An epiphany https://journals.worldnomads.com/jwvaranasi/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:01:50 GMT World Nomads Adventures Picking photos was hard. I’ve taken thousands, in 50 countries, many with special memories. The indigenous Mayan family I lived with, where a simple meal of beans and rice was served with grace. The Romanian orphanage I volunteered at, in awe of the children’s spirit. Timbuktu, where an arduous journey was rewarded with shots of smiling indigo-clad men and mudbrick buildings being reclaimed by desert. But I chose Varanasi, that menagerie of colour clinging to the banks of the Ganges, where I learned why those who say cameras detract from travel experience are wrong. With no shared language, I asked to shoot a sadhu as he prayed, and he invited me closer. I focused my lens on his movements – the languid application of paint, the careful arrangement of his belongings, the seamless movement from preparation to prayer – and found that on some level I understood the meaning of his actions. I could have chosen a broader series showing my travels in India or elsewhere. But this series speaks of my shared experience with the sadhu; of the understanding I gained of the power of photography. I believe it tells you why I would cherish the opportunity of being selected for this scholarship. https://journals.worldnomads.com/jwvaranasi/photos/37245/India/My-Scholarship-entry-A-place-I-have-visited Travel India jwvaranasi https://journals.worldnomads.com/jwvaranasi/photos/37245/India/My-Scholarship-entry-A-place-I-have-visited#comments https://journals.worldnomads.com/jwvaranasi/photos/37245/India/My-Scholarship-entry-A-place-I-have-visited Mon, 7 Jan 2013 16:37:06 GMT 0