Karachi, 2008, in Motan Das Market Possibly 2008 - 2014

Leo Rubinfien captured this bustling market scene in Karachi in 2008, with his camera. I can imagine Rubinfien wandering through the Motan Das Market, pausing, framing, waiting for that perfect moment when all the elements align: the light, the composition, the human element. His choice of black and white flattens the image and removes us somewhat from its reality. Look at the eyes of the man in the foreground. What is he looking at? What is he thinking about? There's a gravity in his gaze, isn't there? This one gesture speaks volumes. The way Rubinfien composes the scene invites you to imagine how many stories are unfolding simultaneously. I can imagine him as a painter, layering his colours, using his brush, and adding a dab of light to illuminate some areas. He is very much like a painter in his ability to capture the essence of a place and time. Painters and photographers, we're all in a continuous dialogue. Photography, like painting, is all about seeing and interpreting the world around us. And sometimes, it’s about finding those hidden moments that speak to something deeper.