Russell Shakespeare: City of Light

Based on the Gold Coast, Russell’s work has been published in national magazines and newspapers including The New York Times, Qantas Magazine, Time, The Financial Review, The Weekend Australian magazine, the Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and in books by The Magnum Foundation, Australian Geographic, The Museum of Brisbane and The Tim Fairfax Family Foundation among others.

His connection to India, and more precisely - Varanasi, came about literally by accident.

"In 1987 I was studying photography at The Qld College of Art in Brisbane, I was 24yrs old at the time. Six months into the course I was hit by a drunk driver, the result was two broken ankles, broken knee, broken ribs and broken nose, every single limb in plaster. After almost 3 months in Hospital, and a few more operations, including learning to walk again, my body slowly healed. I was desperate to regain my former strength and really hungry to travel. India was never on my agenda but I knew some friends who were going there.

"I knew I couldn’t travel on my own so I decided India was as good as anywhere. That first trip I did with a walking stick, and a very simple camera setup. I went to a few different cities in India over a couple of months. It wasn’t until I arrived in Varanasi that I felt this was my place, and I knew instantly that I wanted to come back here and document this city and tell peoples stories."

The experience would spark a personal photographic project whereby he would return every 12 to 18 months for more than 20 years - documenting the country, its culture and its people.

Now, Russell shares images from his latest journey in an exclusive exhibition at the Leica Store and Gallery - Sydney.