‘The flowing red saree on the bank of the Ganges was incredibly striking’: Divyanshu Verma’s greatest cellphone image | Pictures

Divyanshu Verma regards the north Indian metropolis of Prayagraj as deeply particular: not solely is it house, additionally it is the place he started his journey into road images. This picture was taken within the Sangam space throughout the enormous Hindu purification pageant Maha Kumbh Mela – maha that means nice as a result of this was the twelfth in a row of the ritual that takes place as soon as each 12 years.

“It’s a massive spiritual gathering and the energy is entirely unique,” Verma says. “The place was incredibly crowded with people who had travelled from far and wide, all drawn by faith, but there was a strange sense of calm within the chaos. I wandered through the crowds with my phone, observing rituals and soaking up the powerful atmosphere.”

Verma credit the sunshine with serving to him “bring out the sharp shadows, soft tones and vibrant textures. Two women had been bathing in the Ganges River and were holding this red saree up to dry. Against the blue sky, the flowing red fabric looked incredibly striking.

When it aligned just right over these people, I knew I had found something special.”

Later, Verma made minor changes to distinction, saturation and vibrancy so as “to bring out the richness of the colours. The limitations of mobile photography push me to think more creatively,” Verma provides. “It keeps me grounded and reminds me that powerful storytelling doesn’t always need expensive gear: it needs presence, emotion and intention.”