Portraits
Read MoreBaliem Valley, Papua, Indonesia
Baliem Valley, Papua, Indonesia. This woman is a member of the Dani indigenous community that resides in the central highlands of the island of Papua. The Dani live a traditional lifestyle, cultivating sweet potatoes and a few other subsistence crops and hunting feral pigs and other small game. Despite their relative isolation, their culture and lifestyle is now being affected by political, economic, military and environmental factors over whch they have little control.
Breb, Romania
This gentlemen greeted us from his front porch as we walked past his home in the village of Breb. Breb is one of those places where everyone knows one another so a stranger, especially one with a cemera, really stands out. He invited us into his home and told us about himself and his town. After I made his portrait, he introduced me to several of his neighbors who also posed for portraits.
Mandawa, Rajasthan, India
Mandawa, Rajasthan, India. It was late afternoon when I encountered this woman as I walked around Mandawa. Using sign language, I asked her if I could make her picture. She nodded her assent but remained very serious and stoic throughout the process. The combination of the light, the background and her demeanor make for a very moody image.
Hatton, Sri Lanka
The cultivation and exportation of tea is still a major industry in Sri Lanka, employing close to 1 million people. Most of the tea is grown, harvested and processed on plantations in the highlands of central Sri Lanka where the soil and climate are most condicive. All of the tea leaves are picked or, in the local parlance, "plucked" by women. The hours are long, the work is hard and the wages are low but workers receive housing allowances, medical care and free school for their children. It's hard to imagine that this type of traditional labor arrangement can be sustainable for much longer.
Bhookhuri, India
This gentleman's serious countenance initially discouraged me from approaching him but when I caught his eye and montioned with my camera that I wanted to photograph him, he was very receptive. Initially he was not wearing his turban. I sat down directly opposite him was able to make several frames while he put on his turban. This was the first in the series.
Varanasi, India
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. March 2017.
I spotted this amazing character from the seat of my tuk tuk in Varanasi, India. He was with a small group of friends, clearly entertained by their topic of discussion. As soon as I saw him, I knew I had to stop and attempt to make his portrait. Fortunately, the tuk tuk driver was able to pull over and even offered to act as an intermediary with my subject. As it turned out, the gentleman was only too happy to participate in an impromptu photo session on the street, in front of his friends. I had time to make only a few frames, but they turned out to be enough as I caught him in mid-laugh. This portrait never ceases to make me smile.