Varanasi, India

noble rest was created on the outskirts of Varanasi, an important Hindu pilgrimage city located on the sacred Ganges River. Away from the almost unimaginable intensity along the riverbanks and in downtown Varanasi, there are these somewhat quieter areas, at least by Indian standards. There, street scenes can be captured that offer completely different insights.

noble rest was photographed from a by-driving tuk-tuk: a man sitting on a plastic chair by the roadside, lost in thoughts. What might initially seem off-putting – perceived poverty, dirt, unpleasant odors – captivates us upon closer inspection: here sits a man amidst the hustle and bustle of an Indian street scene, completely at peace with himself, well-groomed, surprisingly flexible for his age with one foot on the seat, dressed in a traditional Indian sari. He radiates humility, serenity, but also determination, and in this form, a certain nobility.