Wander and Wonder

Father and son. Bathing with the birds in Pushkar, Rajasthan.

There are stories in the wrinkles on their faces, the dust on their eyelashes, the sun reflected on their skin. There are no words, only colors and light.

Nobody needs pity. And they only sometimes need sympathy. Mostly, people need empathy. For me, working in slums is about seeing people with the same labels you see yourself: man, woman, child, sister, brother, mother, student, worker, friend. Not poor or rich. It’s about working alongside them, understanding where they are coming from, but not…

Let’s face it. No one can resist a good, ol’ fashioned amusement park. Especially in India where the safety of the rides is questionable, the crowds are intense and the lighting systems ultra-techno. These photos are taken in different locations (from Old Delhi to Kalkaji to Madikieri) with different cameras (from an iPhone 5c….

The air is hot and sticky. Stepping out of the house is like entering a sauna, with no escape – even the wind against your skin burns as it licks you. Images of crisp ocean waves and ice cold popsicles enter your mind, uninvited, and take up residence in your thoughts like a house guest…

In the back lanes of an old Calcutta neighborhood, there are a handful of men in a small, poorly lit room with turquoise-painted walls stitching brightly colored undershirts. Day in and day out. With smiles on their faces, rolls of fabric at their feet, and handwritten account books.

Indian men are under a lot of pressure – to earn, to be tough, to provide, to be stable, to be cool. Here are a few glimpses of that in action at Kalkaji Mandir, Delhi. To see more images related to masculinity – check out the photo essay on the flower market of Calcutta.

Frankly, I find them scary. But apparently Lajpat Nagar Central Market has unanimously decided that clowns in full make-up and costumes standing outside a store are a good marketing strategy. I wonder how these guys feel in 46C/115F heat, wearing such elaborate ‘work’ uniforms – are they proud? Or do they feel foolish? How long does…

It once blared Indian MTV and all the latest Bollywood music videos. But now it’s out of fashion – and like your neighbors and friends – you want a newer version. Or maybe there was a wedding in the family recently and a new TV appeared with the rest of the gifts exchanged. Or your…

Shambu and Kanchan are the same age, more or less: 50. And they’ve lived their whole lives together, more or less. When he was just 10, Shambu started training with his dad in Bihar to learn how to take care of elephants – and after 10 years, finally got Kanchan to himself – and he has taken…