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.

Jalha + El Mirage Dry Lake Bed, California, November 6, 2015

Last November was spent in Los Angeles making images of ballerinas and models. The idea was to create an inclusive body of work, to make images of the well known along with the less than known… to display the similarities rather than the differences.

All of the women photographed offered themselves selflessly to the work, fully understood the idea behind the project and saw the girls in my work as their sisters. This was the case with Jalha, and our session most recently.

While it was pretty damn cold for such a session even near Los Angeles, she was more than enthusiastic to meet up two hours before sunrisey. Leading up to this meeting, she shared images of her wardrobe and communicated consistently, always showing true enthusiasm.

We met two hours before sunrise and drove out to our location, talked about the sequence of our session and began a few minutes after we arrived. She ignored the coolness of the desert air, and performed flawlessly for the lens. She changed from one outfit to another quickly, and rarely presented the same pose twice.

We had a great time for two hours, and headed back to Los Angeles with the most beautifully clear skies above. I admire this young woman, and look forward to seeing the processed film this week!

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Two Ballerinas + The Sea, Sky and Sun, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, 2015

As 2016 begins I share my gratitude for the generous people in my life who have contributed to the various projects in the past, who continue to do so in the present and who may in the future continue to make sure that girls around the world have their rightful place in this collective society!

Thanks to our successful Costumes for Ballerinas in Cuba Campaign for example, these exquisite dancers had the chance to perform in new outfits, and refused to take the tags off of the pieces!

Here they are, a spontaneous moment in the sea!

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Note: Image made with a Sony RX100M2.

Student + Islamic School, Kairana, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2013

Here is yet another portrait from that single day in the Islamic School located near Kairana, Uttar Pradesh. In just one day, we made photographs of over 120 students in various settings… from the subtle light of a window to the glorious rays of the sun. Most of the boys were dressed in white fabric, yet this young boy was different. He was quiet, and photographed beautifully when placed next to the window.

Our last visit in 2013 introduced us to a local family and their good works. Like a few families in the area, they have given their land for the sake of the refugees, and have even built more permanent homes for them in addition to handing over the deeds to the land. Our host for the weekend had built this school financed completely from his own pocket, and would like to go even further should funds be available to do so.

The school is in the middle of a very conservative village, without which we would have never been able to make such portraits. Even my friends in India were quiet surprised when seeing the images, thinking that such was impossible. The family in less than one year has been able to change the mindset of those around them, to include the girls in their quest for education and to show that Christians, Hindus and Muslims could work together seamlessly like in the team making this image.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2, using natural light only.

Young Student, Mewat, Haryana, Spring of 2015

This is a young girl for whom next month's event at the Cleveland Print Room is dedicated, thanks to the generosity of Shari and her team. Most of you are of course familiar with my work, and so many of you have generously given since this work began. For those unfamiliar with these portraits and their stories, the week before Christmas will be a great opportunity to see incredible faces, read their stories, watch videos of the students as they attend classes for the first time, enjoy the company of like-minded people and purchase prints for your loved ones while supporting directly the education of such a girl thousands of miles away!

This young student is attending school for the first time in her life, thanks to our collaboration with Humana People to People India. The foundation has identified villages in need and approached the communities in order to initiate a conversation. Some of the communities responded favorably, and thus the schools have begun. The new model is to work with the local government schools, transition the girls out of school into a classroom within the school run by the foundation, and then mainstream them back into the government system.

This will allow the foundation to run sustainably since the government of India has made it a priority to bring education to all, while aiding the government in its outreach to the communities most in need such as this girl's village. Now she and her friends attend classes every single day in a safe environment.

For this young student next month's show is dedicated, and I hope that many of you will make the time in your busy schedules to attend and show your support. 

While the show is local, anyone interested in participating from a distance is more than welcome to share their thoughts... and I will do my best to include everyone interested in helping!

www.halimina.org
www.humana-india.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Jordan + Fabric, El Mirage Dry Lake Bed, California, November 1, 2015

Sometimes my work overseas spoils me, makes me see photography through the prisms of true acceptance and complete understanding. Then there are those times when such spirits here in the States also do the same for me.

This exquisite woman is one such example, as she responded to my casting call last week with incredible exuberance. Rather than letting days go between messages, she would reply very quickly and with precision. When asked to show me her wardrobe, she did so immediately and with visual examples sent.

Her beauty is only matched by her humility, a rare combination in my experience but one which has been demonstrated to me through the beautiful people in my portfolio. She is a sister to the girls in my work, and now even more so as her spirit passed the same glass elements on its way to the film plane over and over again during our session yesterday.

For this image she allowed us to work with a fabric placed over her face. The wind was blowing incredibly, and held the fabric in place perfectly. She was able to walk around, move her hands and still maintain her hidden facial features. All this she did with the most perfect attitude, a true pleasure to work with and look forward to for years to come.

Jordan's Website

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Child of Migrants, Humana People to People India, Uttar Pradesh, India March 17, 2015

This young girl lives the life of a migrant, yet life few migrants has an opportunity to attend classes thanks to Humana People to People India. The privilege of photographing her was made possible by this incredible foundation, and the team responsible for the school in her village.

She and the other children in the slum attend classes in a local temple. What they walk through on a daily basis on their way to school would make most hold their breath. Mounds and mounds of garbage separate their hamlet from the temple, and provide an almost nauseating odor all day and night.

When we arrived to photograph the children on this morning, we were welcomed immediately. All of course knew the foundation's team, and accepted me thanks of course to this existing relationship. The beautiful children were immediately ready, and had the most incredible look of surprise as they learned of our intent to document them.

We set up in the narrowest alley, and asked the children to stand for their portraits one by one. Like in countless villages, what amazes me most is how strong, how honest and sincere their expressions are... how natural. 

Here is her expression... what was on her mind? Each viewer will have their own interpretation of course... but my hope is that none will deny the purity of her expression.

www.halimina.com


Note: this portrait was made by a Sony RX100M2.

Young Migrant + Company Wall, Jaipur Slum, Rajasthan, India

One afternoon this past April we arrived to Jaipur from the Muzaffarnagar region of Uttar Pradesh, and landed in a familiar neighborhood near to our wonderful hostSombeer Singh Summy. We went straight to our favorite family and asked to photograph their daughters with only thirty minutes of sunshine remaining. Without any hesitation whatsoever, the father agreed although he had only met us for a few minutes over three weeks ago.

We walked over to the cement factory's wall and set up our camera. We photographed three of the five daughters before the sun was too soft for my film camera, and then went on to photograph some other children for fun with the digital camera. This portrait is of the most mischievous ones from the bunch, finally put in front of the lens for all to behold without his usual antics to protect him!

He was marvelous, and truly enjoyed his time in the spotlight!

The wall behind him belongs to the concrete factory just across from their homes. The entire neighborhood is basically illegal in its construction, and almost all live a hand to mouth existence. They have across from them a factory that does nothing but produce concrete for the buildings being constructed all around them, while they will never see their interiors.

The dust produced as trucks come and go is almost unbreathable, yet these children play directly in front of this wall. When one truck passed we had to stop our photography because the dust alone prevented any of us from seeing well enough to work. This is their daily existence, just incredible.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100II.

Models + Friends, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, Summer of 2015

They work as models together, and are the best of friends. He has a quality about him which makes all working alongside feel beyond comfortable. She is able to produce expressions of innocence and seduction almost at the same time. We worked only once with them this past summer, but next summer I plan to do much more… and all of it in the ocean.

www.halimina.com

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100II.

Young Student + Temple, Nirvanavan Foundation, Rajasthan, India, 2015

Earlier this year I visited our three schools in Rajasthan, India. This was their second year running, and the girls were beyond excited to see me. They had always known me as the photographer, but now were aware of our efforts on this side of the ocean to support their schools. To be treated like a prince is deeply humbling for me, but embraced fully coming from these beautiful girls. They are at the center of my world, along with their sisters from Africa and the Americas.

It was a delight to be provided a chair during my visits, to be brought sweets on a plate and the most incredible tea in the world, while being fanned by the teacher and her sister. Normally this would make me feel very uneasy, others paying such attention to me. However the source of their attention was pure love and affection, and as such every single gesture was enjoyed fully.

This young girl is the youngest of five, and endures along with her sisters without their mother who had passed away sometime ago. Her older sisters had been photographed by me, and now she attends the same school provided by the foundation in her village… now maintained beautifully by Nirvana Bodhisattva and his wonderful foundation.

She stands for her portrait in front of the local temple, one of five in this very location, adjacent to her classroom. She is incredibly smart, and recites lessons without looking at the posters on the walls. During my entire time this past year in India, this was her only outfit… as she perhaps chose her favorite with which she attended school.

In less than four weeks a benefit will be held at a friend's gallery in NYC in collaboration with Nirvanavan Foundation. We hope to raise awareness and funding once again, and will continue to work on her behalf.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Ballerina + Trip to the Countryside, Cuba, Summer of 2015

On this afternoon we got a glimpse of the sun and decided to call two dancers for a spontaneous session. Of course we had plenty of clouds as well, but we hoped for the best.

What makes these families even more incredible is their sincere trust in and understanding of our work. They of course are plenty busy in their lives, but always seem to make time available for us and our genuine intentions regarding their daughters.

So on this day one girl was at work with her mother and the second was at a birthday party in the neighborhood. When we called them, they insisted on helping us make this happen… and especially the dancers themselves. We accepted of course with open arms and made our way to their homes to pick them up.

The clouds kept increasing in numbers and density, but we kept our fingers crossed. After the girls were ready we headed out to the countryside, just about 40 minutes from the city. We took a turn from the main road and happened to find this incredible house. Thankfully the two men present allowed us immediately to use their home for our photography.

The girls took to the stage so naturally, using everything from the chairs to the columns for their performances. They took turns in front of the lens, and even let their hair down for this session. This happened to be this young dancer's second time with us, and she really impressed us with her calm demeanor and grace. She went from one position to the next effortlessly, and always with confidence in her expressions.

The sun came and went, but we did our best and walked away with a few promising rolls exposed. I look forward to heading to NYC next week with these rolls, and the film from this year's trip to India as well!

www.halimina.com

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Migrants + Garbage Dump, New Delhi, India, April of 2015

]Earlier this year on my first day in India I walked from the hotel to the Humana People to People India HQ a few kilometers away. On my way I noticed a camp within a garbage dump and knew that the most amazing faces were inside. So I continued to the HQ for my first meeting with the team.

A few weeks later I returned to the city to reorganize and had a day or two to roam around. The good people at the foundation volunteered their time to be with me, and over two sessions we visited the camp. The reception we received was both warm and open. They immediately allowed us the opportunity to make portraits, and we set up to do so.

In the middle of the garbage, with the scent of waste all around, we worked with the children for over an hour. Some adults stepped forth to have their portrait made. During one session a man approached us to ask about our intentions. He happened to be working for the camp, trying to organize the families and provide them with the chance to achieve certain rights denied their community as migrants. We had a great conversation, as he approved of our work.

Some people may wonder, where is the environment in these portraits? 

My preference is to make their portraits without including the garbage strewn all about, without showing the endless stream of flies all about their faces. Perhaps it's more appropriate to do so, but this has been the way for me since the first portraits were made in Lebanon… right or wrong.

The next image will show the scene as it was.

www.halimina.org

Note: These images were taken by the team of HPPI as the portraits were be made, with a Sony RX100M2.

Young Model + Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, Summer of 2015

These sessions are what make this island so incredible. We could photograph models in the morning on the beach, return to the city for a few hours of urban journalism then head to the countryside to photograph laborers in the fields. Even more incredible is that almost all make the time to learn about our project, and with enthusiasm give time from their days to produce such images. 

Earlier this summer we photographed this young model along with her friend, and were actually pointed her way by her companion. At first we were a little concerned even though her friend advised us of her experience in front of the lens. Our worries were laid to rest once we exposed the first roll of film, as we realized how calm and creative she truly was.

In addition, she had the most wonderful set of clothes picked out and changed between the various pieces with ease. We look forward to her presence once again next year, and will bring these images to her of course.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

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

Today I received a message from her, that she was truly content with our time together this past summer, and really looks forward to our future collaboration next year. This was our first time together, yet she was a natural in front of the lens.

Here, at the racquetball court near the beach, she brought her own clothes for a session... from her incredibly beautiful personal collection. She is a remarkable, young woman who believes in herself to the highest degree.

She believes in her natural hair, in remaining true to her physical features. While it is a cliche to suggest that her inner beauty is greater, this applies to her as much as anyone else in my experience. When we arrive at the modeling school, she always walks over to give us a kiss and sits down with us to chat before heading to her classes. 

When we pick her up from her home, she is ready outside and always professional. She pays attention to the conversations, and her eyes are filled with the light of youth. Consistently she shared her appreciation for our efforts, and called us on numerous occasions to check on us, to arrange our next session.

I admire her immensely, and will feature her in my work next summer as we head to the countryside to mix the world of modeling with the world of the campesino.

www.halimina.com

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Two Ballerinas + Racquetball Court, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, 2015

This image showcases the word 'favorite' in many of its aspects, from the dancers to the location and to the country. It was made just a few weeks ago and features the most exquisite spirits from Cuba, and was exposed at our private studio, Las Canchas de Santa Maria del Mar.

Actually, the spot is one of eight racquetball courts arranged into a group just off of the beach. In the mornings however the spot is usually vacant, as we arrive just before sunrise.

The two young girls in this image had never met before last year, even though they attend the same school of dance in the city. As the story goes, we were searching for a younger dancer to compliment our veteran… in features and in spirit.

We had never anticipated such a collaboration, and one year later we continue to be amazed as to how they compliment each other perfectly. The older dancers loves the idea that she is the mentor to the younger, and the younger dancer enjoys being guided.

This image speaks to me personally, for it shows how the two have blossomed into genuine friends. They invite each other over to their birthday parties, which happen to occur during my time in Cuba every summer.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with the Sony RX100M2.

Ballerina + Beach, Santa Maria del Mar, Cuba, Summer of 2015

This image is dedicated to those contributing to our Costumes for Ballerinas in Cuba campaign a few months ago. The generosity of these individuals, along with the incredible discounts granted from our local Capezio store after learning of our project, led to a suitcase filled with outfits for the dancers on the island.

The looks on the faces of the dancers cannot be described adequately in words, but one can just imagine! None of the girls removed the tags from any of the outfits, choosing to leave them in place for all to see. They had worked so hard the previous year to produce the very images that moved so many of you to contribute… and were now experiencing the results of that hard work.

My message to them was simple, that this exchange was equal and two-way. The people on this side of the ocean were simply inspired by their images, and in exchange for such had chosen to take part in this project in order to demonstrate their gratitude. 

The images of the contributors holding pictures of the dancers in their hands, or near their faces, delighted the dancers. For the very first time they saw the faces of those inspired by their art… and gained even further inspiration to create more this past summer.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Boy + Koranic School, Uttar Pradesh, India, April of 2015

Sometimes the boys do take center stage, and this was the case in this small Islamic school located just inside of Uttar Pradesh from Delhi. Last year we met some local families dealing with the humanitarian crisis in the area as best as they could, and formed bonds with them which led us to this school earlier this year.

We drove from Rajasthan to Uttar Pradesh one morning, and reached the school in time to see the students prior to their departure. Can any of us imagine one day sitting down in a tiny village reciting the Koran then looking up and seeing this stranger with a camera walking in?

The looks on the faces, especially the girls, was indescribable. These are the expressions which keep me going back overseas, and which drive my work. This time however the boys were equally curious, and led me to include them in the portraits more so. We of course worked digitally, for the film was reserved for the girls and a select number of boys.

However, looking back at this portrait, I do wish that I had included more boys in the film photography. That being written, I am content in having this young boy's portrait digitally. He is magnificent, his expression as haunting as any from that day. The school is just behind him, with one room reserved for the boys and one room reserved for the girls.

The landlord is my friend, the man responsible for singlehandedly bringing forth the vision for a needed school and for building the school with his family's resources, onto his family's land. The children have a place to study, and in the near future my friend aspires to expand the curriculum to include other languages, mathematics, the arts and science. He is a visionary, and knows how to work within the system while including voices from the outside.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2, with available light only.

Elder + Slum, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, April of 2015

Every once in a while a elder walks up for his portrait, and such happened with this beautiful man. We were photographing a few girls in an impoverished neighborhood of Jaipur when he stepped onto the platform for his portrait. He was quiet, and respectful. We of course made way and adjusted the equipment since he was much taller than the rest of us, thus the angle of this image.

At first the boys watching started to have a little fun with the situation, then they settled down a bit when we looked their way. This was after all an elder to them, in a society where elders mean everything. The girls were different however, and moved out of his way with respect, returning immediately for their portraits.

We were standing on an abandoned temple, yet I felt that the magic of the place was within this man. He was serene, and at peace with it all. He refrained from speaking a single word, allowed his portrait to be made and walked away most grateful through his expressions.

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2 with natural light only.

Student + Islamic School, Uttar Pradesh, India, April of 2015

When we arrived in Kairana, India last month we were told that most of the refugee camps had been disbursed and that the refugees had returned to their homes. The people thought that perhaps this would disappoint me because they were supposed to be the subjects of my photography. This was far from the truth of course, for having less to photograph in this regard would only make me happier.

So we visited the school of our host, an Islamic school he had opened in his own village. The building was glorious, with a spacious courtyard and incredible fields as far as the eye could see all the way around. When we stepped inside this was one of the first faces that greeted me, and immediately made me realize that we would be staying an extra day or so.

The men were wonderful and helped us with the photography. We made portraits of the boys in a small room with a window as our source of light, then switched to the walkway outside to photograph the girls with the help of a reflector. They were magnificent, including the one pictured in this image. 

www.halimina.org

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M2.

Student + Pictures, Nirvanavan Foundation, Rajasthan, India, April of 2014

There are times when other people's questions regarding the importance of the photography do inject themselves into the work. What are photographs worth? What difference do they make? How does a picture help anyone?

Then I return to the villages in which the photographs were made, and hand them to the children. The reactions invariably erase any doubt in my mind, and at the most basic level demonstrate the positive. While of course these children have seen themselves on paper before, and on someone else's screen… they are enchanted by seeing themselves from the previous year. They cherish the photographs, and show them off to their friends… holding them so close to their chests that it seems they will never let go.

These are the children from one of our schools in Rajasthan, visited most recently by my dear brother Nirvana Bodhisattva and his team at Nirvanavan Foundation. My hope is that we can do even better for this school with Nirvana's guidance, and with our support.

www.halimina.com

Note: This image was made with a Sony RX-100M2.