One month ago yesterday someone stole our cameras

It was one month ago yesterday that some thief stole our camera equipment on the overnight train between Varanasi and Mathura. It was very disturbing to have that happen. It was more disturbing that the train police did not take it at all seriously and that the train porters, conductors and workers gave the impression that it did not matter. The thought that we were just rich Americans was the worst. But we are rich compared to them. We are able to travel, own equipment and make a life that is not hand to mouth. We do work hard for what we have but by their standards, we are incredibly lucky and our lives are mostly without strife. And for most of the Indian people we met who were good, honest, hard working people who want to make a better life for their families, this incident in no way reflects on how they would conduct themselves.

But for the thief, the one or ones who prey on tourists traveling and trusting those around them, I wish only harm to you. I hope you find no peace in your life. You shame your country. You shame your family. You shame yourself. You make our good friends apologize for your actions and this is unacceptable for them to take on guilt for your actions.

We are replacing the equipment with the help of our insurance. It is not an even trade but what are we to do. These are tools of artists and as artists, we must have them to make images. We do not have mountains of extra money but will work to repay what the insurance does not cover. Keith has received his new camera and luckily had two lenses at home that allows him to make pictures again. Most of mine comes tomorrow and then begins the learning curve for the new camera. I was so comfortable with my old one and the flash was finally working easily for me. I hope the new camera is easy to learn and become like an extension of my eye in short time.

So, we are thankful that the two other hard drives containing all of my images and most of Keith's did not get taken. That has allowed us to move on and for me to continue to work on this project I had planned for this trip. Keith lost about 200 images, I lost the few non-important ones that were on my memory card inside the camera. We were able to buy a cheap point and shoot camera in Mathura one month ago this morning to continue to shoot and meet with the widows and Dr. Giri at the shelter run by the Guild of Service. While what I did there is not what I had planned, I know I can return whenever I am in India to meet with and continue this project. And in spite of the fact that the camera was inferior, I did make some portraits of the women in this shelter that honor them.

Life goes on. I am making work prints now to help me edit for the exhibition in the fall. I have decided the paper and the size of the images for the show. I have decided how to show the plight of the widows in graphic form. I look forward to the next few months of working in the studio and getting ready to show the work.

Dr. Mohini Giri is coming to Northern Kentucky University in November for International Education Week to talk about the Guild of Service, the plight of widows and poor women of India. She is an amazing woman. I will post the times of her presentations. You should not miss the opportunity to meet her. She is one of the foremost champions of women in the world. She was a nominee for the Nobel Peace prize; she is on a World Hunger Organization committee. This seventy year old woman runs circles around us and does it all for others. Bless her heart.

Thanks to all of you who have been followers of this blog. When the exhibition gets nearer, I will fill in more details.