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 [...]
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.
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 [...]
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 [...]
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
Bye Bye India
This has been an extraordinary two weeks. I have laughed a lot, made some very good friends, and learned a great deal. The level of photographic talent in the group was truly inspiring.
We flew to Delhi this morning for connecting flights to five different continents. While it is sad to say goodbye to everyone, I [...]
Over The Himalayas
We spent the last 2 days on the Pakistani side of Kashmir in the Nubra valley. To get there we crossed an 18,000 foot pass in the Himalayas – the highest motorable road in the world.
While the scenery was similar (Karakorum mountains instead of Himalayas) the people looked much more Middle-eastern than those east of [...]
Rural Himalaya and Monastaries
We’ve spent the last few days in the rural Himalaya photographing monastaries and local villages. The landscapes are stunning and the people engaging. Photographically, it has been truly amazing.
Himalayas
I can’t believe it is such a short flight from the craziness of Delhi to the peace (and altitude) of the Himalayas. We are surrounded by 20,000 foot peaks – the scenery is spectacular.
We spent the first day aclimatizing and photohraphed monastaries today. Tomorrow we are off to rural Ladakh for a couple of [...]
Two days in the Muslim world
As a Christian, and a westerner, I was deeply apprehensive about spending time in the Muslim world.
CNN tells us that Muslims are scary, uneducated, and not to be trusted. The reality is that they are just like us. Sure, they dress differently, they have different customs, but they are, at their core, human.
Over the [...]
Lumen Dei – Day 1
Today was filled with challenges – harsh light, Muslim mosques, and the chaos that is Delhi. All this added up to a very stretching experience. Besides, there is nothing like hanging out with a group of really gifted photographers to push you to lift your game.
Postcard from Delhi
Today was the “get the cobwebs out” day. Four of us headed to a Sikh temple in the morning and a Muslim ruin in the afternoon. India truly is a magical place to photograph. The colors are vibrant, the people are friendly. What more could you want?
Here are a few images from today.
Photo Gear – what I use and how I use it
If you take photography seriously, you eventualt end up with a bunch of gear. Much of it is heavy, all of it is expensive. The real trick for me has been figuring out what to take and what not to take on any given shoot. Here is a list of the gear I use as well as my standard shooting configurations.