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!

12 Frames of Laughter, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, 2015

This young girl lives in an impoverished section of Jaipur, far from the gleaming, pink walls for which this city is known. The entire slum is illegal yet the families do what they can to survive. They are migrants from the east and have come to Jaipur in search of work.

In the midst of this however the most beautiful spirits exist, such as this young girl. While we were photographing a few others in the neighborhood she walked over to take a look at the scene. Of course we invited her for a portrait.

She was unstoppable, and everyone enjoyed her energy. The proof from yesterday's scans says it all!

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Note: This roll was exposed using a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination.

Nathy + Tree, Guanabacoa, Cuba, Summer of 2015

Just a few minutes ago her mother sent this message to me: 'Nathy te espera para continuer este hermoso trabajo.'

When people ask me about Cuba, my words sometimes fail to demonstrate the true heart behind the people. The images are shown in beautiful galleries, the videos projected onto large screens. It has become clear to me that people need to visit a place to fully understand it, and even then it takes decades.

It has taken me a decade to begin to understand both Cuba and India, the keyword being 'begin.' Then it is times like this afternoon when a young woman reaches out to me via Facebook and makes it all so clear.

This young girl and her parents understand my work, and see it as their own. She expects to continue the beautiful work, she is the second half of this collaboration.

Of course she is much more than that to me, she IS the work.

People ask me all of the time, 'how do you get these images?' The answer is simple, it all starts with the people which, in this instance, is one of the most perfect ballerinas my eyes have yet to witness.

Talking about lenses, shutter speeds, aperture and film speed are all fine… but are well beneath the subject in front of the lens. When that subject is as Nathy presents, all else is rudimentary.

I look forward to Nathy and her beautiful parents this summer.

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Note: These two frames are from a scan of last year's film, made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination.

The Evolution of a Smile, Near Alwar, Rajasthan, India, 2016

This young girl has been on my mind since last year, and fortunately we were able to photograph her once again this year. This is a scan of a few frames exposed just a month or so ago.

A friend of mine always asks me, 'why do you photograph the same person for so many frames?' While showing him this series might convince him, my gut instinct is that it will do very little to change his mind.

I however feel strongly that a person should be given the chance to express as many times as possible, on as many frames available. We searched and searched for her two months ago, and found her to still be living in her grandparents' home rather than with her parents, a place where she seemed to be quite happy.

All of the neighbors have noticed our recognition of this young girl's spirit, and her unmatched beauty. They could just as easily make it hard for us to collaborate, but lend their helping hand to make her feel as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.

This is what makes this series possible, the transition from a somewhat skeptical expression to pure joy!

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Note: This series was exposed using a Hasaselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination and scanned for proofing just yesterday.

Two Boys + Mansarovar Park Metro Station, New Delhi, India, Halim Ina, 2015

Seeing these images one year after they were made is a feeling almost impossible to describe. This week is being spent finishing the scans of almost 1,200 rolls, from last year's visits to India and Cuba. Long story short, it took this long because of complications arising from the manufacturing process… and so to see the portraits of these two boys come out well is an incredible feeling.

The boys live in a slum located under a metro station, and belong to a population of migrants here to do what they can to survive. As one walks along the slum hundred of flies appear in response to one's footprints. These children endure the most difficult of existences on a daily basis, yet have the strength to wake up each day. Their parents work in the neighboring areas as rickshaw drivers, as workers in factories and housemaids. As the business class uses the metro station above them to head to their air-conditioned offices, these families face the very definition of a dystopia every hour of their lives.

Fortunately Humana India has been working in this neighborhood for many years and is making an impact. They have set up a vocational training center, help the migrant community secure its right in this new environment, run a homeless shelter and pick up as many people as possible off of the streets in order to bring them back to a hospitable place. They are doing the work which the state should be doing, and ask for nothing in return.

I am proud to be associated with the team in this project, and applaud Jayanta Bhakat for leading the efforts!

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Note: These images were made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination and scanned for proofing only.

Young Girl + Shawl, Rural India, March 21, 2015

Most of the times my memory serves me well but, now and then, it also lapses. On March 21 of 2015 this young girl stepped in front of my lens and produced this exquisite image. Seeing the scan for the first time today was bittersweet, bitter because my memory missed one and sweet because the silver particles recorded her spirit beautifully!

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Note: This image was made with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination, scanned through the negative sleeve for proofing.

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

Can we imagine how difficult this young girl's life truly is? 

The region in which she lives is the most beautiful from my travels in India… but also one of the most extreme in which to live. Hundreds of meters separate the homes, and the only way to make a living is from the land itself.

Is it possible for us to understand her life even for only one day?

Some of the children in her community will walk over a mile just to make it to class, some well over two miles. Yet they do so day in and day out. The darker portion of the wall behind her also happens to be the chalkboard of her classroom.

How can we measure the courage it took for her to stand in front of strangers for her portrait?

While the children are almost without exception happy to be involved in something so different for them, it still takes a heck of a lot to stand in front of the entire class and be photographed so honestly. She and her friends were on my mind when I presented in front of my high school in Cleveland and my colleagues in Los Angeles two weeks ago. If she could do so with such calm and strength, I had little excuse to do otherwise.

This young student inspires me immensely, and helps this work to go forward. The hope is that the number of schools will triple over the next three years, and that more like her will have the chance to attend classes for the first time in their young lives.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.

Younger Sister + Shawl, Gurgaon, Haryana, India, 2016

From this very neighborhood comes yet another incredible face and beautiful spirit. This young girl is the sister to our star from last year. We photographed her sister last year in a hoodie, something quite rare from my experiences in India. We returned this year to find her sister, did so and walked down the alley to an open space to photograph the children.

Amazing face after amazing face walked over to see what was happening, including this young girl. One look at her, and I just knew that she was our star's younger sister. I communicated this to the team, and they then translated my thoughts to the girls. They of course smiled, and nodded in agreement.

She was exquisite, just like her sister from last year. Now keeping everyone around us calm took on more significance, since we were down to the girls with our photography. The boys had already been photographed, and chaos was taking its toll on me. Thanks however to the team, and to two young men from the neighborhood, we were able to maintain some calm until her portrait was finished.

We ended the visit by speaking to her and her sister, standing nearby with some friends. Instead of just packing our gear and walking away, we made the time to speak with them directly. Through my translator my thoughts were communicated. They heard that we returned just for them, that their faces were etched in my mind, and that we hoped they were attending the school funded by Humana Indiain a nearby temple.

They had never been spoken with directly by someone outside of their community, even less so by someone from another country. Their expressions made me truly appreciate the bond formed since last year, and the incredible trust they had placed in me. It is a truly humbling experience to be associated with these girls, to know that they give selflessly. It's time to step up this project, and to fund dozens rather than a dozen schools.

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Note: This portrait was made with a Sony RX100M3.

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.

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Note: This frame was exposed with a Hasselblad 555 ELD/180 mm combination.

Elder, Humana India, Madhya Pradesh, India, 2016

With gratitude to Humana India, this image is being shared.

Perhaps the most beautiful landscape from my travels through India, this incredible region also had one of its kindest communities. We spent about one week documenting two dozen schools, and with each experience my impression of the communities was enhanced.

When we began our photography this morning a few elders gathered to watch. I looked their way a few times and saw this beautiful man wearing the most beautiful fabrics. Without translation we looked at each other and agreed on making his portrait. He walked over as a few of the children giggled, and stood poignantly for his photograph to be made.

The landscape was just as beautiful, and complimented the colors on his skin perfectly. He stood at this spot for less than a minute, then walked away quietly to sit alongside the other elders. I so look forward to seeing his portrait on film hopefully soon.

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Note: This image was made with a Sony RX100M3.