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.
Showing posts with label Virat Nagar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virat Nagar. Show all posts
Thursday, December 29, 2022
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.
Monday, December 26, 2022
Young Girl + Family Kitchen, Humana People to People, Rajasthan, India
In this village my collaboration with @humanaindia began in 2006, and the photography continues to the present. For this portrait we walked around the village with the teacher and visited the homes of the students. These experiences have enriched my life more than words can express. The girls just loved to role pay, and this young girl stood for her portrait in the family's open kitchen as the light came through the doorway.
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Teacher and Student, Sewing Center, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, India, 2020
2020 was like another world, and I hope that this community is safe during these difficult days. Soon we hope that the centers can reopen and that they can make more beautiful clothing for their families and learn a valuable trade at the same time. In this picture stand the teacher and her student, on the rooftop which once did not exist when we first began our photography in 2006. Amazing how photography has documented the changes my eyes have witnessed over the years.
Monday, November 21, 2022
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!
Saturday, December 18, 2021
Mother + Entrepreneur, Humana People to People India, Rajasthan, India, 2013
Here is a portrait of another recipient of a micro-loan sponsored by Humana People to People India almost 8 years ago. At that time I was collaborating with this great team and helped to document this project in Virat Nagar, Rajasthan. This is one of my favorite places in India, since it also was the site of 16 beautiful schools for girls.
As an extension of the development programs in the region, micro-finance provided access to loans for certain portions of the population without such. This wonderful mother decided to use her funds to purchase this machine, and was able to feed her animals more efficiently. This in turn enabled her to purchase more animals, and have more milk for her family as well as for the market.
Seeing real change as it happens is a marvel, and I cannot thank Humana People to People India enough for such an education!
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.
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Student + Chalkboard, Rajasthan, India, 2018
She attends a wonderful school in a tiny village within Rajasthan, and has my sincerest appreciation for allowing her portraits to be made. Her and her five sisters have been photographed by me since 2006, when her older sisters were her age. We have been supporting her school as well as a sewing center, one which her older sister will attend once COVID-19 eases its grip on all of us.
Saturday, November 28, 2020
Bird + Me, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, India, 2020
This was a mentally exhausting yet exhilarating week in Virat Nagar, truly where my photography realized its societal obligations. On this afternoon however the bird was the subject, and a most patient one as I switched from one camera to another. This was the setting for my quarantine experience in India, and thankfully I had a beautiful place to stay during this extended time.
Note: Thanks to Nami Gujjar for this image and his kindness in these difficult times.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Ancient Temple, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, India, 2015
Having some fun scanning the negatives from my last visit to India, the first time seeing the negatives in over a year!
This timeless temple happens to be within walking distance of the two schools in Virat Nagar, Rajasthan. It sits exactly in between the two villages, a most magical place. It will remind me of the children in the schools, as well as the advances being made thanks to the wonderful teachers dedicated to the cause.
I am honored and privileged to have witnessed such change, and hope for much more on their behalf.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Monkey + Wall, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, India, November 13, 2013
I happened to be photographing a pattern on an adjacent wall when this face appeared out of nowhere. The camera was turned up and to the left, exposing four frames quickly. My friend Patrick has been asking me for six or so years to photograph a monkey, and his was the first name that came to mind at that very moment.
www.halimina.org
Note: A Hasselblad 555ELD/120mm combination was used for this image, later scanned for the sake of this initial presentation through the negative sleeve.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Elderly Man, Humana People to People India, Khala Kidhani, Rajasthan, India, November 6, 2013
The night before I was concerned that perhaps he might be missing the next day, but he happened to be the only man from the group the evening before to be present as we arrived. At first he declined the portrait and like so many times my interpreters were nudged a bit by me to ask kindly once again. He did accept graciously and gave much more of his time than asked.
There was a moment when one of the young boys laughed inappropriately, and the elderly man took offense and almost left his seat to head back to his spot. He then noticed my dismay at the young man's insensitivity and decided to give my camera one more chance. The sun was soft yet strong enough to allow another roll, and more intimate images were made regarding distance such as the image above.
It never ceases to amaze me how young boys, and at times young men, take it upon themselves to disrespect the courageous spirits standing in front of my lens. Whether this happens to be young girls in Cuba or older men in India, it's always the same: attention is being given to someone other than them.
I have been fortunate to have had wonderful subjects, people with a deep understanding of their own surroundings. They are the ones to rise above the remarks and concentrate on the lens in front of them, to use that lens as a tunnel through which to communicate with the viewers when that time comes. Each time this happens I am breathless, and deeply appreciative.
halim.ina@gmail.com
Halim Ina Photography
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Brother Netram, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, Eve of Diwali, November 2, 2013
I have known this gentle man since my arrival in Rajasthan over six years ago. He lives in this small room and produces exquisite furniture made of fine rope twisted around wooden frames. He wakes up early in the morning and tends to his spiritual responsibilities, then goes about his duties in a most diligent manner.
He is both precise and devoted, and has been my friend since the day we met. Last night he read the lines on my hands, and gave me hope that the original schools will one day reopen as well as the schools now scheduled to open.
Here he sat on one of his benches, on the eve of Diwali. A few minutes after this image was made we took a walk into the market and had some sweet treats, and spent the night talking.
The next day he showed me a beautiful temple he had constructed for the Diwali celebration, while flowers hung from ceiling of the entrances to the hallway and to the room. I admire this man, and am proud of our brotherhood.
He is both precise and devoted, and has been my friend since the day we met. Last night he read the lines on my hands, and gave me hope that the original schools will one day reopen as well as the schools now scheduled to open.
Here he sat on one of his benches, on the eve of Diwali. A few minutes after this image was made we took a walk into the market and had some sweet treats, and spent the night talking.
The next day he showed me a beautiful temple he had constructed for the Diwali celebration, while flowers hung from ceiling of the entrances to the hallway and to the room. I admire this man, and am proud of our brotherhood.
halim.ina@gmail.com
Halim Ina Photography
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Boy + Cap, Humana People to People India, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, India, October 29, 2013
As with almost all situations in my experiences with rural India, boys take center stage once they see me and my camera. On this morning it was advantageous, they were quite charming and beautiful actually. This young boy was almost the last to be photographed, preferring to stay behind at least one older boy in the crowd the entire time.
The space was a small lot just off of the main road, and perhaps around 30 people had gathered to witness the proceedings. One advantage with photographing boys is that the crowd does little to affect the subject's demeanor, in contrast to when a young girl is photographed in front of the same, mostly male crowd. So this young boy was quite comfortable in front of the camera and also in front of a few dozen people.
Tomorrow I leave for Behror and then Alwar on single day visits to friends. Photography will be quite limited, but then again the camera will be ready in case someone with such a face decides to show up in front of my camera.
Halim Ina Photography
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Face + Hands, Elder, Humana People to People India, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, India, October 30, 2013
The team walked past him and continued up the street, while I was enthralled with his features and styling. I asked my team to gain his permission, and with the help of another local man we were granted permission. He was hard of hearing, and has lost sight in one of his eyes. The people around us were most helpful, and guided him to the other corner of the street to be photographed with direct sunlight.
He was beyond great, allowed me to also photograph his hands, both with film and with a digital format. He was so patient, while those around us wondered for limitless reasons regarding our intention and purpose.
After we were finished, I had the privilege of shaking this man's hands… and in gaining his trust for the portraits made this morning. I cannot wait to see the negatives, but will settle for the digital image above as a preview.
Halim Ina Photography
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Student + Teacher, Courtyard, Humana People to People India, Rajasthan, India, November 15, 2008
In the above portraits a teacher sits on the same frame as her student, both associated with Humana People to People India. We arrived mid-day and needed to find a place of shade. As we talked in the narrow alley I noticed this courtyard just over a low wall. We asked the residents of the home and they welcomed us without issue. The entrance to the courtyard is to the upper right corner, and the wall is just beyond the baskets and grass/dung packets.
The residents of the house provided the small chair, and one by one the students sat down for their portraits. We would make perhaps four to six exposures of each child, then ask the next to sit down. As we were finishing our work we asked their teacher to join in the session and she did without reluctance. She even sat down in the same chair, in full view of the children and adults as well. The level of dedication always touches me, to see women and men working so diligently on behalf of the little ones.
The portrait of the young girl was made on the sixteenth roll while the latter image was made on the eighteenth roll of this session. A Hasselblad 555 ELD was used with a 120mm lens mounted on a tripod for consistency and stability. The film used was Fuji's Neopan Acros 100 ASA, and a small reflector was placed behind me and to the right with the help of a local volunteer.
Soon we hope that this school will reopen and have plans to help reopen five schools in 2013 with the gracious help of Humana People to People India. In this way this wonderful teacher can return to her position and this student can once again learn to read and to write in between performing chores for her family.
Any reader interested in taking part of this work may contact me through the following links, input is most welcome.
Halim Ina Photography
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