How does one describe India?  It’s a country full of color, beauty, and culture, and to visit it is, indeed, a life- changing journey.

Over Christmas 2005, I had the remarkable opportunity to travel to India for two weeks, and quickly saw that India is a photographer’s dream.  At one point during my trip, I stood on a street corner and shot hundreds of frames of life passing by.  India is a constant whirlwind of people, cars, bikes, cows…a sensory overload.  I found Indians to be very willing photographic subjects, and in some cases, would navigate themselves to be in front of the camera when they saw me.  My favorite photographs are of my trek to the local park, where I planned to take just a few shots of the scene.  One by one, the children playing came over to see what I was doing, and before I knew it, I had a group of over a dozen children fighting and laughing to be in front of my camera!  When I see those pictures, I see joy, and I am immediately transported back.

Just before leaving for India, I decided to sponsor a girl from India, B., through Christian Children’s Fund, because I knew otherwise I would feel helpless with all the severe poverty I would see.  Even though it’s just one girl, I feel very blessed that I’m in a position to help her, and give back to the country that has helped me SEE.  I decided to give a portion of all sales of this exhibit to the Christian Children’s Fund, in honor of B. and all the wonderful children I met in India who gratefully posed for me.

I want to thank Jennifer Zazo, who inspired me to do this exhibit, the members of the College of New Rochelle community- where I have always been made to feel very, very welcome- my friends and family, who have always encouraged me, and John, who has been my constant cheerleader and teammate.

I hope that this exhibit brings you as much joy as I had taking the photographs.  Namaste.

Photo of Kelly Clark and friend John by Utsav Arora.