Eight Sixty

Rick travelled to India with not-for-profit organisation Opportunity International Australia to capture the vast scale of poverty in this compelling country and to document the lives of those transformed with dignity, empowerment and hope.

India is a country that shines with vibrancy – its languages, culture and spirituality make it incredibly rich and diverse, but as inferred by the title, it is also a country with more than 860 million people living in poverty – a massive 80% of the population.

From the villages of Southern India to the chaotic streets of Kolkata, Carter has captured the lives of women and their families in their battle to lift themselves out of poverty. This photographic essay combines powerful portraits and stories set against the backdrop of urban and rural landscapes, with close up images of an array of India’s vibrant colours and textures such as thousands of swishing sarees at UN International Women’s Day.

It mixes iconic images of Indian women clothed in boldly hued sarees overflowing with laughter to the solemn distant faces worn through years of hardship. Filled with heart and hope, this book leaves you wanting to know more and wanting to help change the face of India.

Rick says: “I hope these images inspire people to think beyond the boundaries of their Australian postcode and to bring home how through organisations such as Opportunity International Australia we can make a very real difference to India’s entrepreneurial poor.”

Limited edition prints are available with all proceeds going to Opportunity International Australia’s India Program.