It’s been three weeks since I began my photography class. Some students have come every day while others have dropped off or only come intermittently. I even have had some new students join the class.Comments have become less frequent lately, so if you have any feedback for the students please comment.

Photo by Balaji.

Photo by Balaji.

Photo by Balaji.

Photo by Balaji.

Photo by Nitin.

Photo by Atiya.

Photo by Varshal.

My students have started to trickle back in from their Diwali breaks, and it’s nice to see where they have been. Some went to their villages and others photographed their family’s Diwali celebrations here in Umarkhed. The majority of my students haven’t shown up yet so I’m hoping that they are still shooting wherever they are.

Photo by Gaju.

Photo by Dipika.

Photo by Dipika.

Photo by Nitin.

Photo by Nitin.

Photo by Nitin.

Photo by Nitin.

Here are a few images from the texture assignment, light and shadow, portrait and a few shots from the students’ neighborhoods. This week is Diwali, sort of like Indian Christmas, so attendance has been a little hit or miss, but I am excited to see what the students bring back from their vacations. Many of the students have gone home, which for some is a small village a few hours away.

Photo by Nitin.

Photo by Dipika.

Photo by Dipika.

Photo by Dipika.

Photo by Jayashri.

Photo by Jayashri.

Photo by Nitin.

Photo by Nitin.

Photo by Varshal.

It’s been one week since I started my photography class. It’s also the Diwali break, so some students haven’t been able to come every day. But I’m encouraged by what I have seen so far. My students are gaining control over their cameras, they are starting to see light, and they are beginning to capture more candid moments in their community.

Photo by Santosh.

Photo by Varshal.

Photo by Pavan.

Photo by Nitin.

Photo by Dipika.

Photo by Jayashri.

The purpose of this blog is to provide a forum to discuss and showcase the work that my students are producing for their introductory photo class. Gawande College is a small college in rural Maharashtra, India. There has never been a photo class here before and many of the students don’t have their own cameras. The impetus behind this class is simple - three of the four Americans currently visiting the college are photojournalists.

Constructive comments or questions are encouraged. This is, after all, a class.

- Loren

p.s. the following photos are mine, the rest of the photos on this site will be the work of the students.

Varshal, left and Dipika.

Varshal photographing, from left, Dipika, Babali and Jayashri.

Gaju running up the hill to the temple while Dipika and Varshal take some photos.

At our local temple, from left: Gaju, Dinesh, Jayashri, Babali, Varshal, Dipika, Nitin and Pavan.