First time I went to India was in 2001. It wasn’t love at first sight, but this journey was indeed a life-changing experience. Scared at the beginning, unaccustomed to the culture and inexperienced, I started to sink deeper and deeper into the ways of the travelers. That journey turned me into a backpacker, and that’s the way I have spent many years after that initiation.

Along the way came photography art. My travels slowly started changing. I stopped following the beaten track and started to look for interesting people and places to take beautiful pictures. One day on a flea market in Lahore, Pakistan I have bought an old and used Minolta lens. It cost me an equivalent of 10 dollars, but it changed the way I photographed. It was a 50, f 1.4. It is still my favorite lens, and I use it to this day.

After arriving at a new place, I take the time to go through the narrow streets looking for photo ideas. Then, once I’m comfortable enough with the surroundings, I keep coming back while waiting for the good light and good opportunity to take some street photography shots. I find these focused moments very relaxing and a bit meditation-like. I always ask before taking a portrait photo of a person. I try to spend time and get to know the people that I’m photographing. Sometimes its 30 seconds, sometimes is a couple of days. Just enough to catch a fraction of their soul.

Pictures were taken in India and Pakistan, 2007-2015.

Gypsy Woman, Thar Desert, Rajastan, India

Sadhu, Hampi, Karnataka, India

Sufi, Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Sadhu, Hampi, Karnataka, India

People in a temple, Pushkar, Rajastan, India

Kalasha woman, Bromboret Valley, Chitral District, Pakistan

Kalasha woman, Bromboret Valley, Chitral Distrikt, Pakistan

People in a temple, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Taj Mahal at sunrise, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

Elephant, Ajmer, Rajastan, India

Kids, Pushkar, Rajastan, India

Man, Thar Desert, Rajastan, India

Man, Thar Desert, Rajastan, India

Gypsy Woman, Thar Desert, Rajastan, India

Gypsy Woman, Pushkar, Rajastan, India

Gypsy Woman, Pushkar, Rajastan, India

Sunset, Pushkar, Rajastan, India

Woman, Rumbur Valley, Chitral Distrikt, Pakistan

Ship Breakers, Gadani, Belutschistan, Pakistan

Man looking at a mountain, On the way to Nanga Parbat base camp, Northern Areas, Pakistan

Man on Hussaini Bridge, Northern Areas, Pakistan

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