By Linda Mathieu

Ever since an elderly Frenchman with a beret took a swing at me with his cane when I asked if I could take his photo, I’ve been a little leery, to say the least, of taking photos of people even if I ask for permission first.

So imagine my surprise when I got to India where people love having their photos taken.

Little children would come down the street and happily line up when they saw my camera. Women would pose in their beautiful saris with beautiful smiles, while men with colorful turbans looked proud to have their photos taken. One little boy came up to me and said, “Take my picture!” and then wanted to see it on the digital screen afterwards, giving a happy giggle when he saw it. Only one man did not want to have his photo taken and he made that clear by holding his hand over his face with an apologetic smile. Only a few wanted money to have their photos taken.

There was a lot more to photograph of course than just the people. I was on a trek through Rajasthan, that section of India which was ruled by many Maharajas with magnificent palaces which often became forts when battles broke out between them.