India on the move

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

India | Saturday, October 16, 2010 | 5 photos

India is an ancient country that's quickly moving into the modern era. But gains in the national economy have not made their way into rural areas. Yet, wherever I went, I found the people of India to be engaged and on the move. Along a rural highway, I discovered women walking, or perhaps a family sharing a ride. The colors and patterns of the traditional sari dresses that women wear indicate one's status and area where they live, but also offer a beautiful rainbow of colors seen throughout the country. And although money is scarce in many areas, children still find that happiness is possible even though life for everyone is hard. The photograph of the seated man in the red turban is perhaps an example of how I see the older generations of India being left behind in the rush to riches seen in the bigger cities of India. He wears the customary dress of rural Rajasthan that identifies him with that state, while unseen men in sleek business suits in urban areas blend together and lose this connection with their 5000 year old heritage, all in the space of the past 100 years or less. And finally, this couple looking out their window offers a glimpse of hope, or resolve, to the rapid changes to the traditions and history of this ancient culture. As I experience the diversity of the human condition around the world, I am drawn to the power of the image to tell a story of differences and similarities that we all share and connect with. Through my work, I am attempting to refine how a story can best be communicated. That is why this scholarship appeals to me and why I feel I can benefit from time spent with Jason, to learn how to simplify and condense a story to its essence, once it has been defined.