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. 

Etsy 

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Joven + Campo, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2018

Sometimes I love taking a square negative and filling up the space of an 11x14 print. That was the case with this young girl's portrait from the countryside of Cuba. It has been my honor to photograph her and her family for the past five years, and I hope that she and her family are safe during these difficult times.

Etsy 

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Turn + Smile, Rajasthan, India, 2017

For those of us who have come forth on behalf of 240 children in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, this image of one student is being presented. My hope is that her joy is clear to all of us, that even though she is turned, we can see the extreme happiness in her expression. This is the magic of an education, the power of hope. Thanks to all of you the new school will begin later this year in Uttar Pradesh, as well as four new sewing classes both in Rajasthan and in Uttar Pradesh.

With the guidance of Nirvana Bodhisattva and Imdadullah Nadvi Nadvi, your donations will be put to good use. Last month the first quarter of the budget was sent, and next month the first half of the budget will be met. Now that I am back from the summer in Cuba images will be posted, and stories shared. All of you can rest assured that the progress will be noted for all of us to witness.

A sincere thank you for all of us, to all of you!

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm lens combination.

Young Syrian + Home, Zahle, Lebanon, 2017

During my last visit to her camp over seven years ago she was yet to be born, and the circumstances in the region were very much different. Her community was made up mostly of migrants working in Lebanon in order to support their families back home in Syria.

Since then much has changed, and her homeland lay in ruins. Her camp is a mix of migrants and refugees, and the most dangerous elements from the wars in the region have even made their way into the camps doting the landscape around her. This is the environment in which she lives, and from which this portrait was taken just this past week.

Her camp happens to be where my photography was born over 20 years ago, and where my photography was reborn last month after a seven year absence. To say that my mind was filled with hesitation before this trip would be an understatement. Yet making my way to her camp just seemed right, regardless of the risks involved.

In the end the camps embraced me as they had done two decades ago, and have given me the confidence to return next year. For this portrait her family invited me into their home to photograph her youngest sister. While that portrait was never made due to her sister's shyness, hers was more than easy to make for she is anything but shy!

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Young Woman + Home, Rajasthan, India, 2017

This post was written originally on International Women's Day, 2017.

In honor of the women and girls who have blessed me with their portraits, and of course my Mother, I share her portrait on this International Women's Day. We were in her presence yesterday and just this afternoon, and were once again fortunate enough to make her portrait. She has been photographed by me for the past ten years, and the previous portrait shared on my page happens to be her brother.

She was a student in the initial Humana India school, and has continued with her studies thanks to the support of her family. Her father believes in his daughters, and sends all of them to school. She is a brave spirit, and takes care of her younger siblings in spite of the loss of her mother at a young age.

On the day of this portrait, the girls dressed up in their favorite clothes and ran back and forth with great excitement as the shutter clicked. They put on the most beautiful clothing, and of course made up their faces. To be in a house filled with girl spirits, and to be allowed to document their creativity, is a feeling unlike any other... and is a perfect sentiment to share on the most auspicious of days!

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Young Woman + Puppy, Countryside of Cuba, 2015

One day Alejandro and I drove out into the countryside looking for something new, and happenstance led us to this house and this young woman on our way back. We had almost given up after an hour or so of driving, and made our way to the spot where the sun was still shining, in between clouds rolling in from both sides. About 20 minutes before the sun was blocked by the clouds we stopped to photograph this house, and encountered a group of incredible people.

They had been visiting the man living in the house, and were on their way back home when we walked towards them. We first asked to photograph the home, and the handsome man allowed us to do so. Alejandro knew my technique and knew that the next question would be to photograph the inhabitants of the house. We moved onto that question and not only did the man allow us to photograph him, but the young women also allowed us.

As the rain started to come down on me and the camera the portraits were made. The sun was still shining, and the women refused to leave until their portraits were made. So we did so, all the while one of my tripod legs was dangerously close to the nest of a chicken guarding her eggs. I kept one eye to the ground on my left, and one eye on the people in front of the camera, while my mind was thinking of the rain and hoping that the lens was clear of water.

It was a beautiful moment, and I do hope that we can make it back to that home to provide the photographs from two years ago. Alejandro of course remembers every single home we visit, and it is my belief that we will make it this summer!

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/100 mm combination onto Kodak 100 TMX film.

Sisters + Courtyard of School, Rajasthan, India, 2015

When my work began in this region a decade ago, it did so with little context. Regardless of the number of stories told to me by my Indian friends or those traveling before me, nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. While the general presentation was somewhat overwhelming, the learning was accomplished through the nuances. 

Then one day we were visiting this very spot thanks to the graces of Humana India when one of people from the foundation asked me to stop. It seemed that one of the girls wanted to tell us something. All gathered around us while this young student shared a snapshot of her life with us.

Paraphrased from my memory 10 years later, here is what she shared with us: "Before this school, I never cared about washing my hands, taking care of my skin and brushing my hair. Before this school I walked around this village without sandals, and never thought much about what will come. Since this school began, I think about my future, wash my hands and take care of myself every day. This is what this school means to me."

To see her standing here next to her younger sister makes me very proud of the work Humana India did in this village for so many years. She is an impressive, young woman now and has begun her own family. My hope is that her voice will be heard, and that her daughters in the near future will attend schools just as she was able to do.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Model + Blue Chair, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2016

Once again I hope all is well with everyone, and sharing one photograph from last month's session in the countryside. The young women in Cuba are like young women everywhere, with dreams and aspirations like anyone else. They chose the clothing, and loved the idea of combining the countryside along with the world of fashion. We ended up making more than our share of images in front of this house, and especially with the blue chair in the background.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100III mounted alongside a Hasselblad film system in order to provide images immediately to the people.

Mother + Child, Banjara Community, Rajasthan, India, 2009

On the morning of this portrait, we arrived before the sun came up and walked toward this first set of homes. The men were out for the day already, and only the women and children were left behind. This was just fine by me, as the women quickly agreed to allow the photography to begin.

The sun was very soft but we managed to find a white wall to use as our backdrop anyway. We began with a few portraits of the boys, as always ready subjects to be photographed. Then the girls stepped up and we made a few images lasting perhaps twenty or so minutes. The surprise came when the women asked to be photographed, and did so with joy rather than shyness.

The Banjara Community has been a subject of fascination for me ever since my first days in India, when Humana People to People India invited me to document their Academies for Working Children which serve this very community. The academies are located usually in areas neglected by the government system, and tends to migrant communities and their children who are usually doing the most menial of jobs in order to support their families.

The foundation provides these children with at least three hours a day of education, striking a balance between what is possible and what is less so. The families allow their children to attend classes knowing that they are still available for work the rest of the day. To see these children, with fresh faces, taking their lessons from the teachers cannot be put into words. I will only say that most teachers on this side of the ocean would love to have such enthusiasm in their students, that same appreciation for the opportunity to learn.

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination, cropped for the vertical perspective.

Two Friends + Fisherman, El Malecón, La Habana Cuba, 2008

Two Friends + Fisherman, El Malecón, La Habana Cuba, 2008

My work in Cuba began in the streets and this year returns to the streets. Portraits like this will be made with hand-held cameras, rather than using a tripod. The early and late hours will be for the formal portraits, but the middle of the days will be reserved for roaming the city and making environmental portraits.

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Note: This image was made with a Contax G2/45 mm combination.

Young Student, Humana India, Madhya Pradesh, India, 2016

This past year the chance was taken to visit a new state, and one quite a distance from my usual travels. The part of Madhya Pradesh which we were able to visit had the most surreal landscape. It looked like some god had created the most beautiful hills, raked them with a fine tool and then laid some trees and colors here and there.

The place looked like it was planned out, rather than a natural setting. It was the most beautiful setting my eyes had witnessed, while my mind knew that the lives of the people in this region was certainly made more difficult.

People lived far apart from each other, and the remoteness of the place made governmental services much less accessible. Agriculture was certainly a most difficult task, although the community did its best.

This girl was a student of a school sponsored by Humana India, as part of their Step Up Initiative. At that time she was attending classes in the program, and my hope is that she has now joined the government school system as planned from the beginning.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

La Profesora + Las Canchas, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, 2015

When we work with this magnificent woman the inspiration flows both ways. She knows what to do without exchanging words, the camera is there to document her movements rather than direct.

While we had photographed many of her models before, we had yet to have our own session. Thanks to the brilliance of Diz Pe Adrian Arturo, we reserved a morning towards the end of our summer last year just for her.

The experience was, to write the least, most enlightening. Her movements and expressions were of course magnificent. It was however the way in which she went about presenting herself that impressed me the most. She spoke very little, smiled often and always nodded when asked to do something specific.

Here she was, the highest in her trade in one of the most incredible cities, yet she maintained an immense sense of humility. She taught me a lot on that afternoon, and I for one look forward to more lessons in two months!

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Note; This image was made with a decade old Kodak digital camera, when our trusted and newer Sony gave out. Even though the images on the camera's screen were almost impossible to see during our session, they turned out better than expected for sure! I must give it to Kodak for making something which lasted in the digital age!