Delhi 2025.05.18 12:40

It's 12:40 p.m. on May 18, 2025. It's over 40°C in Delhi today.
It's only been a few hours since I first set foot on Indian soil, and what a discovery. After wandering around Old Delhi this morning, I'm now heading towards one of the capital's most iconic monuments: Humayun's Tomb. I explore the interior of this masterpiece of Mughal architecture, then head back. The heat is oppressive.
That's where I meet this young woman, tasked with sweeping the park paths after trimming the hedges. Her outfit catches my eye: she's completely covered to protect herself from the blazing sun. Her light yellow scarf, speckled with pink, immediately catches my eye—almost coquettishly. She's dressed up, made up, to do her job.
I stop. I observe the scene. She sees me, smiles, a little embarrassed, but doesn't object. She doesn't speak English, but I try to make her understand that I'd like to get closer for a few portraits. She nods her head, that quick, typically Indian gesture of yes. Despite her embarrassment, her gaze is powerful, assertive. I'm experiencing a powerful moment.
I'm no Steve McCurry, but his images have always inspired me—and I feel this scene approaching. I concentrate, snap a few shots.
There, the image is taken. The exchange is short, but intense. The joy of being a photographer takes on its full meaning here. It's not just about producing an image, pretty or not. It's about creating a connection, however fleeting. A discovery of the other. An emotion.
The image is simply a witness to this moment.
Coming soon, the rest of this travel diary.