blink! photography

Colour & Texture: Portraits of India - postscript

My first solo gallery, Colour & Texture: Portraits of India, has been a success. Over 50 people came out to the one-night event this past Saturday, nine images have sold thus far - raising $675 for World Vision development work in India; and two children in need of support have found new sponsors. Not huge numbers by any stretch, but it is my first show and my first attempt at making a difference in the world through my photography.

                      

On a personal level, I have received rather overwhelming response to my show - both from people who attended and those who have seen the images through this site. I am encouraged by how people are catching the vision for my photography: to try to portray the dignity of the people I am making images of – not to ignore their life circumstances, but rather to show their worth in the midst of their situations.

                  

My prayer is that I continue to learn how to create better art. Art that is great not because of wonderful composition, colour or texture (though I hope my images excel in these areas), but that finds greatness in its ability to provide a glimpse into the lives of very real people in another part of the world. The greatest pleasure I had in making these images was the interaction (dare I say relationship?) that I had with the people involved. In the process of meeting the people you see portrayed, I have been invited into the homes of families, shared countless cups of chai, been schooled by teenagers in street cricket, and had one mother try to marry me off to her daughter. While the sights, smells and sounds linger then fade, the memories of the people I met are as strong as the day that I made them.

                              

I encourage you to take a look at the images in the Colour & Texture: Portraits of India gallery. They are available for purchase if you like - just email me at info@blinkphotography.ca. I also strongly encourage you to take a look at World Vision and consider signing up for a sponsor child or three. 40ish bucks a month can make an absolutely remarkable difference in the lives of a lot of people.

Colour & Texture: Portraits of India

About a year and a half ago I made a decision to use my abilities in photography to try and make a difference in the lives of people around me. Shortly thereafter I began planning a photographic expedition to Northern India with my good friend David DuChemin of Pixelated Image.

   

After a year of contacting East Indian travel agents, hoteliers, and local friends we were ready to head out. To bring a personal element to the journey I got in touch with World Vision and signed up to sponsor a child in the slums of North Delhi.

   

Three weeks of trekking through the mega-city of Delhi, Agra of Taj Mahal fame, Jodhpur on the edge of the Rajisthan Desert, the holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges, and visiting my sponsor child, Shiv Kumar, in the slums of North Delhi has resulted in my having several gigs of image files. With the focus of the trip being humanitarian in nature, I have decided to host an exhibition and fundraiser to raise money for the development work being done by World Vision in the same slums where my sponsor child is from. I invite you to attend the one-day only event: Colour & Texture: Portraits of India.

   

June 2, 2007

5:00pm - 10:00pm

Adelaide McDermot Gallery

318 McDermot Avenue

   

Admission: $5

Matted and framed prints will sell for $100

$75 from each print sold will go to World Vision work in the slums of North Delhi