100 Travel Stories
The People of India
One of the most amazing places on Earth is India — and it is a photographer’s dream adventure. “The People of India” is an introduction, through photography, to the beautiful people of this extraordinary country.
The subjects were always more than happy to have their photo taken, with one exception. When I stumbled upon a wedding and tried to photograph the bride, the crowd suddenly shouted, “Don’t take a photo of the bride!” I was struck by the spontaneity and playfulness of the children, who often made me forget to adjust my camera settings. Everyone wanted to see themselves on the LCD screen and play with the camera.
“For me, the subject of the picture is always more important than the picture.” – Diane Arbus
The Photos
Enjoy the photos — and the journey they capture!
“Gangsters” of Varanasi
Children on a rooftop
Buns and smiles
Beggars in Varanasi sitting on the steps by the Ganges
Woman in orange posing during the Hare Krishna festival in Orchha
Father and sons
Flower seller, New Delhi
Young magician in Jaipur. He’s very skilled and drew a large audience—locals and tourists alike—who rewarded him with plenty of tips.
The daughter of a flour mill owner
Workers at a paper-making plant in Orchha
Children making funny faces for the camera
Girl in Orchha
Three boys and a goat
Bicycle repair shop
Milk sellers, Varanasi
An old man in white clothes sitting in front of his house
An older woman in Lumbini carrying a bag of plants on her head
Indian visitors at Buddha’s birthplace, Lumbini, Nepal
Boatman in Varanasi
Workers in a rickshaw repair shop
Tailor shop
Schoolchildren visiting the Amber Fort in Jaipur
Glory English School students
Girl in black jacket, Orchha
Challenges
- Shooting with the first Sigma DP camera models was a big challenge: slow autofocus, slow card writing, subpar battery life, and poor low-light performance. Yet, the exceptional image quality, combined with their compact size, makes these cameras ideal for travel—if you’re very patient.
- Shooting all day, including at midday under the scorching sun, resulted in harsh reflections on people’s faces and from shiny clothing.
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