People of India

One of the most amazing places on Earth is India. And India is a photographer’s dream adventure! “People of India” is an intro through photography to the beautiful people of India. The photos were taken during my 2010 trip to Asia.

The subjects were always more than happy to have their photo taken with one exception. While I stumbled upon a wedding and tried to take a photo of the bride, the crowd started to shout: “Don’t take photo of the bride!”. I was surprised by the spontaneous and playfulness of children, most of the time forgetting to change the camera settings. Everyone wanted to see themselves on the LCD screen and to play with the camera.

“For me, the subject of the picture is always more important than the picture.” – Diane Arbus

Enjoy the photos!

“Gangsters” of Varanasi

Children on a rooftop

Buns and smiles

Varanasi beggars sitting on steps by River Ganges

Woman in orange posing during the Hare Krishna festival in Orcha

Father and sons

Flower seller, New Delhi

Young magician in Jaipur. He is very good and got a big audience (and tips) from locals and tourists as well.

The daughter of a flour mill owner

Workers at a paper-making plant in Orcha

Children making faces for the camera

Girl in Orcha

Three boys and a goat

Bicycle repair shop

Milk sellers, Varanasi

Old man in white clothes

Older woman in Lumbini carrying a bag with plants on the head

Visitors from India at the birthplace of Buddha, Lumbini (in Nepal, near India’s border)

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, Orcha

Friends

Two girl friends in Orcha during the Hare Krishna festival

• Read more: “Holly Cow! The Incredible India“

Challenges

• Shooting with the first Sigma DP camera models was a big challenge. Slow focus, slow card writing, sub-par battery life, not good for low light.  But the exceptional quality of the images coupled with a small compact size makes these cameras ideal for travel (if you are very patient).
• Shooting all day long, including during midday under scorching sun resulted in harsh reflections on people’s faces and from shiny clothes.
• Accidents do happen. A holly cow didn’t like me taking photos in a crowded market and she used the horns to target my behind! See the culprit after the action.