My Camera Setup for Documentary Photography in India

People ask me about gear constantly. I understand why. When you are planning a trip to photograph India for the first time, the question of what to bring feels urgent and important.

So here is my honest answer, built from eight years of working on the streets of Kolkata, Varanasi, Delhi and beyond.

The camera body

I shoot with the Leica M11-P. Before that, I used the Leica Q2 for years. Both are rangefinder-style cameras — quiet, compact, unobtrusive. On the streets of India, a big DSLR or mirrorless camera with a long lens draws attention in a way that changes your encounters. A smaller camera disappears into the background.

But here is the honest truth: any camera will work. I have seen extraordinary images made on smartphones in Kolkata. The camera is not the variable that matters most.

The lens

I work almost exclusively at 35mm or 50mm equivalent. Wide enough to include context, close enough for connection. A 35mm lens forces you to get close to your subjects. Getting close forces you to engage. Engagement makes portraits.

What I leave at home

Tripods (mostly). Zoom lenses. Multiple bodies. The more you carry, the more you think about your equipment and the less you think about your subject.

The most important thing

Slow down. India rewards patience above everything else. The photograph you are waiting for is already happening. You just have to be still long enough to see it.