It's Shaadi time!

...if someone asked me to describe India in just one word, it would need to be "Intense".
Why? Cos from the minute you leave the aircraft your senses seem to get much sharper, all of a sudden all the smells and colors are overpowering, your experiences are never mellow and the contrasts between those with money and those on the bread line are indescribable. In India your mind never rests so as not to miss on any experiences, you absorb it all like a sponge. India is full of energy and vibe. Somehow an intense mixture of the most unpredictable events is always around the corner...

Such are the weddings in India too: I N T E N S E
Often lasting several days with all the pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding functions, they are one big celebration! The rituals, the colors, the food, the music, they are all a feast for your our eyes and heart.

Meghann and Bharat got married on the 14th November 2010 in a very stunning venue in Delhi. I felt lucky and privileged to photograph this beautiful and very loving couple!

Meghann and Bharat's Post Wedding Shoot

Once Meghann and Bharat's wedding was over and all the emotions calmed down, we arranged to see each other again for a relaxed shoot. It was a gorgeous sunny day and we chose to head to Lodi Gardens in New Delhi, one of my favorite places in town. We got there just before the sunset, the lighting and the backgrounds were perfect and so was my stunning newly married couple....

Once their wedding was over and all the emotions calmed down,we arranged to see each other again for a relaxed shoot. It was a gorgeous sunny day and we chose to head to Lodi Gardens in New Delhi, one of my favorite places in town. We got there just before the sunset, the lighting and the backgrounds were perfect and so was my stunning newly married couple....

Saalam Baalak Trust

India has the largest population of street children in the world. At least 18 million children live or work on the streets of urban India, laboring as porters at bus or railway terminals, as mechanics in informal auto-repair shops, as vendors of food, tea, or as ragpickers, picking through garbage and selling usable materials to local buyers.

In Delhi alone, it is estimated that there are close to 1, 7 million street children of which nearly 10% are runaways.

Saalam Baalak Trust is an initiative that has come about to help street children. They give them shelter and educate them and when they are a bit older they also provide a bit of training in some skill, just so they can get on their own feet and do something worth it. This gives them an opportunity to see what it's like to earn some money, and not having wonder if they will get a bite to eat that day....

http://www.salaambaalaktrust.com/

New York, New York...

....and so I booked our tickets to go to New York. Firstly our stay there "coincided" with New York Salsa Congress, secondly I booked our return flight for September the 11th...Sunny wasn't amused...

I love New York with all its contrasts and madness, Manhattan and 5th Avenue full of designer shops catering for the rich and famous, Harlem with its great jazz clubs and shops accepting food vouchers from the homeless... From rich to poor and everything in between...

I spent about a week in NYC itself having a great time with friends, going jogging every morning, drinking huge cups of coffee (from Starbucks of course), eating huge portions of food (some of the yummiest Chinese I've ever tasted), then shopping until my bank wouldn't process my cards anymore. All great fun!

Then the long awaited New York Salsa Congress came. I was over the moon to be able to do workshops with Eddie Torres and go to Jimmy Anton's Social, probably the best Mambo venue I've ever been to...

Big thank you to Gez and David for looking after me and even sharing their room with me.

I love New York not only for its buzz but also for its architecture and endless photographic opportunities. From high-rise buildings and crowded streets to peace and quiet in Central Park, there is always something worth taking photo of. I'm glad I had my camera with me even if that meant being asked 101 questions by a customs officer at the airport who struggled to understand why I needed 3 pieces of luggage for a 2 week stay...

Winter in Poland with my iPhone

Happy New Year everybody! Hope 2011 will be fun packed for all of us!

This year I welcomed in the New Year in Poland. For once I decided to travel with just one piece of luggage and as such I didn’t bring my camera with me, what a mistake that was….the country is covered with thick white snow and I’m loving it. The scenery is beautiful, so picturesque, so unique… I feel gutted for not having my camera with me. Since I couldn’t resist not capturing the beauty around me, I used my iPhone…so please excuse the quality of the photos and the blue cast…just enjoy them and picture me wearing 3 layers of thermals running through snow covered fields and doing iPhone photography….

Winter wonderland in London

…they have been predicting the snow fall for days and then when it finally came, the country came to a stand still and everybody acted surprised. Many got trapped at home, cars wouldn’t start, kids wouldn’t go to school….and, I was in heaven! I love snow! It reminds me of my childhood - you know that Christmas is just around the corner.

I knew I wanted to do a winter theme photo-shoot so I arranged to photograph Shabnam in Battersea Park the next day.  She put on her red wedding dress and a pair of red and white wellies and she looked gorgeous.

Unfortunately the day turned out to be quite dull and grey and as soon as we reached the park it started raining… The snow was melting in front of our eyes and the time was working against us. Luckily I still managed to create some beautiful images of my beautiful model…. it was cold, but it was fun! It was worth it! Thank you Shabs!!! Xx