CUNY Janssen: Whatever Works

Twenty years ago I set out to photograph children all around the world. My first trip was to the south of India. I started in the province of Tamil Nadu, first living in a Church Women Centre in the city of Chennai, then in Mugaiyur, a small village. For six months I took pictures and had conversa tions with roommates, guides, and members of the families who had taken me in as a guest. I had very many questions, as did they. After children, the main subject was always love. Everything I heard from them and saw around me there filled me with both surprise and doubt, but above all with admiration. I admired their courage and faith. Their arranged marriages were a fascinating mystery to me. One way to understand arranged marriages was to make portraits. I photographed women and men various ages, engaged or planned couples and married couples.