On Tuesday evening I attended a National Geographic Live lecture about India by photographer, Ami Vitale. Ever since my roommate in college traveled to India and returned with breathtaking photos, textiles and stories, I have had the dream of going there myself one day. Ami spoke of how Westerners tend to romanticize India and I certainly fall into that category of someone who has enchanted views of the country from afar. Certainly any coverage of the conflicts in Kashmir offer a reality check of the tensions and poverty that plague parts of the country, but I remain fascinated by the mystical, artistic and visually rich elements of the culture.

Ami's upbeat persona and soothing voice were captivating as were her words about her profession and the country in which she lived for five years. Some pearls from her lecture:

* The human condition is essentially the same everywhere.
* Even in the darkest places, there is still something beautiful.
* There is often so much joy in the most impoverished areas (I definitely found this to be true during my travels in Africa).
* It's not about making beautiful photos. The pictures are about these people. It's about telling their stories.

Ami dispelled the perception that her raw and intimate photos result from moments of forcing her camera into situations. Instead, her work is the outcome of forging relationships and earning the trust of the people she captures on film. Staying in India for so long allowed her to richly document a story as opposed to sparsely covering a topic. Her photography advice is an extension of this work flow practice -to find a subject and strive to show something below the surface.

Ami also discussed the importance of professional integrity - respecting cultural customs and remembering that you leave behind a footprint every time you enter a story. Based on the way you behave, you can build a path for others to travel after you. I think this idea of footprint is very powerful and can be applied to so many facets of our lives.

Check out Ami's website and the very educational PBS Frontline/World presentation, Kashmir: A Troubled Paradise.

I love this illustration from Chris Buzelli. All the wisdom we gather on our paths is invaluable - like little tokens of gold that line our pockets. When we lack direction or need a push, we can dig deep and retrieve what we need.

What message is the owl delivering today?

I'm charmed by the image of the girl riding the elephant. Seeing the Jaipur Elephant Festival is on my list of things to do in my lifetime. I quite enjoy the Free People February catalog cover (shot in Jaipur) featuring a painted elephant.

More Rajasthan dreaming.

The Samode Palace is an opulent pipe dream of a hotel.

I received an e-mail newsletter about Ananda Spa in Uttarakhand/Uttaranchal, India. Located in the Himalayas, the spa photos take my breath away. Especially the one above - the flower petal designs lining the walk way, the gentle fog and the lushness of the varied greens.

I was surprised to find Uttarakhand is not that far from my dream-destination of Jaipur:

Doing a little research into Uttarakhand led me to find the Valley of Flowers National Park where there are many unique varieties of flowers.

What if you were the owner of this title: Master Miniature painter? And what if you lived in Jaipur, India? The answer is: you would be Riyaz Uddin and you would be amazing.

While traveling in Rajasthan, a New York artist, Alexander Gorlizki, stumbled upon Riyaz and ended up proposing a collaboration. The result is Riyaz Design. Alexander creates intricate designs and Riyaz paints the designs in the traditional methods of Indian Miniature artists. I love this photo of Alexander and Riyaz working together - such an interesting blend of the old and new world.

Indian Miniature painters use various pigments and ground-down stones for their painting. I should use this clever shell idea for my watercolor work!

Perhaps one day I will be able to visit Jaipur. It has been a dream of mine for a very long time and this little discovery has added fuel to the dream engine.

Photos & Illustrations from Riyaz Design.