http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/pictures-231/

I’ll upload some Bee photos after tomorrow’s final.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

I was documenting non-profits and working on my long term storytelling skills, something I don’t get too much practice with all the daily assignments in my job.

Wonderfully I was able to produce a story that we ran on the wire, and was also asked to write an article, and produce an audio slideshow.

I was thrilled to be able to come back with so much work to show from my short time in India – a country I cannot say enough about where  the people are just so warm and welcoming. The people I met really touched my heart and soul and were a privilege to spend time with.

Most so were the girls in my story from the Akhil Bharatiya Mahila Ashram.

See the audio slideshow  To Stand On Their Own: Indian Girls Ashram

I just fell in love with these 50 girls from all over India who get an education (that otherwise often ends after primary school) at the Ashram thanks to donations. There they are taught to be strong and independent – just what my mother taught me. Girls age 9-18 live at the ashram, in Dehradun, India, where they do everything themselves; clean, cook, serve each other, pray together, study, braid each other’s hair, and care for each other. Polite, friendly, inquisitive, bright, I can’t say enough about these girls.

There’s not a man in sight and it’s just the happiest simplest place that I think I’ve been to.

If you go to India please bring small presents to give. There is a real culture of hospitality and when I left the ashram every appendage available – including my ears – were draped with gifts from the girls. I have two bracelets, two rings, a necklace, earings (put in by the girls on the spot!),  a lovely shawl, and mostly a warm place in my heart for this special place.

Special thanks to all the girls at the Akhil Bharatiya Mahila Ashram, and to Mary Calvert and Jamie Rose with Momenta Workshops, Abhay Gupta, Manoj Sharma, the wonderful Madhvi Mittal, Melanie, Alpana Mukherjee with ADOPT ( a non-profit that provides rural women with private toilets and biogas cooking units, greatly reducing their home work load), and Mrs. and Mrs. Swamy with the Purkal Stree Shakti (where women’s cooperatives make the coolest quilts that you can buy on their website).

I hope the photos I made help the ashram in some way. Here’s a few to share:

All Photos copyright Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press May not be reproduced without permission.

I’m thrilled to see that the story has gotten some really special play:

AP Audio Slideshow

Link to the article and still pictures

Photos in the Washington Times’ site

And some really cool play in Stars and Stripes (just wait for the commercial to stop loading about 5 seconds)

I miss you, India, I hope to be back soon.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Had a blast shooting the Equality Rights March in DC on Sunday. Tens of thousands of people were out with colorful flags, signs, and clothing. There was a lot of energy in the crowd and it was a lot of fun to shoot.  Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Caption: In this long exposure photograph, a volunteer announces the end of the 25th Big Shot, as students and volunteers using flashlights and camera flash units light up the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian for a photography project by the Rochester Institute of Technology, on the National Mall in Washington, on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. The Big Shot, which is made after dark, uses a technique known as painting with light. The landmark is lit by hundreds of volunteers using a long exposure, after which only the lit up building and grounds are seen in the image.  (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Got to relive my college days tonight in shooting RIT’s Big Shot, this time for the AP and not as a student. Despite the rain it was a good time, even saw some of my long lost fellow alumni. Above is my shot from the opposite angle, trying to show the crowd participation as well as the handheld lights dancing on the building.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Also, I am now twittering, follow me if you’re interested @jacquelyn_m

You can also follow WPOW on twitter @wpownews

I promise the next update won’t take 3 months.

All photos are copyright the Associated Press and may not be redistributed. Thanks!

More photos can be seen in this slideshow HERE.