I had joined Nick to live at Harian Belan, Dera of Baba Nihal Singh Ji, for a while in late 1998/early 1999. It is the most heavenly place. Sometimes the main Gurdwara (temple) was quite busy and so we would walk along this path to this smaller Gurdwara which was being built there through seva (selfless service). It nestles there sweetly surrounded by the fields which grow vegetables to be served in the Langar (free kitchen). On this particular day, I saw this Baba there and asked Nick if he would take his portriat for me. I had learnt to spin cotton while I was in Punjab and this man had mended my little spinning wheel. He remembered fondly his mother spinning cotton on one when he was a child. Nick said there wasn't a picture there, it would be a snap. "It would only work as a photograph if there were someone walking along the path." We hadn't seen anyone all morning so it looked as though there was to be no photograph. I turned to look out towards the fields and then turned back to look along the path. "There, look, Nick, there's a Nihang coming along the path". And here's the photograph. In that moment we realised the power of asking for what you want, especially in a Gurdwara. We have often come back to remember that moment many times. I love this photograph so much. It is so symbolic: the man bringing his offering to the temple, burdened and stooping, and the man sitting in deep meditation in the temple. I've been back to Harian Belan since and the whole little Gurdwara is now finished. Those bricks in the background now make the outer wall.

I can understand why you love this picture very much . It is merely because your self aura is in tune with the moment . Somethign which not many people realise. If you understand and appreciate the duality of life, then you woudl understand why you appreciate this picture.Obviously your eye understands , thats why you are fascinated.

Your photographs and portraits are very good - that they are of Sikh traditions makes it more interesting for me, but they still are good photos and the above reallisation that without a person walking along that path, the eye would have wandered off, shows this.