I’m looking through all of your wedding shoots today, as inspiration for one I’m doing this weekend!
Ashley slipped into her wedding dress in the same bedroom where her mother got ready for her own. Her grandfather built this house by hand for her mother years ago and this is the very place Ashley grew up. Weddings are all about love and family, I simply cannot imagine a better place to get married than the house where one grew up. Congratulations, Ashley & Ty!
by Calvina
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It’s our last day in Calcutta and I can honestly say that I am sad to leave. If I had heard myself say this on the first day I arrived I might have kicked myself. Stepping into this city has challenged all 6 of my senses like never before. Yes, you heard right…I said “six senses”. I don’t see dead people, but my 6th sense being what I felt in the depth of my soul when I saw everything I had seen and experienced.
Calcutta is like no other place on Earth. My nose never got a break from its stench, I felt like I had to always look down at my every step as I never knew what I could put my foot in next, the persistent beeping of traffic was inescapable and suffocating, every time we had to cross the street I wanted to scream and hold the hands of my friends until I got to the other side. But there is something here that made me want to stay. There was a richness in this city that I felt like I have only skimmed the surface of, there is a beauty to this city that looked beyond the devastating poverty which exists at every turn. I had my first sips of authentic Indian lassi here, but I wanted badly to have more time to sit at a chai stall and talk with the locals. For a city that many foreigner at first sight would never deem as beautiful, I was starting to discover its beauty by the end of my stay.
I discovered more than the beauty of Calcutta this week. Though I’m here to help Ellie Fun Day uncover the beginnings of their journey, I have started to see my own path fall into place. It’s like reading one of J. K. Rowling’s good books (HUGE Harry Potter fan here). She has become a favorite author of mine because of the way she takes me through a story, she never wastes a character, a moment, or a single detail. Each thing is beautifully written and put into place for a reason. She always surprises me with her twists and turns and how she intricately weaves very rich stories. She slowly reveals her purpose for every person, place and thing by the end of the book. No matter how hard I try to guess, she always throws in a surprise at the end. In Calcutta I felt like I was half way through a such a good book where earlier details started falling into place and its purpose slowly being revealed, this is the part of the book you slowly find yourself edged at your seat.
I felt the presence of the Author of my life in Calcutta, it was almost as if I was watching His hand pen these pages that had incredible meaning for my past as well as my future. It felt incredible as suddenly I really sensed that nothing in my life had ever been frivolously wasted. Those years in my youth that I had hungered to be a missionary but felt like I had wandered off the path to become deep in the trenches of the design industry to loving my life as a wife and mother and now somehow finding my way back to my camera all suddenly had a significance that I still can’t seem to articulate.
In this crazy place called Calcutta where we often did not know our way, I never felt lost; a place that made me squirm with discomfort yet I felt completely in my element. I found beauty that is significant here to its people as well as to my own life. This city will be forever a significant part of my own story that is still being penned by a hand that is so much more powerful than my own. So I am excited to see how this detail gets played out in the remaining pages of my life, because for me…this is where the adventure begins.
by Calvina
4 comments
India has such a rich story to tell. I’m so glad that many have enjoyed the images I’ve posted so far from this trip; a trip we affectionately named the Possibilities Project. From this point on, I will be sharing with you the key reason of why we’re all in India. I’m here to tell the story of Ellie Fun Day as they begin their journey to do as SariBari and Freeset have done. They are a social enterprise who will be aiming to provide the marginalized women of the lowest caste of India with gainful employment while providing an outstanding product that is uniquely designed and impeccably made.
On our Day 5 we made our first of many visits to cotton mills. One of the most important tasks on this trip is to find reliable and quality sources for Ellie Fun Day’s materials. I’ve learned so much about organic cottons and the process of manufacturing textiles. We went from seeing cotton in the rawest form, then being spun, woven, dyed, screen printed, and then eventually sewn together into the products we see in high end boutiques. I was giddy seeing the names of some labels I love and recognize. Next up with be the last of my images from Calcutta as we depart from there and head south to meet with the women of Trivandrum who will be hand making Ellie Fun Day‘s blankets. Stay tuned!
by Calvina
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The red light district in Calcutta is considered a shameful place. Those riding on buses passing by are expected to turn away because if they are caught looking in, they are greatly shamed. This is why photographing this area is forbidden and any tourists who have accidentally wandered into the neighborhood naively taking pictures have been seen mobbed by the locals to have their cameras destroyed.
I’m still haunted by the women I saw on the streets. Hands on their hips, red lips, and eyes that are glazed. Very little life exist in them because they are used, beaten, and are regarded as the lowest creatures on earth. These women were sold into sex trafficing by their fathers, boyfriends, or husbands. Some were kidnapped from villages from Nepal for their desirable fair skin. They did not choose to be a prostitute, prostitution chose them.
Each night 10,000 women line the streets where 20,000 men come to have their pick. If you do the math it means some women make more than one transaction a night while others may not be able to bring much back to their families.
In the midst of such darkness, I found hope. I visited with 2 organizations who have not only chosen to work in this undesirable area, but also to live in it. SariBari is a company who makes beautiful blankets, scarves, bags, and other gorgeous things out of recycled saris. Freeset is a company who specializes in Jute bags and as well as handmade organic cotton t-shirts. Beth with SariBari is a young women of only 30 who has spent her entire 20’s working at SariBari. Kerry & Annie who founded Freeset moved their entire family with 4 children to live in this neighborhood. Both companies employ the women who are in the sex trade to empower them towards freedom. They provide these ladies not only with employment, but with an education, childcare, healthcare, and counseling. They have given up their entire lives for this cause.
A week ago, I was given a very rare opportunity to photograph the women who work at Freeset. It was a humbling experience that they had not given to other photographers. It is dangerous to show their faces due to the possibility of their former owners coming after them. However I got to spend time with each and every one of them and captured them in action. Before long they were all crowded around my camera so that they could see what they looked like in my lens. They smiled, giggled, and kept asking for more.
I then realized that seeing a portrait of themselves is a very rare treat. These photographs made them feel beautiful when that is the the least of what they felt. So the remainder of the day, I photographed each woman. I wanted to capture each of them in the way I see her; the same way that God sees her. They are beautiful souls, full of life and hope. It is also through this that I realize what Freeset has done for them. They are no longer like the women I saw standing on the streets, eyes glazed and lost. They now have freedom; a purpose, mother figures to aspire to, and a family of people who love and care for them.
Through photographing Freeset I received more than I gave. I therefore want to share with you a glimpse of what goes on there. However, please be aware than none of these images show faces, at least not faces that are big enough to be recognizable.
Read about Ellie Fun Day’s account.
The last image is by Nate Chan.
by Calvina
16 comments
It’s Friday now. We’ve been here for exactly 6 days and in so many ways we feel like we’ve already been here for a lifetime. The accommodations that was uncomfortable to us in the beginning is now a comfort to come home to. What startled us as we walk down the street, is now expected. We once felt lost at every turn, now we’ve found our way.
The last 4 days has been awakening for me. We have been going into the heart of the red light district of Calcutta and observing the way amazing men and women have given their lives to give freedom to those who are trapped in the sex trade.
I have been given the rare privilege of photographing some of these women. The amount of images are overwhelming, so I hope to share it with you in a few days. Please stay tuned. For now, enjoy a few more stories off of the streets.
by Calvina
4 comments
I have to be honest, I just finished our fourth day here in Calcutta and I only have the mental capacity to process the first 2 days. And I don’t mean processing images…I mean processing my emotions and thoughts.
On the first day, we turned left from the alley of our guest house and was met with a wall of people. All intent on where they are going. They go with a purpose without missing a beat – cars, motorcycles, pedestrians alike. But you don’t have to slow down very much to notice those they’ve left behind, along the sidewalk are the homeless. Entire families of them, sometimes even up to 3 generations eating, sleeping, and bathing on the side of the street. All in one place…the beauty and the ugliness of humanity. I hope these images do this city justice.
by Calvina
6 comments
Dear friends,
Words cannot describe how greatly I am humbled by the support I am getting for this trip to India. Thank you for every email, inquiry, and booking I received last week for the mentor sessions. I am soooo excited about spending time with new and old friends, some I have only seen online but have never met in person. You are all making this trip a possibility for me.
This trip is called the POSSIBILITIES PROJECT, a journey to be taken with Sarah & Elton Lin, the founders of Ellie Fun Day, and Nate Chan, an amazing film maker with Yours Truly. This adventure will pave the way for great things to be done with Ellie Fun Day and how they will work furiously to benefit the marginalized women of India.
PLEASE JOIN WITH ME. I’m closing in on my financial goal to finance this trip. And I’m certain that with this next phase of fundraising, I will not only be able to fund myself, but contribute to Ellie Fun Day financially as they start up their goals of providing Dalit women with training, hope, and a fair wage to support their families.
PORTRAIT SESSIONS FOR INDIA.
HOW: Book a portrait session with Calvina Photography
WHEN: Monday, 10.31.2011 – Sunday, 11.6.2011 (midnight PST)
(Book by this week and schedule your session anytime within 2012.)
$$$: Portrait Sessions are $250 for Sacramento, $350 for the Bay Area
CONTACT ME: So I can go over any questions you may have about a portrait session. (calvina@calvinaphotography.com)
YOU WILL RECEIVE A SPECIAL GIFT! For helping fund the Possibilities Project, I will hand pick a gift for you from India!
by Calvina
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I’m headed to India! It’s been a dream of mine for many years to travel to another part of the world to photograph their stories in a meaningful way. An opportunity has come up for me to head East with Ellie Fun Day, a budding social enterprise whose vision is “Saving the world, one blankie at a time.” Specifically providing training, a fair wage, and employment to the marginalized women of the Dalit caste. Also, their blankets are simply fab!
I will be in India with them as they connect with businesses for sourcing and connect with the organization that will be helping them take this humanitarian vision to flight. I’m there to tell the whole story. Learn more about the Dalits HERE. Please hear Ellie Fun Day’s story HERE.
I’M LAUNCHING MY ONE-ON-ONE MENTOR SESSIONS to help me fund this trip. I have a passion for connections, an ability to see the depth and gifts in a person, and the desire to see people grow, learn, and reach their highest potential. So I’m putting my passions together to help others grow, to fund my dream, and to help the women of India. It’s a win-win-win.
WHAT I HAVE TO GIVE:
- How to develop your own style
- How to post process without using other people’s actions
- How to shoot with available light in any lighting situation
- How to choose a location
- How to create compelling and unique compositions
- How to create a brand that is eye catching while embracing your personality and style
- How to create a genuine and loving relationship with your clients
- How to create a connection with your clients that enables you to capture their authentic spirit
- How to see the beauty in the world around you
- How to tell a compelling story
A Skype/WebEx Chat (2 hours) $175
Let’s sit together and chit chat (with a cup of coffee). You can pick my brain.
Half Day (4 hours) $450
A half day of fun and customized learning in Sacramento, CA. We can shoot, we can talk about business…whatever we can pack into 4 whole hours. You will take away new knowledge, confidence, beautiful images and some photographs of yourself by me.
Full Day (8 hours) $950
A FULL day together in Sacramento or San Francisco Bay Area! We will eat, chat, shoot, edit, laugh, learn and play. We will have a shoot with live models so you can have some hands on experience. We will then schedule a Skype chat one month later to see if you have any additional questions that creep up after you implement what you’ve learned. Walk away with new images for your portfolio, photographs of yourself by me, AND a gift straight from India!
Bring friends (only available for full day)
2 people – $850/person
3 people – $750/person
4 people -$650/person
(Please ask about payment plans.)
THIS MENTOR PROGRAM IS MADE AVAILABLE ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING INDIA. I have not made a decision to continue this program afterwards. If I do, I cannot promise these prices. Only a limited number of spaces are made available. (This fundraiser will end at the of day on Sunday, October 30, 2011). Sessions begin after the 2012 new year.
by Calvina
4 comments
by Calvina
2 comments