An old woman leans in a doorway in India

Moments like this come and go in the blink of an eye, or a shutter release in this case.

This woman was curious about a commotion happening nearby and leaned out from the safety of her abode to investigate.  I noticed how the colour of her clothing matched the building and how she was framed by the doorway.

Without hesitation I raised my camera and took the shot.  A moment later, she was gone.  Just like that.

Two women weld a solar cooker in Rajasthan, India

One of the greatest things I love about travelling is that I get to witness and experience things that are very different to my daily life.  Like what it’s like to live with no electricity.  Or limited water supply. Or observe women in traditional Indian clothing welding a solar cooker.

I had travelled 350km from Delhi to reach this location by road, which took about 7 hours.

In temperatures way above 30 degrees C the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan use large solar reflectors designed to cook food by concentrating the power of the sun into a small area (important in a place where electricity is a rare commodity).

The construction and maintenance of these cookers is carried out by a group of women empowered by the college to learn skills traditionally assigned to men.

For me, this shot is interesting due to the way it jumbles up my own conventional thinking.  Men vs Women.  Delicate dresses vs Tough work clothes.  Maybe I’ve just been brainwashed by years of marketing to think that metal work is carried out by men in overalls wearing large masks.

Workers making candles for sale in Rajasthan, India.

To get this shot I climbed up a fragile looking wooden ladder to reach the top of a building overlooking the group.
I then simply leaned over the side and shot straight down and was glad to have rugged footwear with a decent grip.