India has a way of humbling you, lifting you, and then making you laugh—sometimes all within the same five minutes. This photo, taken in Varanasi on my second trip to India about five years ago, is one of those moments that perfectly captures the everyday poetry and subtle comedy of life on the subcontinent.
A bold sign reading “TOURIST ASSISTANCE” painted in crisp red letters. A blue metal box in the foreground. And a man stretched across it, fast asleep in the sun. Is he the assistant? Or just a local catching a bit of warmth in the midday haze? No one knows. But in a place like India, you quickly learn to stop asking and start observing.
Varanasi Street Photography & The Everyday Comedy of India
The Beauty of Varanasi
Varanasi isn’t just one of the oldest cities in the world—it’s one of the most visually arresting places on Earth. Whether you're watching sunrise rituals at the ghats, the constant flow of pilgrims and sadhus, or everyday locals just getting on with life, there’s always a story unfolding.
This image is part of a wider series of candid street photos I shot across Varanasi. The city is loud, sacred, chaotic, peaceful, surreal—and the more time you spend there, the more it reveals. That’s what makes it a dream for photographers: the drama, the beauty, the realness of it all. Take a look at this previous photography blog I wrote about street photography in Varanasi - click here.
Second Time Around
This was my second trip to India, and it was the first time I really started to slow down and focus on smaller details. Not just the big epic landscapes or ceremonial scenes, but the spaces in-between. The sleepy moments. The humour. The subtle absurdities that make India such a wild and fascinating place to document.
Shot on my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV paired with the EF16–35mm f/2.8L II USM, I used natural light and let the geometry of the signage and colours speak for themselves. Tech details for the camera geeks are as follows:
ƒ/6.3 | 35mm | 1/160 | ISO 250. Take a look at some more amusing and alternative street and travel photography from my time spent in India in the slideshow below:
Explore More of My India Work
I’ve travelled extensively across India—from the ghats of Varanasi to the deserts of Rajasthan and the hills of Himachal—and my camera has been with me every step of the way. If you’d like to see more go to:
👉 View more India photography on my Flickr
👉 Browse and license my India images on Getty Images
👉 My Instagram has plenty of India images - follow me here
Whether you're a fellow photographer, a traveller planning your first trip to India, or just someone who enjoys looking at the world a little differently, I hope this image (and the wider set) makes you smile, pause, and maybe even wonder what "Tourist Assistance" really means.
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