I took this photograph on my Nikon FM2 in 2000, I’d just won the Observer Outdoor Photographer of the Year, and part of the prize was a trip to India.

We arrived at sunrise, the soft light, diffused through the mist, gave the intricate marble and architectural detail a luminance and iridescent quality.  As I framed the image and prepared to make an exposure I became aware of the tourists moving and milling about and I realised the composition was about to become more refined, something more than a souvenir snapshot of the Taj Mahal.  And sure enough, all the tourists did fall into position - it could not have been orchestrated any better.  A genuine moment, and of course shooting on film - no instant review or play back, but I had a feeling I had something special.  I only made two exposures on the day - which seems remarkable now in these days of digital, rapid-fire disposable imagery.

You can see both the exposures on the original contact sheet. The light and general scene is impressive enough in the first exposure, but in the second, all the figures fall into place, punctuating the image with a sense of rhythm, balance and scale. As you study the image further you get a sense of their interactions and relationships, a deeper narrative unfolds, adding depth and refinement to the composition. A once in a lifetime moment.

Beautifully printed on museum quality photo rag paper.

Available in three sizes:
42 x 32.5cm
55 x 41.5cm
70 x 52cm
Dimensions are actual print size. For ease of handling and higher aesthetic appeal prints have a 5 cm border (image size is therefore 10 cm less).