William Palank

We’re in the winding back alleys of the Chandni Chowk district. The light is unpredictable, changing with every step we make. The space is jam-packed with colourful faces, and we find ourselves enveloped in a cacophony of exotic sounds and mysterious aromas.

We’re on the move with William Palank who just-like-that disappears into the flow of humanity. He has his trusty Leica M8, a Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 Asph, and a back-up wide angle stashed loosely in the pocket of his cargo pants. That‘s all he travels with. More would weigh him down unnecessarily. “I like to blend into the environment,” says Palank, “as far as a whitey from San Francisco can in the pulsating heart of India.”

William Palank, 45, has been a traveller for many years. It‘s what helped him to develop his photographic eye. “I want to show architecture and colour as it is,” he explains, “and portray the people in their day-to-day lives, using the light that’s available.”

It‘s this fascinating interplay between subjects and setting that characterizes Palank’s work. His images speak of locals going about their business, and the colours of clothing and skin frequently find themselves reflected in the background of his well-crafted compositions.