Photo Essay

Environmental Justice, Mining, Photo Essay, Place, Rivers

Koilwar, my village, in Bhojpur district of Bihar is in transit and on way to attain a small time town like look. There is lot of construction work going on presently. But it was not like this when I was born here. Beautiful landscape of the village with the perennially flowing river Sone for a backdrop formed the perfect picture. But like thousands of other families in the land, my parents left the village and all that we had, to arrive in Mumbai looking for a job to survive. But the village did remain one of our annual summer retreats. It was during these visits that the Sand diggers of river Sone enchanted me with their work skills. 

About 40 kilometers of Sone River forms the eastern and south eastern boundary of Bhojpur. But it is not the entire part of the river that is used for sand digging. It's the part near Koilwar, which is also known for it's double decked rail-road Bridge built during the British era across the river. It is under this bridge just about five kilometers strip of the river that is used for digging out the sand or ballu (in local dialect) from the rivers belly as the sand here is considered best for masonary work. 

Back by the river side, it is amazing to see bare chested men of all ages, disappear into the water for a few minutes holding a bucket. And finally come up with glistening wet sand. These men then load the sand on to their boats in the middle of the river and dive back to the river bed. Expert divers that these men are thanks to the river in which just about every villager has learnt swimming from childhood, fatal accidents are unheard of in the business. So it was during one of my holidays that I decided to take the plunge into the river with these men accompanied by my camera.

Whenever the men would come up with sand and take a break, we would talk. It was during these conversations that I learnt about the pride these men held in their work. They saw sand digging as an amalgamation of all religions. Hard to believe, ri

Sand Mining – A Photo Essay in Koilwar, India

This is the first ever photo-essay shot on sand mining in Koilwar, Bhojpur district Bihar. The sand mining nexus in Bihar is intricate and involves influential people at distinct authoritative positions in the government, administrative circles and mafia. As a

2018 Print Edition, Photo Essay, Place

Hardwater

Hardwater

An intimate portrait of a community on the extremes.
by × September 18, 2018 × 0 comments

Agriculture, Climate, Photo Essay

Farmers Adapt to a Changing Climate in Burkina Faso

Farmers Adapt to a Changing Climate in Burkina Faso

A photojournalist captures the impacts of climate change on agriculture in Burkina Faso, and the innovative solutions these communities have responded with in adjusting to a new climate reality.
by × January 9, 2018 × 1 comment

Culture, Photo Essay, Place

The Mountain Traditions Project

The Mountain Traditions Project

Through the lens of a camera, a sister/brother duo on the quest to highlight the natural beauty and cultural traditions of Central Appalachia.
by × August 18, 2017 × 0 comments

Multimedia, National Parks, Photo Essay

A Journey With Nature in Grand Teton & Yellowstone

A Journey With Nature in Grand Teton & Yellowstone

At some point in the history of our species, humans began to think of themselves separate from nature.
by × December 6, 2016 × 0 comments

Photo Essay

Explorations: An Unusual Ecology in Patagonia

Explorations: An Unusual Ecology in Patagonia

Stephanie Stefanski explores an unusual relationship between kelp gulls and southern right whales off the coast of Patagonia.
by × April 11, 2014 × 2 comments