The miracle of Delicate Arch has remained with me to this day, as well as the hike to it. Never thought that hiking with my camera equipment was a big deal, until I was resting now and then on my way up. In the end this print makes it all worth it.
PS This negative was exposed in 2016 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14.
During my quarantine in Rajasthan for the early part of 2020, the birds were my companions while walking in the fields. My host family welcomed me without question and gave me a room in which to stay for six weeks until my return home. So I would set up the camera on the tripod in the middle of the field and walk around and around. Once the moon was just right and birds started to fly, I would cross over to the center of the field to release the shutter. So this image has immense meaning for me, and I am thankful to have had such friends both on the ground and in the sky.
¡gracias a los trabajadores fuertes en el campo!
PS Negative exposed with a Hasselblad 503CW/100mm combination, the print toned in Selenium for permanence.
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.
PS This negative was exposed in 2019 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination onto Ilford Delta 100 film. It was printed in the darkroom onto Ilford's MGIVWTFB 11x14, toned in selenium for permanence.
In the darkroom again with the negatives from Utah, with the print sitting in the fixer. A herd of cows were grazing in the field just below this glorious mountain. I just had to stop… Utah is remarkable!
PS This negative was exposed in 2016 with a Hasselblad 501CM/180mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14.
Like many widows, she has been left to defend for herself and for her children. Instead of being looked after by her community, she belongs to the majority receiving nothing from the State and lacking a pension.
In many instances, life after the death of the husband is a life waiting for death itself. So many women are married when quite young to men much older than them. As a result, the death of their husbands leaves them as young women with children and without a security net. The stories are endless, the humiliation eternal.
Depending on position and caste, some of these women are forced to shave their heads, others refrain from wearing jewelry or from presenting their beauty to the world. They are to remain invisible for the rest of their lives, almost as a means to relieve Society from its conscience. With over 40,000,000 widows in existence, this leaves a void difficult to ignore.
After we finished with the photography, the teacher gathered his students for a class picture. The school building was just to the left of this space. Visiting this school gave me pause and helped me understand even more so how fortunate we are. I admired this teacher very much and hope that he continues to teach.
Looking back over the past 20 years has made me even more grateful for choosing photography as a path in life. The camera has given me chances otherwise unavailable, such as meeting this Arab woman from Syria. Hers was my first camp, and she made it possible. These experiences have shaped my view of the world, and I’m thankful for that.
This is her second portrait in as many years. The first time we met was during my first visit to India, during a special day arranged by Humana People to People India. On this day many activities were under way, including one contest between women walking very fast with containers balanced on their heads.
My first portrait of this young girl was made behind the main tent, with white fabric from the tent serving as the backdrop. This portrait was made the following year at her school, a basic open classroom on the roof of a building donated to the foundation. While she was absent when we first arrived, she showed up later because she heard that we were there to photograph her once again.
A previous entry described this incredible day; suffice it to put down at this moment that over ten dozen images were made of her, ranging from two clips in the hair to one clip to a roll or so without either clip.
The year following this portrait my documentation of her continued, this time in a village a bit distant from the school. By this time, she and her community had moved out of the town to a more remote location. The children had stopped attending the foundation's school and she was working as a house maid as well as tending to the family's livestock.
Two years after the portrait above our collaboration ended. Although we found her once again after asking around, by this time she had become so shy, so conscious of herself, that she refrained from even stepping out of the tent to exchange greetings. The younger girls were making fun of her, even teasing her about the attention she was receiving from this stranger.
So we of course respected her wishes and photographed the younger girls. One day they too will refrain from being photographed. Until that time however we will return.
PS This negative was exposed in 2019 with a Hasselblad 501CM/60mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14 just yesterday.
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.
Here we are privileged to witness @cafemullerart on the rooftop of a university building, a spontaneous session with her and her friends!
