Manasi Kashyap Photography

A day in the house of Carole.

2011-10-18T05:27:00.000-07:00

Carole King is the editor of the Heart Home magazine that features very cool decor & lifestyle ideas.
I visited Carole's beautiful, warm home on a cool but sunny day in October to shoot a day in her life. Her place is full of the most evocative collectibles gathered from her travels across the globe including a welded hog that stole my heart. She has a pretty pear tree & the most cosy patio with heavenly light.

Kris Cross Designs & her beautiful understated jewelry.

2011-10-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

I bought jewelry from Kris Cross Designs earlier & am about to again. Can't say enough about her beautiful, sophisticated minimalist style. Kristi does custom designs as well, so feel free to ask her if you see something in her sold items list that you love. Kristi ships to international locations as well and also sells at Nomi.

All images belong to Kristi.

Source: etsy.com via Manasi on Pinterest

2011-10-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

A little promotional cupcake shoot I recently did for a client made it into a little space on Vogue's November issue (UK). I'm tickled pink & possibly, so is Sarah Lamey of Chop's Cakes.

An afternoon with Josefine.

2011-10-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

From 2 hours of a warm Autumn afternoon in London with a beautiful, articulate person, books, an apple tree & a cat.

Faves from Origin Craft Fair - Ceramics & Sculpture.

2011-09-28T06:33:00.000-07:00

My favorite artists from the ceramics & sculpture categories (Origin Craft Fair).

Below: Abigail Brown's beautiful birds.

Source: abigailbrown.bigcartel.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Source: abigail-brown.co.uk via Manasi on Pinterest

Below: Cissy Cook's amazing wall art.

Source: cissycookdesigns.co.uk via Manasi on Pinterest

Below: Claire Brewster's intricate map art. My walls are aching for one of these. Only, I'd want a map of India!

Source: clairebrewster.blogspot.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Below: Linda Bloomfield's sophisticated ceramics. Love the quiet tints of glazes.

Source: lindabloomfield.co.uk via Manasi on Pinterest

Faves from Origin Craft Fair - Jewellery.

2011-09-28T06:16:00.000-07:00

For those of you who missed it - this should teach you! I thought I'd have to have my eyes profesionally uncrossed.

Below: I don't know where Ruth Tomlinson gets her inspiration from but I want to scoop it all up & run for the hills. She rightly calls one of her supremely fantastical & other worldly collections 'Hoard'.

Source: ruthtomlinson.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Below: Ethereal, lacy & dimensional jewellery by Teri Howes.

Source: terihowesjewellery.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Below: Loved the stylized & organic work of Katie New.

Source: ktnew.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Below: All the time I was at Kate Wood's stall, I wanted to bite into her raspberry jewellery. I'm sure there have been others who felt the same.

Source: glintjewellery.co.uk via Manasi on Pinterest

Below: Amanda Caine's beautiful & abstract found-objectesque jewellery.

Source: amandacaines.blogspot.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Below: Anna Wales' textured jewellery in the manner of twigs & blooms. Love.

Source: annawales.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Slo Mo for Ally & Mike.

2011-09-16T03:39:00.000-07:00

Shot in Ealing (London), UK on my Canon 7D. On a rare, sunny day.

Shoot with Ally & Mike.

2011-09-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

Early Fall shoot with Ally & Mike. Gorgeous weather & gorgeous people make my day. All shot on my Canon 1V with Fujifilm & Kodak Portra 35mm negative film.

'Discovering local jems' series - Wheeler's Garden Center.

2011-09-05T15:09:00.000-07:00

On the District Line, right outside the exit at Turnham Green, is a delightful gardening supplies shop. Wheelers Garden Center carries beautiful plants, pots, garden furniture & ornaments. Wheeler's has an interesting elongated & 'tucked in' layout which is fun to explore & constantly evolving. Love their selection of face masks & bird cages. Bought myself a pretty artisan pot & some heather. The center tends to pick up a small selection of pretty glazed pots from shows that happen over the year.

X Ray Art.

2011-09-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

A world of delicate lines, spidery veins & ghostly shadows. Images by Judith McMillan.

Source: judithkmcmillan.com via Manasi on Pinterest

The telling doodle - graphic design at it's best.

2011-08-31T10:34:00.001-07:00

Clever & simple graphics that stick with you. These would be the people I'd pick the next time I wanted a logo designed for my business!

Source: logopond.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Source: gallery.machoarts.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Source: noupe.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Source: designworklife.com via Manasi on Pinterest

One delightful day of messing with film.

2011-08-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

There is no greater delight than going to the lab to pick up freshly developed film! I haven't yet met a digital camera that could do magic like a good old roll of 35mm. These are all SOOC (except for the watermark). All shot on a Canon EOS 1V SLR & Fujifilm 400h.

La vie épurée.

2011-07-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I dropped off a bag full of clothes at a local charity & threw 1 bag of garbage & 2 bags of recycling. Ah the lightness of being. I could be living in any of the pictures below :)

Source: flickr.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Above: the work of Ta at Flickr. Such an eye for beauty in simplicity.

Source: etsy.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Above: from baileydoesntbark

Source: anabundanceof.tumblr.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Above from: GretchenWalker

Source: etsy.com via Manasi on Pinterest

Above from: Rustical

Images from Craftcentral's wedding fair.

2011-07-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

Here are images from some very cool artists I met (or whose work I really dig) at the Craftcentral wedding fair, London.

Above: Daisy Choi's beautiful hand crafted jewelry. Daisy has a bright & pretty studio.

Above: Pretty porcelain from Toft. Lis is great with people & so easy to talk to!

Above: Chop's Cakes had a beautiful & delicious collection. Only got one photo because I had to run. They had beautiful cup cakes as well.

Above: Katherine Elizabeth Millinery had a lovely collection with two lovely people to answer questions.

Source: isamocrochet.co.uk via Manasi on Pinterest

Above: Isamo Crochet had delicate hand crocheted jewelry. Very pretty!

Gardens in summer.

2011-06-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

Chris and Charlotte's wedding, Manchester.

2011-05-20T02:49:00.000-07:00

Chris and Charlotte's wedding - inspired by Charlotte's love for all things Tea. Not only did fate smile upon us (it didn't rain), the gardens were a riot of colors!

Featured on Photoshelter.

2011-04-17T01:47:00.000-07:00

My website has been supported by Photoshelter since 2008. I've found them to be a very reliable platform both for backing up my images and for image sales. Their website customization options are brilliant as well. The best thing about them, however is their customer support.
A few days ago they emailed to say that they would be featuring me on their photographer profiles page. Yay! for the extra visibility :)
So honored to be sharing space with the featured talent.

Sweetheart shoot with Chris & Charlotte.

2011-04-05T07:52:00.000-07:00

Sunshine.

2011-03-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

The weather's been particularly gloomy in London, these last few weeks. Today, about 10 minutes before the sun set, the clouds parted to show a sky on fire. Our bedroom faces west & I had to capture an image that conveyed the delightful spot light and 'disco' effect that the bay window chandelier causes for about 5 minutes when the light catches it at the right time.
Today I was reminded as to why we fell in love with this old apartment.

Kunal & Reema's wedding. Delhi, India.

2011-03-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

Just got back from shooting my brother's beautiful wedding. Ate too much & laughed a lot.
Also should have worn something more sensible than a sari so I didn't trip as much & ruin the hem. But I needed to look like the groom's sister!
These pictures were a while coming because my mac died on me. Thank God for timely back-ups!

Sweetheart shoot with Mangala & Kalpesh.

2010-12-11T01:55:00.000-08:00

Sweetheart shoot with Mangala and Kalpesh in gorgeous light & weather.

Mangala & Kalpesh's wedding.

2010-11-30T08:55:00.000-08:00

So much color & fun!

This would be the 2nd multicultural wedding I've shot (Maharashtrian + Adiga) and the first where I've seen EVERYONE go nuts at the Sangeet.

Images from recent actor headshot sessions.

2010-10-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

Breaking in my new 580EX II :)
So far so good. I had to over ride the sleep mode because it knocks off very quickly with no activity.
Lessons learned:
1. Always spread the tripod legs to the max especially when outdoors on a windy day WITH an umbrella on the pod.
2. Manual mode works better for me.

Famiy portrait shoot.

2010-10-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

Here are images from last weekend's portrait shoot with the Natchevas and their sweet little man. A more adorable and well behaved boy I haven't seen!

My stop motion short!

2010-09-07T03:20:00.000-07:00

It's ready! My short stop-motion film :)
Please be sure to watch in 720 HD resolution (change it at the bottom right of the video screen). The default of 360p that youtube sets all videos to isn't the best.

In this movie are Jade Persaud-Walters & Raymond Tait, two of the coolest people I've ever had the pleasure to work with.
Jade has a background that gives 'diversity' new meaning. She's part Irish, part Latin American, part Jamaican and also part Indian.
Raymond's a bad ass dancer, comedian, theater actor and the coolest Scotsman I know. The only things I regret not being able to use are Raymond's terrific accent.

A big hug for my sweet husband for helping out with stitching the files together.

Enjoy the movie!

Blues for the weather.

2010-08-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

British gloom. Makes me reflect. And scares people behind windows.

Kew and me.

2010-07-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

Every time Kew Gardens send their magazine, it makes me want to jump on a bus & get there pronto.
Those of you who've been putting off a visit to the Kew should go there while the weather's warm & the cafes have outdoor seating. The gardens are spectacular in the summer!

Portrait shoot with Sonia. London, UK.

2010-06-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

TAMU grade-curve wrecker & USGBC superstar, Sonia, comes to London!
Loved the hair, babe!

The Kensington Roof Gardens, London. A gorgeous setting for weddings.

2010-06-07T04:47:00.000-07:00

Located 100 ft above Kensington High Street, in London, The Roof Gardens hosts events for up to 500 guests; a Private Members Club open Friday and Saturday nights and Babylon restaurant seating 120 guests. All nestled amongst one and a half acres of stunning gardens with natural wildlife and real live flamingos and where guests enjoy breathtaking views of London's skyline!!

Below are images of the wedding events areas available at the Kensington Roof Gardens, namely the Babylon. Images are property of Virgin Limited Edition.

T&A engagement shoot

2010-06-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

Another beach engagement shoot! Loved this sassy couple & their riotous enthusiasm!
Also got really lucky with the weather & sunlight.

Cameras used: Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Lenses used:
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Canon - Lens - 50 mm - f/1.4 USM - Canon EF
Canon Wide Angle Prime Lenses - EF 24mm f/1.4L USM

The Rangwala wedding. Mumbai, India.

2010-04-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

This would have to be one of the most fun Indian weddings I've ever shot. I was shooting with henna at the back of my hands. Hah!
It was a glorious feast of color, music & movement. A Bollywood movie set would have paled in comparison.

Cameras used: Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Lenses used:
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Canon - Lens - 50 mm - f/1.4 USM - Canon EF
Canon Wide Angle Prime Lenses - EF 24mm f/1.4L USM

Huzefa's & Batul's engagement shoot. Mumbai, India.

2010-04-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

Loved this couple! So sweet on each other. Gotta love a guy who'll hold a parasol for his babe.
We were lucky to find a secluded part of the beach (which is NOT easy in Mumbai!)
These images were shot in India in January (when the UK was having one of its coldest winters).

Cameras used: Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Lenses used:
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Canon - Lens - 50 mm - f/1.4 USM - Canon EF
Canon Wide Angle Prime Lenses - EF 24mm f/1.4L USM

Getting published in the Photo Paper!

2010-02-23T00:31:00.000-08:00

http://www.thephotopaper.com emailed to say that they were publishing one of my portrait images in their launch issue!
The photograph was a submission to the Color Photography Awards in 2009 and nominated in the portrait category.
"The PHOTO PAPER is published for an international audience hungry to see the finest contemporary work and exclusive first look at the industry's fastest rising stars...Insightful and intelligent, the PHOTO PAPER profiles the world's leading photographers as selected by captains of the industry from Sotheby’s to the Tate Gallery."
I'm tickled pink!

Warm weather & portrait shoots

2010-01-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

It's -4C in London as I type this and I'm still cold in 2 pairs of socks.
I love portrait shoots in warm weather. Everyone loves the sun during short European summers! The baby held out so well despite the fact that we shot way past her regular sleeping time. It's always a delight to shoot babies with parents that exemplify Nordic beauty and bone structure.

Camera used: Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II

Lenses used:
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Canon - Lens - 50 mm - f/1.4 USM - Canon EF

85 Broads at Judge Business School, Cambridge, UK.

2010-01-10T06:10:00.000-08:00

I was lucky to be shooting this event on a bright sunlit day (rare thing in Cambridge). It was organized by JBS for '85 Broads', a women's networking group from new York started by Janet Hanson.
Nothing like shooting bold, confident women with a purpose. Even better by daylight.

Cameras used: Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Lenses used:
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Canon - Lens - 50 mm - f/1.4 USM - Canon EF
Canon Wide Angle Prime Lenses - EF 24mm f/1.4L USM

The Maslowski girls

2010-01-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

One of the many reasons I love summer in the UK is the overgrown grass in almost every non-cultivated field. Perfect for the Maslowski mother & daughter for a family shoot.

Cameras used: Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Lenses used:
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Canon - Lens - 50 mm - f/1.4 USM - Canon EF

The train ride.

2009-03-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to get off at Marine lines to meet a friend when I got on a first class compartment on the Mumbai local.

At the exit stood 4 girls riding the train to school. None of them noticed me when I raised my camera to capture their easy comaraderie from behind them. The train was shaking a lot (the tracks from Charni road get choppy), so I lowered my camera to open up the aperture & compensate for the blurring. When I looked up again, one girl stood much ahead of of the rest. She wanted her picture taken.

The image above says the best I could capture of her eager innocence. Of course they got off at Marine lines & I missed my stop.

Musicians, Rajasthan.

2009-03-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

The people in the images aren't related. These images were shot hundreds of miles away from each other.

The young boy belongs to a family of musicians. The eldest of 3 siblings, he recently lost his father & saw his mother married off to her younger brother in law (a prevalent custom in rural Rajasthan). He has a sweet voice but has a long way to go before he's able to draw large crowds. He must learn the art from his step father/uncle to help support his family.

The older man is a musician who lives in a remote village in Badmer. Every morning he gets on any bus or truck that'll take him to the local district & plays to collect spare change. He knows no other trade. Many of the younger generation in his village have given up family customs such as singing & dancing to learn more sustainable trades such as carpentry & plumbing to support their families. The instrument he holds is at least as old as he is. He can only guess his age in years.

Cameras used: Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 400D Digital SLR Camera (incl. EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Kit)

Lenses used:
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens

Rajasthan 2009. Objects.

2009-03-04T01:31:00.000-08:00

Needless to say, it was magical.

People to follow...

A last look at Cambridge (JBS), UK. Winter 2008.

2009-02-22T00:54:00.000-08:00

Most of my social interactions took place in the evenings. Either in dark pubs or large, dark halls. This being the UK. Thank God for my 50mm prime :)

Back in India & catching up with friends.

2009-01-27T02:48:00.000-08:00

Places don't mean much without people.

Seen again!

2008-12-25T06:07:00.000-08:00

The thing about much seen places, especially small cities like Cambridge is that it's a challenge to see them anew. Almost every pub & restaurant has local scenes framed on it's walls.
However, reflections on the Cam on bright fall afternoons are hard to ignore!

Cameras used: Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 400D Digital SLR Camera (incl. EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Kit)

Lenses used:
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens

The 10 minute ride.

2008-12-15T05:54:00.000-08:00

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have buddies live so close by you can be at their place in less than 10 minutes in your pajamas! I'm kidding about the pajamas but now that I'm on this whole other continent, I wished I hadn't whined about the 'long' 10 minute ride.
See you guys soon. Hopefully in India. Then the UK. And even more hopefully in Canada ;)

Brass and strings. Cambridge, UK.

2008-12-12T01:00:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine at Cambridge asked me to cover part of the Szeged festival, I couldn't pass it up. I mean, who says 'no' to a wide angle zoom perched on the edge of the stage? (Note to myself: must buy wide angle prime. British churches are dark enough with lighting. Zooms don't help much when the lighting doesn't turn on).
Anywho. I'm a sucker for people with musical instruments. You couldn't get me to theater if you paid me (unless I was allowed in with a camera. Even one I have to muzzle with a thick scarf).
(Another note to myself: maybe British theater is better than the over-simplified, Hollywood-esque musical crap I had to suffer in the Southern USA).

Shobha & Mithoba.

2008-12-10T01:00:00.000-08:00

Shobha's a farm laborer. One of many in Maharashtra (India) that live in small huts on the farms they and their spouses work on.
She keeps her parrot in a cage so small, his tail grows out crooked. It's the best she can afford. The parrot (Mithoba) imitates the calls of the farm peacocks and laughs raucously afterward. He loves peanuts and green chillies & makes straight for Shobha's modest kitchen each time he's released. She's the only one who can hold him. He keeps the neighbors entertained.

Hand held macro images from India, the US & the UK.

2008-12-09T03:27:00.000-08:00

Most of these were shot on my walks in the UK & the US.
Thanks also to my mother who lets me cannibalize her rose bushes while I'm in India.

Cameras used: Canon Digital SLR Camera EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Lenses used:
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens

The Dhangars (shepherds). The poor little rich community.

2008-12-08T01:42:00.000-08:00

I've never seen their riches personally, but all over Maharashtra Dhangars (the shepherding community) are notorious for hoarding large amounts of wealth & evading taxes since they don't own property. There are tales of them having whipped out hundreds of thousands out of their hats to buy tractors and other frivolous items on a whim.
I ran into one group while visiting my grand parent's farm in Ahmednagar. The men are much easier to approach. The women are shrews to the bone. And they wont be captured on film (willingly at least) without promise of hard cash. There's no point in arguing with them because they'll either walk off or set their dogs on you.
Women in the community are married off very young & the kids hardly attend school. The schooling bit maybe improving some but these folks seem to have a big hand in bringing down the national average literacy rate.
The men & sheep move separately from the women, children & dogs. I knew this as a young girl & always wondered about the safety of the women. Till I met them. No sane male with half a brain would take on these ladies. One Dhangar woman was accosted while stealing guavas from my grand parent's farm (yes, the Dhangars believe in helping themselves liberally from farms along the way). Before the orchard keeper could say another word, she had pulled off most of her saree & started to scream assault. The keeper had run half a mile before he realised what had just happened. When he returned, the woman was gone with the fruit.
Barbed wire doesn't help because they cut through it, take what they want & then sell the barbed wire they cut. Even the police realise that it's next to futile to tangle with them. Other than that, they're a hugely interesting lot.

Cameras used:Canon EOS 400D Digital SLR Camera (incl. EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Kit)

Lenses used:
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens

Mid fall. Alexandria 2007.

2008-12-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

The small apartment in Alexandria, VA, that we chose to move into in early 2006 satisfied 2 very important criteria. It got direct sunlight (important after 2 years in a North facing flat) and we could see trees from the windows (important after 2 years in a North facing flat surrounded by woods). In fact the tree outside our balcony was so close that many toys the kids from the floor below threw at it, stayed there. The only things I don't miss about that place were those kids and their chain smoking mother.
    Right. Where were we. The tree. It looked gorgeous in fall. The already warm sunlight that streamed through it in at sunset turned a richer gold by the time it hit our living room walls and flooded our endorphin deprived brains. I loved that tree.
    One fall evening, when it was too cold to go shooting on the streets, I stepped out onto the balcony and got the images above. One was back lit & the other was barely side lit.
   Out here (in Cambridge, UK) all we see is the block of flats opposite us and the windows in which students dry their underwear. And this flat faces North. Suburban America never looked so good.

Staring at windows.

2008-12-06T01:00:00.001-08:00

The great thing about being in a crowded, busy and public city like Cambridge (I'm talking downtown here) is that you're unlikely to get arrested for staring long and hard at windows. Of course, it helps to be a woman. Other than the fact that I may have made the facilities manager at one of the colleges very nervous, I live to tell the tale.
Windows. They make great reflections of the outside world that we tend to ignore. Unlike water, they're vertical. Go stare.

Child monks: youth in exile.

2008-12-05T01:36:00.000-08:00

I spent over a week in Sikkim early in 2008. A lot of my time was spent haunting the surrounding monasteries. Of everything & everyone I saw there, what struck me most was the detached quietness of the young novice monks.
Some, I found, were as young as 3 or 4 & had been brought by their parents from neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet to study Buddhism. Many rarely saw their parents since they lived far away and travel is expensive for poor families.
There were 2 very young monks that drew my attention on the day I spent in Enchey. They spoke only Nepali but understood Hindi. Amazed at how innocent & quiet they seemed, I asked them if they got to meet their mothers. One nodded 'yes' & the other slowly shook a 'no'. They had a part time female nurse who played with them at the monastery during the day but no female was allowed in after closing time.

Cameras used: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Lenses used:
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
Canon - Lens - 50 mm - f/1.4 USM - Canon EF

Potters of Pune.

2008-12-04T01:15:00.000-08:00

The potter community in Pune has been around since the time of the Marathas. 'Kumbharwada' in the city of Pune is where many sell their pots but the community continues to fragment & disintegrate.
Their business lives are open to to public. Potter women relaxing on the edge of their shops, 2 feet away from a very busy road don't flinch when you make eye contact. They watched my back as I bent & squatted next to the road to capture their environment & faces.
Many of their children will be forced to enter the family business & many will leave to enter unrewarding jobs.
This was one of the most engaging communities I've ever had the pleasure to interact with.

Saraswati bai

2008-12-02T01:36:00.000-08:00

Saraswati bai is a masseuse who travels long hours from her village home to the city to massage her women clients. She supports an aged husband & 2 grand children. Her massages are often accompanied by folk tales and songs.
In the 14 years that I've known her, I've never heard her complain.
What I know of her is that she was married at 13, had her first child at 14 and many years later lost one of her sons to cancer. She cooks simple, delicious Maharashtrian food & is one of the best companions my mother's ever had.
She's also one of the best masseuses I've ever known. I can hear her village, her people and life in her songs.

Painting our walls red.

2008-12-01T04:37:00.000-08:00

While passing by a butcher's shop in Sikkim, I noticed the wall where he'd hung his instruments. No fancy panels - just a slat driven into the wall with nails & painted red like the rest of his shop.
Waiting to do their job were his instruments. Their contrast with the wall & their visible sharpness was ominous. The meat hook actually had a piece of the goat he'd just cleaned still stuck on it. I couldn't let it pass.