Photography that Breathes

Gallery: People

A metal smith in Kathmandu, Nepal The night guard at Cachtice castle with his dogs on his way to work the night. On my way hiking back down from Cachtice castle in Slovakia I happened upon this man and his dogs. We talked and he explained that he is the night guard at the castle to keep vandals out. But he also told me stories about the spirits and ghosts of the castle. Pharping, Nepal. This woman waved to me from a distance and we shared an exchange of laughter and smiles. This man was with his dog in England.  He looked a bit worse for the wear and the dog nearly bit my face off.  The motorcycle seemed appropriate with the name ‘Greeves’. Spring 1990 Group of my friends in Conakry Guinea West Africa 1999 School kids in southern India all bustling to come outside. On the Mekong river in Laos.  This young boy bailed out water for his uncle from our boat. On a road trip through small midwestern towns I met this young girl and her dog.  I loved the little yapping dog and shoes without laces. In southern India at schoolyard. My young niece being curious. These girls were playing jump rope outside in my cartier. In a Diner on Highway 50 around Utah border I stopped at a diner.  This girl and her dad were there.  We talked as she played on her seat.  I snapped this pic.  Years later I stopped at the same diner and talked to the owner.  She knew the girl (in the photo) who had […] These kids were at a school in southern India I visited. It was play time outside. These 2 kids would shine shoes around the bust streets.  In Guinea, West Africa. One of the many street dances in Conakry, Guinea West Africa. A good friend in our hammock on Koh Phangan, Thailand. These were local kids in Conakry Guinea, West Africa.  I was at a drum makers shop, Walking the streets in Dheli, India I heard drums and song.  I wound my way through back passageways and up stairs to find this celebration. When I saw it was a family gathering I turned to leave but they insisted I stay and have chai. In Pharping Nepal this woman having tea caught my eye. I took a boat ride on the Mekong River in Laos.  This boy was with his uncle (driving the boat).  His job was to bail the water out of the boat as it slowly accumulated. Visiting a school in Southern India. This family was lovely in Southern India.  Their son was really playful with the camera. In southern India I appreciated that grown men would hold hands and be affectionate. In Southern India at textile shop this woman worked tirelessly with this loom. This man was working one of the looms in Southern India at the textile shop. I had a job apple picking in British Columbia, Canada.  My friend was taking a break in one of the apple bins.  This was some of the hardest work I have ever done. Good friend playing music by the fire in Cork, Ireland. While living in Kathmandu I would buy my produce and eggs from this woman every day. Temple complex in Dharamsala India. This woman was refilling the oil candles for hours while I was there…..but I am sure she was there much longer. I went into this room where she was filling and it was so profoundly hot and overwhelming with the smell of the oil. Very intense to witness her work. Woman getting shoe fixed in Boudhanath, Nepal. CF and I met for tea and conversation at restaurant Toast often.  Here he is with our favorite waiter in Boudhanath, Kathmandu. I would go to a place called Toast in boudhanath, Kathmandu for chai often.  This guy was my favorite waiter and we would have fun. Man in snack shop Pharping, Nepal Woman burning trash in Pharping, Nepal. These were a group of children I was working with at a home in Kathmandu, Nepal. Pharping, Nepal. Every day this woman sat at the Great Stupa in Kathmandu.  People would bring offerings and she would offer a prayer. This girl at the orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal had such light in her eyes. One of the girls at the orphanage. I worked with these girls in Kathmandu at an orphanage.  Big hearts and smiles. Small town north of Kathmandu, Nepal.  This woman and her child having tea. The light was amazing. Beautiful humans curling into one another. Vancouver. In Dharamsala on my walk on outskirts of town these boys stopped me to pose.  His glasses have no glass in them. On train in Southern India.  He never said a word but initiated my taking his photo. Group of ‘Gypsy’ kids in Rameswaram, India.  In the south at the water.  They were charismatic and followed us around.  A balance of kindness but also knowledge that they would take advantage if they had the opportunity. These were the wives of my two closest friends in Guinea.  Monte on the left was married to Fesele and Fatoumata was married to my teacher Bolokada Conde. There were many places to buy drums in Guinea.  This was one of the local places where he is carving out a Djembe. A young friend in the cartier/neighborhood. In Guinea, West Africa there was a foosball table on the street in my cartier.  Local kids are playing it here.  Guinea impressed me with how the people there figured out how to get buy or enjoy things with very little.  Or perhaps to enjoy what they did have. Tea with a friend in Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal I was waiting for bus at the Bristol, England bus station.  I loved watching this man.  He ate a lovely sandwich and then sat back to relax. This young girl was so joy filled…..she looked over several times at me and this time she decided to wave. Something about it felt amazingly hope filled. Crossing the bridge over the Ganges in Rishikesh…this man and these dogs were often there. On my layover at O’hare from Nepal I enjoyed people watching. This woman took a sweet nap before going back to work. It was so hot and humid that even at dawn the temperatures were stifling in Delhi, India. This guy slept on the tin roof. Hot day in Delhi walking down the street I heard music. I followed the sound through back courtyards and narrow passageways and finally arrived at a residential space. Not wanting to be invasive I quickly turned to leave but they insisted I stay. And I did. Guinea, West Africa is known for its drumming and yes, that was the initial spark that sent me there. I met so many amazing drum makers and players. These kids were part of my community in Guinea, West Africa. We all lived in the same cartier. This young boy in Guinea would make the most amazing toy cars out of scraps of cans and flip flops. He was a master artist. I bought several of his creations. In Dublin, Ireland I was fortunate to see this street sweeper and after watching him work… it was lovely getting to talk with him. The progression of this Dublin, Ireland street sweeper down the street I took a few shots of this street sweeper in Dublin as he made his way down the street and then introduced myself. I love th image of when he stopped and posed. He was lovely to speak with. Such a sweet exchange. And I love this look he gave me after talking for a little while and laughing about hanging out the train door. Totally silent but wanting his photo taken Man on train in India. Boy looking out train window in Rishikesh India. You meet many people at the train station. These girls and I had a laugh fest while I waited in Rishikesh. Train station in Rishikesh this man worked constantly making Chapati In Dharamsala, India. I call these guys the Shiva Boys. The one on the right has a Shiva tattoo on his forearm and they were delighted to have their photo taken. On streets of Rishikesh this man was earning some money with this huge snake. Chinatown market in Toronto. I believe he is selling Jackfruit. He was a character. In Guinea, West Africa just above where I had been witnessing an unkind goat slaughter (not for ritual but drum skins)…this young boy was a part of a potent moment for me…..beyond language barriers…. Oakland CA 2014 Oakland CA 2014 This man was walking in Berkeley.  Very slow and deliberate.  He was so beautiful to me. Taken while riding a great old pedal cruiser……thank goodness for old country back roads and sweet company! Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Taken in Guaruja, Brazil. This little guy is the light of my life…… Rishikesh train station. Lots of smiles and laughter…. In La Porte, Indiana. Many late night coffees and conversations about religion…..