Documentary photographers allow us to see unfamiliar worlds as intimately as their subjects do. Our documentary series shifts the focus to the photographers behind the lens and their experiences. Discover documentary photographer Younes Mchiche‘s series ‘Portrait in Pushkar’ and learn more about the story behind the little girl in the portrait.
Q: Tell us about yourself. Why were you in India?
A: I’m from Casablanca, Morocco. Two years ago, I quit everything back home, and since then I’ve been backpacking around Asia, exploring, taking photos and videos. India was my first stop. I spent a year there and I absolutely love it—you can find a great photo opportunity around every corner. It’s a paradise for photographers.
Q: What drew you to Pushkar? Can you tell us about the fair where this was taken?
A: It’s one of the biggest cattle fairs in the world. Pushkar, a small desert city in India, is famous for the fair—specifically, for the thousands of camels on display at the festival every year. It originally started as a business event for local camel and cattle traders, but now it’s a huge tourist attraction with events like camel races and trading, and hundreds of thousands of people go.
Q: What’s the story of the girl in the image? Can you provide any insight as to what is going on within the frame?
A: The girl in the photo was dressed like the Lord Shiva the Destroyer and poses for tourists in exchange for a few Indian rupees. I asked her brother if she goes to school and why she was doing this. He was also dressed up in traditional Rajasthani clothes and told me it’s a good way for locals to make extra money during the festival, but at the end of the day, it’s more for fun.
Q: What do you love about the photo?
A: It feels like it’s frozen in time. It’s beautiful and haunting and leaves me wondering when I look at the photo. I want to know more about this little girl, her everyday life, how she feels being on the other side of the camera and having her portrait taken by complete strangers.
Check out Younes’ Pushkar series below, and more documentary photography on their profile!
Follow Younes Mchiche
500px: 500px.com/mchicheyounes
Instagram: @moroccan_backpacker
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