Artist Statement Without exposure, nothing develops. vw

     As I navigated throughout Pakistan from 1985 to 1989, I came to understand that using my camera with confidence implied a certain authority, rare for a woman in a Muslim country.  Without speaking Urdu, I often communicated requests for permission to photograph with simple gestures and was seldom refused.  Photography transcends barriers.
 
    After a catastrophic auto accident in Pakistan in 1989, my portfolio of photographs provided suggestive images for hypnosis that allowed me to endure burn debriedments and a skin graft procedure without anesthesia or pain medication.  The desire to lift my camera to my face again and somehow continue to discover drama within the ordinary enabled me to overcome crippling injuries to regain what I loved about my life.  Photography stimulates motivation. 

    I cannot say that I have changed the people, places or things that I have photographed over the years.  I can say with certainty that I have been transformed by the stunning revelations that came through risks and exposure in their pursuit.  Photography provided the opportunities.