Thelma Tawil (left) and Hilda Iza gossip at the Middle Eastern Cultural Festival held at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Syracuse, N.Y.
I photographed Thelma and Hilda during what Newhouse, the public communications school within Syracuse University, likes to call “boot camp” for incoming master’s students. Think a six-week series of miniature panic and heart attacks. At least that’s what it was for me. Rewarding? Immensely.
- “I may be old and look like a monkey, but I look good. My daughter comes by every week or so, and we go get our nails done. It’s our guilty pleasure,” says Thelma.
- “It’s important to feel like a lady,” says Thelma.
- “I haven’t danced with any men since my husband died, but I still like to look pretty for me,” says Hilda.
- Hilda and Thelma say their goodbyes. They do not know when they will be able to chat again since neither can drive any more.
- Thelma watches Hilda go.
5280 Lens Mafia 
This is a great series. Well done!
Damn. What a debut. Just damn.
You captured such a beautiful connection between these women – thanks for sharing it with us. Welcome.
LOVE these!
They like it. I told you so, Manu. 🙂
You mean there was some question?
Thank you all! It’s awesome to be here. 🙂
phenomenal work. i can’t shoot people. and when is see someone who can do it as well as you … you find just the right thing in each shot to tell us the story. please keep doing this.
These shots are amazing and beautiful! Such a story. The perspective on the shot with Thelma’s hands is my favorite.