The wrestlers of Varanasi
I wrestled in high school and college and, like most wrestlers, thought I worked hard. We worked out in an air conditioned gym with weights, mats, and safety equipment. In Varansi, wrestlers embrace a whole new level of toughness. There is no gym, no mat, and definitely no safety equipment.
The “wrestling mat” is a 30 [...]
Varanasi – India’s sacred city
Located at the intersection of the Ganges and Varuna rivers, Varanasi is India’s holiest city. While Buddhists and Jains all regard the city as sacred, the belief in the redemptive powers of the Ganges river makes Varanasi central to Hinduism.
Every morning and evening Hindu priests perform an Aarti ceremony on the banks of [...]
Running with Kenyans
While we were in Kilgoris we hosted a sports day for the local community. While it is common knowledge that Kenyans can run, seeing really is believing. The talent and athleticism on display was nothing short of amazing.
We also took about 50 soccer balls that we were able to give away to the local schools [...]
Kenyan Wildlife
After a week in the village of Kilgoris we got to relax for a couple of days in Nakuru and go on safari. The Nakuru National Park is famous for both it’s white rhino population and the pink flamingos that gather on the lake. The park also has a decent amount of other wildlife – [...]
Children of Kilgoris
Kilgoris is a small town in the Massailand region of Western Kenya. For many Massai families, tending cattle and fetching water are higher priorities for children than education. The Kilgoris Project provides schools and works with families to convince parents of the value of education. Over 300 children now attend Kilgoris Project schools every day.
Among The Massai
The Massai people of Western Kenya are, in many ways, trapped between the old and new worlds. Nomadic cattle herders by tradition, they are now forced to live in one place. Many have adopted maize farming to supplement their food sources and provide an income stream.
In spite of this modernization, many Massai retain their [...]
Clean Water!
Last week The Kilgoris Project completed our first water well in Western Kenya. This well provides clean water to the 208 children at the Ntimigom school as well as to the surrounding community.
Spring in the Eastern Sierra
I spent the last few days photographing along California’s highway 395 between Lone Pine and Lee Vining. While the area around Bishop in California’s Eastern Sierra is beautiful at any time of year, springtime is when the magic happens. Soft late evening light on Mono Lake, wildflowers, spectacular sunrises, and 14000 peaks all add up to [...]
Multiple views of Mobius Arch
Iconic landmarks like the Mobius Arch are often difficult to shoot. Since so many great photographers have shot there it is hard to find an original composition. In situations like this, light painting can be a good way to do something more original.
The more standard view of Mobius Arch framing El Portal at sunrise (below) is [...]
Spring in Yosemite – Color
Yosemite Valley is a very colorful place in Spring. From week to week different areas around Yosemite peak and then start to fade. The redbuds are nearly done for the year and on Saturday I caught the last of them just outside El Portal.
As I was looking through images it occurred to me that many [...]
Spring in Yosemite – Waterfalls
High above the Yosemite Valley floor there is a spectacular view of Bridalveil Falls. The thing that makes it so special is that you can literally follow a rainbow for over an hour.
The rainbow starts at the base of the falls, providing a splash of color at the bottom of the 620 foot shaft of [...]
Giving Back
In February I spent three days at a little hospital in rural India. More than anything else, this was a chance for me to use photography to give back. By shooting both stills and video I was able to create a set of media assets that they can use to raise awareness and help with [...]
Heading Home
After two weeks in India I’m finally heading home. This has been two weeks of extremes. I spent most of my time in a corporate office that may as well have been in the middle of the silicon valley. Contrast this with a weekend in rural India among the “Untouchables”. My head is still spinning.
This [...]
Dhamapuri People
Today’s post is a little less depressing. Despite the clear hardship I witnessed last weekend, the color and beauty of India is undeniable. Here are five images of people going about daily life.
The Hijra
India’s transgender community, known as the Hijra, see themselves not as male or female, but as a distinct third sex. Although they are regarded as a special Hindu caste and are called on to perform blessings at weddings and the birth of male babies, they are shunned by society.
The little income they make from religious [...]
Among Untouchables
I spent this weekend at a small medical clinic in Southern India that caters to the “Untouchables”. Of India’s billion people, over 150 million are considered sub-human and are denied basic health care and services. This hospital, while open to everyone, has a specific focus on serving those who have nowhere else to go.
The stories [...]
People in Great Light
The light in India is amazing – soft, colorful, glowing. These four images were taken over a 30 minute period as the light went from good, to magical, to just unbelievable. This isn’t photoshop trickery – this is really how it looked!
Stumbling across Shiva
I’m back in India – this time in Chennai (formally Madras). Even though I’m here for work, India is far too photogenic to leave my camera gear at home.
I spent the afternoon fending off jetlag and wandering around temples – hoping for a few decent images to get the cobwebs out. How fortunate I felt [...]
Where have all the butterflies gone …
Ten years ago I photographed the Monarch Butterfly migration near Santa Cruz, California. At the time it was common to see fifty thousand butterflies together. Today I couldn’t find a single one. Apparently they are around – a park ranger said they counted about 100 in the entire park. The decline from last year alone [...]
My Year In Pictures
2009 was an interesting year for me. While my technique certainly improved, many questions came up around where I want my photography to go. The one thing that became clear is that to continue improving, I need to focus – currently I flit between landscape, wildlife, and travel. I’m not saying that will I only [...]
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas everyone. Here is a short video of Christmas morning at our house. The whole thing was shot at ISO 3200 with a Nikon D3S – unbelievable image quality at such a high ISO!
Upcoming Exhibit in Yosemite
An image of mine, Vernal Falls in Summer, has been selected to hang in the Yosemite Museum Gallery. It will be on display from late February through May and will then be part of a traveling exhibit.
Whales
Since I returned from India, my cameras have been gathering dust in a closet. To keep my technique sharp and my photographic need fulfilled I’ve given myself an assignment – “Go photograph the cool stuff I can drive to”.
My first outing was whales and dolphins in the Monterey Bay. Here are images from 2 trips [...]
Lumen Dei – 2009
Over the last two weeks we photographed everything from grand mosques and monasteries to villagers in small rural one room houses. Over and over, the people we met welcomed us into their homes, lives and places of worship.
Here are two slideshows, one from Delhi, and one from Ladakh
New Delhi
Ladakh