Photographing India

India is a place that can feel overwhelming at first. The noise, colour, crowds and constant movement create a kind of visual intensity that is unlike anywhere else I’ve photographed.

My photography has taken me through Delhi and Varanasi, from the crowded streets and markets of Old Delhi to the ghats along the River Ganges. There is always something happening, but the challenge is finding a photograph within all that activity rather than simply photographing the chaos.

I’m particularly drawn to the people and the smaller moments happening around me. Street life, workers, religious traditions and environmental portraits all provide an opportunity to show something of everyday life and the character of a place.

Varanasi was particularly memorable. Photographing along the ghats at first light, and having the opportunity to make portraits of the Aghori, provided a completely different experience from the streets of Delhi.

India demands patience and observation, but that is also what makes it such a rewarding place to photograph. Among all the movement and intensity are moments of stillness, expression and human connection — often appearing for only a few seconds before disappearing again.