Portfolio: Kalpesh Lathigra

Images from Varanasi

Kalpesh Lathigra, 39, is an award-winning documentary photographer whose projects often explore forgotten communities. While shooting one such group - widows in India - he began to think about visual representations of spirituality, resulting in a series about the holy city of Varanasi, from which this image is taken.

British-born Lathigra says he wanted to get away from "National Geographic" India: "I didn't want to be literal, with hands clasped in 'namaste'. It was about showing an emotional space - what the pilgrims may be seeing and feeling. The boys diving in the Ganges are almost a cliche, but there is a contrast between the frozen moment as the boy dives and the history of this ancient place."