tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59283802386649419442012-01-16T20:22:11.444-08:00Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comBlogger831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-35006758878520171632012-01-16T20:21:00.000-08:002012-01-16T20:22:11.455-08:00

Mau Forest, Kenya -- Inspired by Happy at 100, I've decided to pull some portraits of characters I have in my archives.  He was hanging out across the road while women cleaned carrots for a commercial sale.  

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-61287462191726813392012-01-02T21:19:00.000-08:002012-01-02T21:33:35.399-08:00

Rwanda -- In the last month of 2011, I was fortunate enough to return to Rwanda with my Landesa colleague, Rena Singer. The purpose of our visit was to interview on film and photograph Landesa beneficiaries with whom we've worked about how receiving land title affected their lives. Here is one of their stories. To Asira, murakoze chane!

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-23523705416030399782011-11-13T17:24:00.001-08:002011-11-13T17:25:58.480-08:00

Kohala Coast, Big Island -- On my mind.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-26913860437983014182011-11-07T15:10:00.001-08:002011-11-07T15:13:13.717-08:00

Rwanda, 2008 -- Almost three years to the day, I'll be heading back to Rwanda. I left under difficult circumstances so going back means a great deal to me. ~dke

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-20499269081600484812011-10-29T22:13:00.000-07:002011-10-29T22:18:41.043-07:00

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-45585760503234511682011-08-14T20:46:00.000-07:002011-08-14T20:47:41.518-07:00

Warangal District, India

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-47563160393757075192011-08-09T21:49:00.001-07:002011-08-09T21:50:42.525-07:00

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-59341730429790034842011-06-04T11:12:00.000-07:002011-06-04T11:25:58.102-07:00

Ol Pusimoru, Kenya -- I've been slow to find my next Perfect Stranger but I finally happened upon him today.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-69986074477091894872011-05-29T04:16:00.000-07:002011-05-29T04:27:57.328-07:00

Nairobi, Kenya -- This little guy was orphaned and brought to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where I had an opportunity to spend one hour with him and his friends. The Trust rescues baby elephants, and cares for them until they can be reintegrated into the wild. For more info, see: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphans.asp.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-52047545534020227482011-05-28T05:50:00.000-07:002011-05-28T05:56:05.818-07:00

Ol Pusimoru, Kenya -- My colleague, Caroline Lentupuru, launched the start of our project, Enhancing Customary Justice Systems in the Mau Forest, Kenya, on May 21, when she started our and Land-Related Legal Education training for primary and secondary schools teachers. Caroline, a former schoolteacher, had the crowd from the start! Thank you, Caroline and Soipan!

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-8798598573032698302011-04-24T20:37:00.001-07:002011-04-24T20:43:04.909-07:00

Skagit Valley, Washington -- Sunshine, flowers, blue sky. All is well in my little corner of the world.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-83082774967128322542011-04-20T22:34:00.001-07:002011-04-20T22:36:53.907-07:00

Ol Pusimoru, Kenya -- These little ones give me hope for the future of our planet.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-85165570701282004732011-04-14T00:00:00.001-07:002011-04-14T00:03:11.413-07:00

Kohala Coast, Hawaii -- "May the entire universe be filled with peace and joy, love and light. May we all know peace. Namaste."

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-27553864682878692702011-04-07T19:40:00.000-07:002011-04-07T19:54:18.696-07:00

I saw a Perfect Stranger today andI didn't have my camera.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-85561723067000627132011-03-27T21:22:00.000-07:002011-03-27T21:45:37.496-07:00

"For, to be a stranger is naturally a very positive relation;it is a specific form of interaction." ~Georg SimmelMy Perfect Stranger (108) Project begins in Sururu, Kenya. Each is a stranger to me and I to him or her. We exchange a non-verbal request to photograph and the gift of a nod. Ashe oleng.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-64154659315844097412011-03-06T21:33:00.000-08:002011-03-06T21:39:13.723-08:00

Ol Pusimoru, Kenya -- She is a Maasai woman who divorced her husband after too many beatings. On her own, she cares for her children and grandchildren, among a community that devalues her contributions because of her gender and her marital status. Her name is Parakwa.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-87180480230295715872011-02-21T11:31:00.000-08:002011-02-21T11:44:04.441-08:00

Mau Forest Complex, Kenya -- Over the last nine or so days in the field, all but one woman has declined my request to photograph them. Why am I not posting her photo? Because I've been forced to focus on other aspects of beauty around me. And that is a good thing.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-4367849643268133072011-02-06T14:45:00.001-08:002011-02-06T14:54:36.298-08:00

Seattle, Washington -- This little guy, a young elephant seal on a West Seattle beach, was a rare and magical sight this a.m.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-41896164422792695272011-02-03T20:52:00.000-08:002011-02-03T21:09:25.621-08:00

Seattle, Washington -- Sending a big, heartfelt "thank you" to yoga instructor Greg Owen and his students at Seattle Donation Yoga! I so enjoyed the opportunity to photograph Greg's Saturday morning "Everything Yoga" class. If you are in Seattle, please check out his classes: http://seattledonationyoga.com/. You won't be disappointed. He is one of the best yoga teachers I've ever had

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-10505427256400637452011-01-24T22:29:00.000-08:002011-01-24T22:39:41.508-08:00

Kalej Valley, Darjeeling -- She invited me in. We spent a good part of the afternoon sitting together in her living room. Although strangers with no common language, we enjoyed each other's company immensely.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-73650851546964851162011-01-03T20:56:00.000-08:002011-01-03T21:26:13.379-08:00

Vladimir oblast, Russia -- As I looked back through my images from 2010, I paused at the images from Russia. For so long, that country called to me like no other. But upon my return, I quickly shifted focus to India and left for that country a few weeks later. I failed to give tribute where due. She'd worked her whole life on a collective farm. After the breakup of the Soviet Union and then

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-30053077608269092622010-12-07T12:06:00.000-08:002010-12-07T12:08:31.881-08:00

Seattle, Washington, USA. There is no time like the present.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-44677345712758136722010-12-01T21:00:00.000-08:002010-12-01T21:28:31.217-08:00

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-41765686570120506372010-11-28T17:34:00.001-08:002010-11-28T17:39:37.607-08:00

Kabushinge, Rwanda. One of Rwandans that I still miss.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-56828093988630191462010-11-20T17:18:00.001-08:002010-11-20T17:20:49.739-08:00

Mammalapuram, Chennai, India -- I was drawn to these statues.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-39208581829642501912010-11-01T20:17:00.000-07:002010-11-01T20:23:31.743-07:00

Keringet, Kenya -- In December 2007, Kenya was about to vote for its next president. Violence erupted. People were murdered. Houses were set ablaze. Thousands were forced to flee. In February 2010, these women and children were still living in camps for internally displaced persons. I return in December and hope they have made it home.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-22162793603953592492010-10-12T11:13:00.000-07:002010-11-07T14:02:52.564-08:00

Kalej Valley, Darjeeling -- Although I'm in Kenya at the moment, I feel like I'm still in India. Maybe because I haven't really processed that experience. What keeps coming back to me is this couple who ran the village shop. They let me hang out with them for quite a while as they peeled potatoes, sold a few eggs on credit, and noted the credit in their logbook. I was struck by the feeling of

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-57008835475839917682010-10-02T00:43:00.000-07:002010-10-02T01:04:48.729-07:00

Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya -- Is there a more odd looking fellow on the planet? I'm sure there is but he/she is in the top 10.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-30743861617010499892010-09-15T20:35:00.000-07:002010-11-07T14:03:21.527-08:00

Prathamik Balvidya Mandir Primary School, Milling Tea Estate, India -- Little shoes in a little school in a little corner of the world.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-37242247957406594222010-09-05T21:15:00.000-07:002010-09-05T21:18:25.924-07:00

Kaleg Valley, West Bengal, India - Only women pluck Darjeeling tea.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-71184553548333936342010-07-26T21:17:00.000-07:002010-07-27T20:05:08.621-07:00

Berkeley, California -- A dear friend is facing lots of life's toughest challenges. I wish for her the knowing that all is right in the world - and that she will be more than ok.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-25581520746700957572010-07-18T20:42:00.001-07:002010-07-19T11:43:18.909-07:00

Igoriev Polskii, Russia -- A Russian Orthodox cross atop a hill.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-57721601844288172942010-07-10T10:15:00.000-07:002010-07-10T10:18:32.131-07:00

Moscow, Russia -- A typical summer day on Red Square. I am sure that a similar woman was there in 1999.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-88154594916154409252010-06-18T20:20:00.000-07:002010-06-18T20:24:25.611-07:00

Karongi, Rwanda -- A young boy hung out on the window sill while we interviewed the women.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-39231073267450423032010-06-10T20:54:00.000-07:002010-06-10T20:56:49.511-07:00

Skagit County, Washington -- A winter day, a flock of geese.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-74555888757493315772010-06-01T22:08:00.000-07:002010-06-01T22:13:55.904-07:00

Lokhsa River, Montana -- Four years ago this month, I started the Summer Career Intensive at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography. The first weekend we headed out to shoot together. This image was one of my favorites from that weekend.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-84188124385092260592010-01-30T13:24:00.001-08:002010-01-30T13:30:27.245-08:00

Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh - As we entered the village, the group waiting for us immediately pointed to this woman, and wanted us to know that she is 100 years old. Although I encouraged her to stay and talk with us, she chose to not stay for the interview.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-15677351274778163092010-01-24T19:36:00.001-08:002010-01-24T19:44:57.644-08:00

Old City, Hyderabad -- This Muslim stands at gateway to Mecca Masjid, which is a 400-year old mosque.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-39698522754614101972010-01-15T12:52:00.000-08:002010-01-15T12:57:54.199-08:00

Peace Festival -- Looking back on my work, I've noticed a recurring theme: symbols of faith and peace. With this image, I'm starting to explore the subject a bit more deliberately.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-20472356660240218502010-01-10T16:03:00.000-08:002010-01-10T16:06:43.528-08:00

Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh - Out of all of the vendors at this farmer's market, only a handful were not women.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-52969998563158216402009-11-19T08:21:00.001-08:002009-11-19T08:39:05.013-08:00

Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India - A woman of the Koya tribe fetches water before beginning to prepare the evening meal.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-10618125518140900312009-06-27T19:37:00.000-07:002009-06-27T19:43:33.757-07:00

Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh, India - Respect from their husbands, from their in-laws, from the community. Besides income, respect is what the women said was the most important benefit of owning land.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-19574639028457409202009-06-20T10:32:00.001-07:002009-06-20T10:46:06.987-07:00

Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India -- Three weeks of fieldwork in the month of May was a challenge as May is the hottest month of the year in Andhra Pradesh, often at 107 degrees and very humid. We also somehow got sick. So the suggested remedy was coconut juice. For about 20 cents, she'd slice off the top (and I would wince watching), she'd insert a blue straw, and off we'd go with our natural

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-45341912420315572962009-06-06T12:44:00.001-07:002009-06-20T10:04:36.918-07:00

Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh, India -- This woman was one of many landless women who demanded to speak to us. They were frustrated that we had come to their village to speak with the women who got land. They requested a chance to finance the purchase of land in annual installments of $200.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-44151122113418352642009-05-30T23:58:00.000-07:002009-05-31T00:09:54.893-07:00

Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India -- We just finished three weeks of interviews with formerly landless women who acquired land through a government-subsidized land purchase program. As a result, they have increased income, food, social status, and respect from their husbands, including fewer beatings. They are moving out of huts, building houses, and able to get credit. The women also shared that

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-39142102296502002552009-05-25T03:58:00.000-07:002009-05-27T09:34:49.234-07:00

Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India -- As we were about to leave her village, this widow came out to bid us farewell.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-7979299988513613772009-05-20T00:11:00.000-07:002009-05-20T00:24:32.446-07:00

Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India -- This tribal woman is too old to qualify for the governmental subsidy for landless women to purchase a small plot of land. She looked on as we interviewed those women that did qualify.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-65712861351563578822009-05-19T05:03:00.000-07:002009-05-20T00:07:19.903-07:00

Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India -- These formerly landless women now proudly hold up their land pattas, or titles, showing that each of them now owns a small parcel of land.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-16107978582029541372009-05-03T12:44:00.000-07:002009-05-03T12:48:06.490-07:00

Musanze, Rwanda - As I prepare for another trip to India, Rwanda is on my mind.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-46661524025319450602009-04-12T12:04:00.000-07:002009-04-12T12:12:35.619-07:00

Desert Hot Springs, California -- On a day like today, it's hard to remember that the sky in Seattle is the same as the sky that I grew up with.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-34874964932134645902009-03-25T20:55:00.001-07:002009-03-25T20:58:12.352-07:00

Musanze District, Rwanda -- A few kids in a small village.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-27531091337801732842009-03-16T19:41:00.001-07:002009-03-16T19:48:51.987-07:00

Mammalapuram, Tamil Nadu, India -- A week after the festival Thaipusam, this devout youth maintains the vow of silence.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-44381055013540437412009-03-07T20:54:00.000-08:002009-03-07T21:01:16.893-08:00

Mahbubnagar, Andhra Pradesh, India -- Often when we go to a village to interview people, there is an expectation that the Americans will be giving out land. Each time, we disappoint.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-9677754514173937682009-03-01T15:06:00.001-08:002009-03-01T15:10:53.321-08:00

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India -- I was out on a Saturday interviewing NGOs that work on behalf of women and girls. This young woman was doing her chores outside one of the NGO offices.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-32227262506819146802009-02-24T20:13:00.001-08:002009-02-24T20:16:06.911-08:00

Mammalapuram, Tamil Nadu, India -- A Saturday afternoon on the Bay of Bengal.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-1680185946380987222009-02-15T23:52:00.001-08:002009-02-20T10:35:42.173-08:00

Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India -- She invited me into her home and shared what it was like when her parents married her off at 11 years and the process for finding a husband for her own daughter. Her status as a Dalit woman, i.e., an "untouchable" and a female, subjects her to the worst kinds of mistreatment and discrimination.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-53945309275522360572009-02-11T06:40:00.000-08:002009-02-15T23:20:31.145-08:00

Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India -- Budhemma was one of 10 widows I interviewed yesterday -- all of whom are considered "ultra poor" in that they are women heads of the household, lack access to enough land to support themselves, have no livestock, and are not members of a microfinance program.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-87256468925339863582009-02-09T06:31:00.001-08:002009-02-09T06:39:54.138-08:00

Old City, Hyderabad, India -- A young merchant selling his wares paused for his photo to be taken.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-30251413551040686132009-02-08T05:31:00.001-08:002009-02-25T20:28:58.280-08:00

Old City, Hyderabad, India -- The auto rickshaw is just the right size for a Saturday family outing.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-23571755466416721602009-02-07T21:51:00.001-08:002009-02-07T21:55:59.424-08:00

Old City, Hyderabad, India -- One of the many kind souls I met at the bazaar -- and probably my favorite.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-7474968900943740272009-02-06T18:27:00.001-08:002009-02-07T21:55:08.552-08:00

Old City, Hyderabad, India -- In the Old City, where 92 percent of the population is Muslim, women and girls shared a bit about their lives with me. When the camera came out, a few veils went up.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-35473145732711311262009-01-22T21:38:00.000-08:002009-01-22T21:45:45.377-08:00

Kirehe, Rwanda -- A gentleman waiting outside our legal aid office.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-36904979347466603722008-12-07T12:46:00.000-08:002008-12-07T12:49:49.501-08:00

Seattle, Washington -- In a one-year old.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-82669349015512653622008-12-02T20:44:00.001-08:002008-12-02T20:47:44.642-08:00

Roslyn, Washington -- This one was particularly beautiful to me.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-47192959751963431462008-11-22T20:52:00.001-08:002008-11-22T20:58:03.090-08:00

Seattle, WA -- A fall day.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-49292254165164202042008-11-11T19:06:00.001-08:002008-11-11T19:11:07.423-08:00

Earth -- A prayer wheel.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-64322542117178333842008-11-09T20:03:00.001-08:002008-11-09T20:14:01.637-08:00

Seattle, USA -- A beautiful gift awaited my return home.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-74274473405665424182008-11-02T20:23:00.001-08:002008-11-02T20:28:19.141-08:00

Carama, Burundi -- That's how much this widow and mother of eight earns each day she cultivates someone else's land.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-37145162555403141402008-10-11T04:59:00.000-07:002008-10-11T05:11:08.999-07:00

Kirehe, Rwanda - This building is one of the offices where our paralegals provide free, land-related legal aid to the community. It's been three months since I'd been back and I had honestly forgotten how much poverty exists in this corner of the world.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-69431584692314873032008-09-28T17:01:00.001-07:002008-09-28T18:03:37.770-07:00

Ngozi, Burundi -- My Burundi trip was postponed until October - so this is the longest I've been home since I started my job two years ago.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-32685660836922388972008-09-15T20:41:00.000-07:002008-09-15T20:47:01.641-07:00

Nyange, Rwanda -- Future leaders of Rwanda stare curiously at me and/or my big camera.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-53735033719437428082008-08-24T12:29:00.000-07:002008-08-24T12:35:29.685-07:00

Ngozi, Burundi -- Two Batwa women take time out of their day to let me photograph them. I'll be returning in September and will try to find them to give them copies of this photo.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-38538654665146638802008-08-10T20:34:00.001-07:002008-08-10T20:40:42.148-07:00

Bugesera, Rwanda -- Just outside Kigali lives a lovely young woman with a lovely blue umbrella.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-59035951383078795812008-08-02T19:49:00.000-07:002008-08-24T12:36:52.794-07:00

Seattle, Washington -- I have been home now for 29 days, which is the longest break between trips in almost one year. Although I do most of my shooting overseas, I'm trying to change that. These two little guys feel like they fit here to me. I think maybe they are swallows but I cannot find them in my Birds of Puget Sound book. If you know what these birds are, please share!

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-88014245055621397722008-07-28T20:33:00.000-07:002008-08-06T19:15:42.830-07:00

When I photographed this boy, I was surrounded by probably 15 others who wanted their photos taken. This boy stood out to me -- something shining from his eyes.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-20873668754139444602008-07-27T11:15:00.001-07:002008-08-06T19:20:58.968-07:00

Kigali, Rwanda - Here is the view from the Kigali Memorial Centre, a genocide memorial with eleven mass graves. The Centre has powerful exhibits of the major events of genocide throughout history in order to put the Rwandan genocide into historical perspective.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-78440384102766999122008-07-19T21:03:00.000-07:002008-07-20T14:34:57.561-07:00

Gosh - he just makes me smile.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-54958807048103687132008-07-06T07:21:00.001-07:002008-08-06T19:17:12.189-07:00

Northern Rwanda -- About 800 residents showed up to watch a live performance of skits on the peaceful resolution of land disputes. These women were watching the first skit, which was about the rights of a widow to family land following the death of her husband.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-22362259215821124282008-06-21T03:56:00.000-07:002008-08-06T19:15:42.830-07:00

This young girl goes to Rwaza Primary School No. 1, in a remote area in northern Rwanda. Her school is participating in a poster competition, which is part of the Land Dispute Management Project that RDI is implementing in her community. The project ends on June 28, so I decided on this trip to bring school supplies to the teachers as a "thank you." Lots of RDI staff donated supplies for me to

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-76436905846811974932008-06-15T20:57:00.000-07:002008-08-06T19:15:42.830-07:00

I leave for Rwanda again tomorrow. I'm bringing lots of prints to give to those who kindly let me photograph them. Whether I can find them again remains to be seen; if not, I will give the photos to the village leaders. This woman in particular I hope to find again. I want to know from where she finds her strength.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-11370971962257962552008-06-07T17:01:00.001-07:002008-08-06T19:15:42.830-07:00

I met her on the road from Kibuye. We walked a few steps together with her hand on my arm.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-69992344468105250032008-05-06T20:28:00.000-07:002008-05-12T21:50:21.160-07:00

Strength, grace, serenity.

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5928380238664941944.post-34417224103989712232008-04-19T20:21:00.000-07:002008-05-07T22:16:35.480-07:00

I returned from Burundi at the end of March. While there, I interviewed many men and women, widows, orphans, ex-combatants, internally-displaced people, etc. To a person, they each held out hope for a peaceful Burundi but in the near term, they expected renewed conflict.On April 19, the opposition rebels attacked the capital and six other areas. My heart goes out to the orphan whose dream is

Deborah Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03925784065416466854noreply@blogger.com