About the Image(s)

Story: Varanasi, India lies along the river Ganges where thousands of Hindu go to die. They believe that burial in the water will end their cycle of rebirth and they can finally go to heaven. The religion calls for cremation so this is a crematorium along the river’s edge where about 100 bodies are burned daily. We were taking a boat ride along the shore when I saw this woman mourning her loved one while the groundskeeper swept away debris (flowers, ribbons).

Camera: OM1 MkII with 17mm (34mm equivalent) prime lens. Hand held from boat.
Settings: ISO1000 f5 1/500
Post: cropped, brightened, adjusted color.