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My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Friday, August 20, 2010 | 5 photos

I spent this past summer in Tamil Nadu, India, working at an orphanage and conducting research in various rural villages. During this time I encountered some of the kindest and most hospitable people in the world. They were simple people, hard working, but happy and full of life, and so beautiful. The pictures I have chosen I feel represent the spirit and beauty of these villagers.
The first picture I have chosen shows a woman working in the field. Whenever I would see the farmers working in the fields I was struck by the vibrancy of colors of the saris against the background of the fields. The second picture I have chosen is of a man walking in the village. This photo has a blend of colors, but more so captures the feel and look of the villages. The third photo is of two children smiling against a brick wall. The children of the villages had a fascination with me as a white person, and would laugh and giggle as they followed me around. The fourth picture is of a woman’s decorated feet. You cannot see her face or who she is – yet she is beautiful. This picture represents the beauty of the villagers, and shows the dress and culture of the region. The fifth picture is my favorite. This picture is of a man from one of the villages. I do not know his name and I cannot even recall which of the 10 villages that I visited he was from, but he represents the people from the village completely. The adult villagers almost never smiled for pictures, and like most of them his face is serious. Yet underneath you can see he is barely able to contain his warmth.