India.

I am going to India sept-oct. Why. I am leading a trip. I want to share my experience as a social documentary photographer and overall humanitarianism with a few other people. The trip is small and pre-screened on purpose. I led a tour a few years back with an awesome photographer Phil Borges and built a school in Takaungu, Kenya for his organization Bridges To Understanding. You can read about it in the Kenya journals archive on this blog.

I've been to India as a backpacker in 1998. My traveling companion didn't like it there, left after 2 weeks (also had a full-time job to get back to). I fell in love with India, and stayed. "Are you sure?" he asked. There were tears in my eyes, I remember feeling very stiff, and scared, "Yes" I said firmly. So I stayed. He flew out of (then) Bombay, and I stayed, backpacked and traveled on 2nd class trains down to Travendruaim, flew over to Bod Gaya and Varanassi, went to Delhi from there and flew home, 2 months later with about $58 left (time to go home). Back then we could change our flights around with a little negotiation and backshish.

India has different meaning to me now. It is booming. It seems 'young' in a sense that there is enthusiasm for this boom, inspiration, hope, goals, dreams. This, mixed with amazing, ancient culture, quirky personality and sense of humor sounds like a great adventure.

I have this great opportunity to be in India, work, photograph, lead a tour, create a ton of content and get paid. Huh. I'd be crazy not to.

So stay tuned. I will be blogging while I am there, uploading content, describing what is like for an American woman to go there and give a few things a shot in India today.

Chase Jarvis, Rachel Walley and Patrick Bennett chat about their blogs.

Chase Jarvis, Rachel Walley and Patrick Bennett chat about their blogs. Went to an ASMP event last night. For me it was the best ASMP meeting ever. Patrick and Chase have successful blogs, they live here in Seattle, talked about how simple it is to just sit and blog, and what it is doing for them now. Simple. Simple is also creating their personality on web. My friend Rob talk talked about it too, this idea of cult of personality. These photographers are totally passionate about what they do. First off they are photographers (cool job). They are also 'mavericks' in a way. They just do things. When you hang around them you can feel the fire in them, be it blunt hitting you over the head (Chase) or humble and also unstoppable (Patrick). They are driven, passionate, adventurous, smart and also pretty approachable. Rachel is a writing and blogging consultant. Huh? Blogs are free..? Sounds like we'll know .. but she'll be too slammed to answer... in a few years if that.

I decided to blog about my India trip and also leading up to it. Thanks ASMP, a light went off in my head and I caught some of that fire. I think my friends at the bar afterwards were little annoyed with me cuz i was so inspired that and totally focused on what to do with this. I think they just wanted to catch up....But they love me and know how I get. Thanks panel, and sorry table! Say tuned.

Trip to Rajesthan, India!!
WHY? I have been asked countless times to lead one based on my intimate, international documentary work and adventures. 2nd, I am collaborating with Colonal Singh, whose family has lived in Rajasthan for centuries. 3rd, we will visit an NGO “Vatsalya” that works with women’s microfinance and Indian street children, have a chance to lend a hand and share from our experience. The goal of that visit is to learn about the extraordinary work of Vatsalya, make photographs, stories, articles, and create relationships. We will share any content we create (ex. photographs, articles, dance, etc.) with Vastalya for their website, newsletters, children activities etc. The group will also disseminate this material back in the USA as various forms of media and arts advocacy. If we are photographers, we can make photographs of children who need sponsorship, make photos for their website, if we are writers, we can chat with someone about their experiences and write a story about it, if we are doctors we can bring extra aspirin, teachers can tell their students of their experience, dancers can teach a new form of expression,etc...

We will also see villages and farms, spend time with families, go on a desert trek, visit market places, attend yoga classes, take cooking lessons (local cuisine), learn about Ayurvedic Medicine, and also enjoy some down time. I will be available for photo questions, ideas, technical issues, etc. There will be lots of opportunity for photography, writing, walking, listing, thinking....

INDIAN COLLABORATION: Colonel Singh and I are working together to make this a very custom adventure. It is an honor that he is involved and believes wholeheartedly in this workshop. Colonel K. Fateh Singh is a retired NATO commander who served during two Indo-Pakistan wars and other various conflict zones including the Middle East. He currently resides in Jaipur, proudly employs Hindus and Muslims at his family run hotels where we will stay, and they are first class hosts. He and his family are Rajput, a tribe that descends from the ancient Indian royal warrior dynasties with deep roots to Rajputana, now known as Rajasthan since India’s independence. Basically, he really knows this region.

LOGISTICS: Cost: $3200, double occupancy. Add $150 for singles. $500 deposit is required by 6/15, balance 7/1. Cost includes: RT airport reception/transfers, taxes, all transportation in-country (AC Innova Toyota Vehicle), all lodging, breakfast and 1 major meal, camel safari in the Thar Desert. Not included: tips, personal laundry, drinks (soft and hard), airfare, vaccinations, visas, travel insurance (required), personal first aid kit, spending money. See “India Workshop Logistics” page to learn more about logistical details.

Send your deposit / balance to : (check made out to) Amanda Koster Productions, LLC, 5047 45 Ave. S Seattle, WA 98118 USA
(206) 286-9707

Cut off: June 15. Deposits are fully refundable up to July, balance is due 7/1. 6 people are confirmed as of 6/10/07. To keep the trip intimate, authentic and focused, there is a maximum of 8 people.

more info: http://www.salaamgarage.com

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!

a project i have been working on since 2001. you can see the work here http://www.thisisbeautiful.org and here http://www.salaamgarage.com or have a look at this video. I am now working on this concept commercially! Wahoo. stay tuned for that info. my dream has come true, i am going to release images of real women, beautiful women into our world of imagery. lovely.