañana frente al museo de arte. Los coches pasaban mientras yo corrÃa hacia la calle para tomar las fotografÃas, todo el tiempo Tamy mostró su preocupación por mi seguridad. Esto es lo que significa para mà tener una colaboración, que la relación sea igual y mutua.
Hay pocos en la isla con tanto talento, y hay pocos en la isla con su humildad. La humildad hace que sus talentos sean mucho más impresionantes para mà y para todos sus alumnos.
Mis experiencias con Tamy han sido una bendición en mi vida, y espero con ansias nuestra próxima vez juntos en el futuro cercano. Uno debe pensar de manera diferente ahora, y tal vez sea un viaje rápido de diez dÃas un mes, seguido de otro viaje rápido de diez dÃas ... ¡ya veremos!
Monday, November 16, 2020
Syrian Girl, Outside of Zahle, Lebanon, 2019
This is my last week with Lebanon before printing Nicaragua next week in the darkroom. Living with these negatives over the past four weeks has been like reliving the experiences of making the images last summer.
Every image reminds me of the room in which it was made, of the approach to that camp, of the excitement in the children and of my time with my family over a period of three months. Last year was sincerely a blessing, as is her portrait.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Best Friends, Kisumu, Kenya, 2007
As prints wash in the darkroom tonight, I am reminded that countless others have infinitely less. In this series are children who live in a group home outside of Kisumu, Kenya. They have one set of clothes and sleep in a large room with others. Yet they have the most attentive, loving team looking after them... helping them even with their pictures for our session. I'm humbled by their strength in the face of such odds.
Monday, June 22, 2020
Kylee + Light Leak, El Mirage Dry Lake Bed, California, 2019
PS The light leak represents the mechanical side, reminds me that chaos is the order of the world... which led to printing it full frame and to embrace the disorder.
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Saturday, February 15, 2020
A Dozen with Romy, Zahle, Lebanon, 2019
After the red eye from LA to DC, and the drive to CLE, it feels divine to have the processed film from this summer in Lebanon... thank you David and @dodgechrome for the beautiful negatives!
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