Karla (13/100)

How could I not?

The haircut.

The shades.

The blazer.

The red tights.

She's workin' it.

....I almost didn't stop her because she exhibited signs of the "Don't bother me" look.

iPod in the ear.

Walking fast.

Looking at the ground.

Serious face.

FORTUNATELY, I didn't care :D That itch overcame, and I approached. She was willingly receptive, and gave me this ELECTRIFYING SMILE.

Thank you, Karla.

Amin (12/100)

“3 US Dead in Afghanistan Blast”
“UN Mission split over Afghan poll”
“Senate struggles with Afghanistan”
“U.S. support for Afghan war at all-time low”

Media is sad. Media is disheartening. All we ever hear are the negative headlines. It makes one think “what the hell are we doing over there that’s positive?” Besides all the security/political activity, what is the world really doing in Afghanistan? This is where Amin interjects. He knows, he's an Afghan-American True to the cabbie-stereotype of “saying what’s on their mind,” my passionate taxi-driver tells me more of the positive initiatives in his motherland.

He tells me about the roads built that cut a nine hour drive to three. It also used to be that some of the more rural population would ride a mule for a whole day to a clinic. For many, this is not the case anymore. Clinics have now been built in their very villages. That one day journey has been cut to nothing. To top it off, qualified local medical personnel run the show.
He goes on to tell me about improvements to his country’s infrastructure. After hearing this I wonder if the media will ever publish:

“Germans provide needed street lights in Kabul”
“Australians connect Afghan families with telephone services”
“Chinese build internet infrastructure”
“US security stabilizes”

Of course this international involvment is overwhelming, but Amin is grateful for all the improvements it provides for his motherland.

*Aesthically, there was nothing that attracted me to a portrait. But, this project is also about the social element, of which Amin had warming thoughts to share. After hearing the passion in his words, I was compelled to photograph him.*