Post #90

Greetings from Indiana. It's interesting being back here. My two weeks in the Pacific Northwest were great and added to my desire to live there...soon. Leaving for Indiana was hard. Even from the airplane window looking over the flat farmland, I found myself grimacing. I was not ready to be stuck in the flat, dead lands of the midwest. I was excited to see friends, but the reverse culture shock was severe. Since the initial shock, the effects have faded. Seeing amazing friends, climbing in my home climbing gym, and standing on my sister's property overlooking beautiful rolling hills bounding off into the distance have returned me, all of me, to this place. Maybe it is good to be home to some extent. To be recognized; loved. This month will go too fast and I will find myself on a plane heading back to Mumbai. I am excited for the next move. I am not sure where it will take me, but right now I'm hoping its the Pacific Northwest - namely, Portland.

I finished the paperwork today to do some substitute teaching while I'm back. Sometimes I love it. Sometimes it's hell.

Here's a portrait I took of my friend Tiffany using a window as a back light and my Orbis Ringflash on my Speedlite 580exII as fill. I shot Tiffany with my 50mm at f/1.4 while Ed, her crazy 60 something year old roommate watched over my shoulder. He likes to talk.

She got a tattoo. 

More soon. 

Phil Borges and the Pacific Northwest

Today I had the great pleasure of meeting the supremely talented photographer Phil Borges, who's work focuses on the empowerment of women in 3rd world countries. His first project in Tibet received a lot of well deserved attention and allowed him to continue telling stories with his photography of the people he meets. I have been a fan of Phil's work since I read an article several years ago in a photography magazine featuring him. I love his focus on the people and bringing to detail the struggles they go through, especially the women in these countries. 

My time back in the States has been good. I was greeted in the Seattle airport by a dear friend 30 some hours after leaving Mumbai (somehow the same day). I watched a LOT of movies on the international sections and somehow managed to sleep between Detroit and Seattle. I spent time with my uncle out on the beautiful Whidbey Island and photographed his motor yacht. Several years ago I had promised him pictures but somehow never delivered (and now that certain hard drive has crashed...not positive I have DVD backups of it all). We had one of those few and far between absolutely stunning PNW winter days.

More photos and thoughts -->

Holi Peaches Batman! I'm leaving tonight!

These last two weeks have been somewhat of a whirlwind. I've started hanging out with a great new group of friends and been active all over the city. I've been trying to prepare for coming home, but it really gets shifted to the back of my mind. Now, 12 hours before I fly out, I still cannot concentrate on packing.

Monday I participated in the annual holiday of Holi. Holi is a festival of radiance (Teja) in the universe. During this festival, different waves of radiance traverse the universe, thereby creating various colours that nourish and complement the function of respective elements in the atmosphere. My new friends got together to cover each other in colored powders. It was a grand mess and oh, so much fun. I will post more photos later, but here is a taste. 

I am excited to be at home and see my friends and family, but I have mixed feelings. I love being here and hate to leave for two months. Making great friends right before I leave is how it always seems to work for me. But I will be back before I know it. One thing I am really looking forward to at home is having running water 24 hours a day. The current situation is a drag. 


I will update you on the other side...