Lives In Focus
Lives in Focus is a portrait series capturing the faces and stories of people I’ve met along my travels. Each image is paired with a glimpse into their lives—their thoughts, struggles, joys, and everyday realities—offering an intimate look at human connection through shared conversation and visual storytelling.
This young boy, living with Progeria and unable to hear or speak, has created a unique game of his own. With a folded newspaper, he cuts the top, wets it slightly, and tosses it skyward, where it spins like a blade. A small donation box rests beside him, hoping for the generosity of onlookers.
Nearby, he and a baba have their eyes fixed on a young musician playing beside his harmonium.
On a Saturday evening, a group of men sat together, engrossed in ‘Dassi Pakda’, a trick-taking card game where the team capturing the most tens wins. As they played, they smoked and chatted about everyday life, fully immersed in the moment.
Kedar Das, arrived in Pushkar years ago after an almost 3-year pilgrimage through Varanasi, Haridwar, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Rishikesh — all in search of the sacred Pushkar sarovar spoken of in bhajans he used to sing as a kirtan artist. Now 80, he lives as a sadhu by the Pushkar lake, bathing and praying daily from 4 to 9 p.m.
He returns home to Bihar just once a year. "I only studied till third grade," he told me, "education is the greatest salvation in today’s world, being a sadhu comes with unimaginable hardships," he said.
For the past thirty years, this man has returned to Pushkar Lake for a month every year, spending time in deep meditation and prayer by the water. It’s a promise he made to himself in his teenage years—a tradition he’s never broken.
An elderly man who has run a tailoring shop in Jaisalmer’s old lanes for over five decades. The shop, worn and cluttered, reflects its final years. Despite the fading business, his dedication to craft and quiet generosity remain constant.
Dr. Rajkumar feeds the geese and ducks at Gadisar Lake every evening. This daily act, continued over several years, reflects a consistent bond between man and animal. The birds gather around him regardless of season or weather.
Ayuta is a mechanical engineering student and traveler. Met briefly during this journey, he remained an engaged and enthusiastic companion, driven by curiosity and a desire to collect meaningful experiences.
