A man transports heavy metal containers by cargo bicycle in Varanasi, photographed in 2014

Photographic Collection

Work & Livelihood

Carrying, cutting, serving and selling: glimpses of people making a living in the lanes and along the ghats.

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Work & Livelihood

Each collection brings together photographs through a shared subject. Follow an image into its story, or discover it again through another place or theme.

A man walks along the ghats carrying a bundled load on his head, Varanasi, 2019 — **Carrying a Load**Labour and movement against the red riverfront wall.V-2019-091

A barber shaves a reclining customer in a narrow outdoor lane in Varanasi, 2019 — **A Shave in the Lane**A close view of personal service in public space.V-2019-093

Two men cut a boy’s hair in a public space on the ghats of Varanasi, 2019 — **Haircut on the Ghats**Personal care carried out in the shared riverfront environment.V-2019-055

A seated man in a green turban rests beside an elevated vendor tray on the ghats of Varanasi, 2019 — **Work and Waiting**Work and waiting on the ghats.V-2019-048

A close shaving scene on the ghats of Varanasi, photographed in 2014 — **A Shave on the Ghats**Personal grooming occurs within the shared public environment of the riverfront.V-2014-667

A young boatman rows directly toward the camera through the morning haze on the Ganges in Varanasi, 2019 — **Boatman**BoatmanV-2019-566

A boatman rows a passenger boat on the Ganges with riverfront temples and moored boats behind him, Varanasi, 2019 — **Boatman and Riverfront**Boatman and RiverfrontV-2019-440

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Laughter at Work

Work across India

Encounters through work

Photographs from published encounters in Hassan and Amritsar offer further glimpses of people at work and moments shared along the way.

Laughter at Work

Close portrait of an older man in a knitted cap and green sweater at the tea stall.

Chai in Amritsar

The man facing the camera in a second portrait at the tea stall.

Chai in Amritsar

The man seated beside a cup, his head lowered into his hands.

Chai in Amritsar

Work and Care on the Ghats

A cargo bicycle, a shave, a haircut: encounters with people at work and in one another’s care.

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Related photographic encounters

Follow this theme through individual encounters in the wider archive.

Two agricultural workers resting on a harvested field beside a straw stack and yellow container.

Farm Workers and Harvest

A harvest encounter in Kabirdham–Pipariya, Chhattisgarh, on November 29, 2018.

Decorated truck loaded with sugarcane and three workers on top.

From Sugarcane to Jaggery

Sugarcane handling and jaggery production in Kabirdham–Pipariya, Chhattisgarh, on November 29, 2018.

Laughter at Work

Men and women preparing betel nuts by hand in Hassan, Karnataka, and the laughter of a brief encounter.

Chai in Amritsar

A short stop for tea after a visit to the Golden Temple.

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Brian Silver Documentary Archive

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Photographic Collection

Work & Livelihood

Carrying, cutting, serving and selling: glimpses of people making a living in the lanes and along the ghats.

Explore the collection

Work & Livelihood

Each collection brings together photographs through a shared subject. Follow an image into its story, or discover it again through another place or theme.

Explore more photographs

Beyond the opening selection

Follow photographs from published encounters into their full documentary sequences.

Laughter at Work

Work across India

Encounters through work

Photographs from published encounters in Hassan and Amritsar offer further glimpses of people at work and moments shared along the way.

Laughter at Work

Chai in Amritsar

Work and Care on the Ghats

A cargo bicycle, a shave, a haircut: encounters with people at work and in one another’s care.

Explore this subject across India

Related photographic encounters

Follow this theme through individual encounters in the wider archive.

Return to the archive entrance →Journey by place →Learn about the documentary approach →