We are not going shopping, Sarah leen seemed assertive. My pictures all colourful, showing the details of carts laden with pomegranates did not interest her. Even though my City of Men project on Peshawar had many interesting images of people selling samosas, mouth watering skewers from roadside stalls where smoke was rising making most of my food images atmospheric. Or at least that’s what I thought. For Sarah, apparently that wasn’t the case. My workshop with the former editor of National Geographic was about learning storytelling. Who was I to argue?

The broom, swooshing against the floor, collecting dust, with intermittent clunking bellowing against the pews emanates more prominently than the constant hum of faint conversations.

The muezzin calls, the sound of calling the faithful to the dawn prayer echoes between the narrow alleyways of the old city, reverberating as the light barely breaks between the dark veil of the sky above.

For years I have wondered about the steps one takes to improve. Photography is an inspirational act. One learns from watching others, aspiring to a higher calling, for the art to speak a meaning.

The Buddhist tradition emphasises the importance of Mindfulness. To be present in one’s moment is to be aware of our being. Yet this idea of being present isn’t unique to Buddhism alone.