These pictures are from the Christian quarter, harbor and souk of Tyre, or Sur in Arabic, a city in southern Lebanon. Heralded for its maritime prominence in days of old, Lebanon’s Tyre fell into many hands as did the surrounding region succumbing to a series of conquerers and occupations. There is great history and modern day importance surrounding the city and is well worth a visit.

Kenny and the newly Kristin Schmitt pose for engagement portraits during the summer. Congrats guys!

Tafadli, take one, insisted an older woman as she handed me a fresh fig and I entered the mosque. She was sitting at the entrance with a few other woman chatting and eating.

Kifich?, How are you?, obligatory cheek kisses, she continued Ishta’tilik, I miss you. I had never met her before.

Woman were sitting around, praying, chatting and waiting for group led readings, a few of them with heavy hearts written in their eyes.

A sat with the women while one of them read prayers; an older woman was weeping. My heart was like a weight inside me as I hurt  for her. I could only begin to imagine the troubles and pain she had endured and the wounds that were causing her tears.

Later, another woman pulled back her shirt over her shoulder to show me a wound, dark purple and maroon.

Women of the Bekaa, both middle aged and older, as well as a few eastern tourists shared the room.

I left as I was escorted by one of the women outside. She grabbed my hand and took me to a bench to sit. She told me her brother was not married and invited me back to her house. I sat with her awhile, met her Afghani husband and told her maybe next time.

A Bedouin woman in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon waves after a produce purchase is made. Many Bedouin girls and woman work in the fields from an early age as deemed by necessity and often the work takes priority over schooling leaving many uneducated.

Washington Farms- 5dmark2 from frannie fabian on Vimeo.

This is a video piece I made for my documentary photography class at UGA this spring. It’s on Washington Farms in Loganville, Ga. I caught the beginning of their strawberry season. It was my first time shooting video really, first time using the 5dmark2 for video and the first time editing with Final Cut. I think it turned out pretty well taking all those things into consideration. If I shoot further with the 5dmark2 I’d have to figure out micing. Everything from this video is the on camera sound which makes it quite rough sounding. Let me know what you think.

Some more from the shoot this week with Meredith, shot inside our house in Athens, Ga.

Some more from my time with Kate in Madison, Ga.

and don’t forget the neighbor babies.

Some out takes from an ongoing project. This is Kate, a single mom from Madison, Ga., with twin four-year-olds, who has found herself in the balancing act of taking care of her kids, working a job, and increasing being more and more involved in the day-to-day lives of her aging parents.

Boyd and I were playing around with some lights today. Meredith, my roommate, was our graceful subject. Another lovely afternoon in Athens, Ga.