Saturday, August 15, 2009

Carolyn Drake's Watershed Moment






I'm sad from saying goodbye. The super talented photojournalist Carolyn Drake, who is also my good friend, just headed off the airport. Luckily, she stays at my house on her biannual trips to NYC from Istanbul, where she is based. These visits are always great for me. We get to catch up and talk about photography, look at each other's work, and my young son gets to bask in her attention. Also I get a running and swimming partner- Carolyn is a bit of a jock, just like me.

Of her new projects, one is a ravishing series that traces the rivers of the Great Pamir watershed. The photos here top to bottom are from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan (2), Uzbekistan, and the last one is Tajikistan. The woman in the photo is a bride, dressing in her wedding clothes. On the wall behind her are her wedding gifts.

Carolyn Drake's own words about this project:
"While working in Central Asia for the past few years I've been drawn to the Amu Darya and Syr Darya - two rivers that flow from the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, crossing ragged borders until they dwindle at the Aral Sea.

By using the rivers as an organizing principle rather than roads taken by foreign travelers or political lines separating nations, I hope to place emphasis on the region's topography."

To see more of Carolyn Drake's work click here.

2 comments:

  1. All great photos !...

    Ciao from Italy
    :)

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  2. Lynn Alleva LilleyMay 15, 2010 at 7:52 AM

    Rebecca, I am in touch with Carolyn every few months having been advised to look at her work in Central Asia. We lived in Kyrgyzstan from 2004-2007 and I was so pleased to see Carolyn's unique interpretation of the region. I have yet to meet her, but I have to say she has been so kind and generous in her feedback on my own photography completed in Kyrgyzstan. Is there something about swimmers/athletes (I'm one) that makes it natural to share (or something like that)? Best of luck to you! I look forward to seeing your work as well.

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