Showing posts with label Rural. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rural. 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, January 9, 2023

Cuban in Front of His House, Manzanillo, Cuba, 2016


I do miss the days when we used to drive into the countryside. We’d never know who we were going to run into, and the sessions were both instant and spontaneous. For this man's portrait we drove deep into the countryside near Manzanillo and ran across a small group of houses. Both young and older people were sitting around chatting when we arrived. They greeted us warmly and we had a conversation about the area, about their neighborhood. Once it came time for the photography they agreed and we set up for their portraits. The contrast between light and shadow deep in the woods was fascinating, albeit a bit difficult to print in the darkroom. I am sincerely blessed to have been introduced to the world through photography and hope to return to this area later this year.

 

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Mentally + Physically Challenged, Kisumu, Kenya, 2007



Over 16 years ago it was my privilege to visit this region and photography two homes for mentally and physically challenged individuals.  I was deeply moved by the dedication of the staff and the resilience of the occupants. The young girl in the background of this image was a force of nature herself, as she went back and forth between friends in order to help them with their portraits. She was the first person I met with Down's Syndrome thru my photography and will never be forgotten.

Man + House, Campo, Cuba


I do miss the days when we used to drive into the countryside. We’d never know who we were going to run into, and the sessions were both instant and spontaneous. Great times with genuine people!

Woman + Business Plan, Halim Ina, Humana People to People India, Rajasthan, India


This wonderful woman has used her small loan to purchase this animal, and has done well for herself. In collaboration with Humana People to People India she has been able to enhance her ability to provide for her family. 

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Young Boy in School Uniform, Near Kisumu, Kenya, 2007


Fourteen 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. 

6 Girls + 9 Frames, Uttar Pradesh, India


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!

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

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. 


Woman + Field, Kisumu, Kenya, 2007


More than a decade and a half ago I was able to visit eastern Kenya in collaboration with an NGO named MACODEF. They were working in this region with the Maragoli Community and were doing so on many levels. It was an honor to witness the various schools with which they were collaborating, two centers for mentally and physically challenged children as well as dealing with the social complications stemming from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. While most of the photography was in monochrome, some of it thankfully included color.

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

Four friends + Flower, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India

This is what happens when the digital camera comes out. The girls start to run around, pick friends and get creative. We use available light and sit still while the students direct the photography. I’m blessed to have film portraits of all these girls, and some digital images as a reminder of our times together.

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.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Cutting Grass + Freeway, Cuba, 2010


Hopefully soon visiting the countryside will be possible. Until then having this man’s portrait reminds me of better times. I can still remember releasing the shutter while he worked hard on the side of the road. We were driving in the eastern portion of the island when we spotted him working tirelessly. Even when we stopped to speak with him and ask for his permission, he continued to work without pause. 


Monday, November 21, 2022

Day Laborers + Government Project, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, India, 2020


I can’t imagine taking only monochrome film with me to India and am grateful to have taken the chance years ago and especially during last year’s quarantine in Rajasthan!

Thank you Nami Gujjar!

Baba + Children, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, India, 2007


Looking back at my experiences with @humanaindia in Rajasthan, here with Baba holding court in one of the villages. His ability to connect with people amazes me to this day. He used to walk kilometers from his village to the office in town. This picture really brings back fond memories of those early days!

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Teacher and Students, Kisumu, Kenya, 2007

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.


Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Farmer and Children, Outside Alwar, Rajasthan, India, 2010


The respect that I have for the communities in rural India is immense. Having seen the hard work with my own eyes, watched families share responsibilities in the fields 24/7 and then experienced their generosity without fail has led me to these areas over and over again for the past 16 years. This man for example has worked since he was the age of these young boys, and continues to work without rest. True inspiration!

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, December 29, 2021

Young Student + Madrasa, Uttar Pradesh, India, 201


I really do miss this girl and her friends, and have the highest respect for their courage in the midst of indifference and intolerance. Their village is their world, and more exactly their home is their world. Unless they are attending school, they are almost always within the confines of their homes. School is a refuge for them, a place where they may learn and where they can be themselves among friends.

They’re fully aware of the hardships facing them and yet they persevere and endure through it all. In this classroom they could be themselves and act out their creative thoughts. It’s been an honor to be at their side all of these years.

This village specifically, and this very school, are dear to me. The school itself is very small, has perhaps 24 girls and 20 boys. This is the scenery just behind the school, and all around it as well. The children are so curious and deserve our best in order to help improve their circumstances. We hope to do better in 2022.