An intricate pattern of ever-changing shapes and colors. A complex set of conditions that come together in order to create something beautiful.

That unique relationship that an individual shares with the elements of his environment is confined by a single moment. In that fraction of time a person becomes one with their surroundings and a complex bond is established between that individual and the space, the people and the objects surrounding them.

The kaleidoscope creates order out of chaos. Each unit of the whole is in itself complete, yet it belongs to the whole, sharing a history and a moment in time. Each photograph has a story to tell - a story woven by all of the elements within the frame. Like shards of glass in a mosaic, each element plays an integral role in defining that moment, that space and that very photograph.

The people photographed in this series are the faces that guide you through their own stories. An expression or a moment captivates you, something that you would want to suspend in time and space.

The idea took root when I received a kaleidoscope as a gift. When I first held it to my eye it was like looking into this unique dimension where the image is distorted to create the most unexpected forms. I felt as if I was looking through the viewfinder of a camera, but this one was a viewfinder of a different kind with the ever changing images of the most beautiful symmetry.

Text by Manvi Gautam