‘… unending with her passion in the creation of stories about women …’ 

John Stanmeyer

Photography as storytelling … bearing witness, honouring each person and saying ‘I see you’.

Photography that explores identity and often lesser ‘seen’ members of communities - with a focus on women and the many roles they fulfil.

women in sari, women in doorway, varanasi, india

This is my destiny …

Women of the Gullies, Varanasi, March 2025

woman lying on the floor of her humble home, varanasi, india
toddler standing on charpoy, varanasi, india
older woman bathing and washing in the ganges river, varanasi
indian woman sweeping the streets, varanasi
mother in red sari and son, humble home, varansi
a woman adjusting her clothing after washing, varanasi, india
indian woman in sari with family outside home
woman at doorway with red curtain, varanasi, india
portrait of elderly woman drinking chai, varanasi, indiar

All She Is …

Encounters with Women of Bali

woman working picking flowers for offerings, bali, indonesia
woman sitting looking to the distance, bali, indonesia
woman praying in the water at water temple, bali, indonesia
reflection of woman putting on makeup for Balinese ceremony
mother and daughter getting ready for bath time, bali, indonesia
sisters preparing food, Bali, Indonesia
woman bathing at water temple, bali, indonesia
teenage girls preparing for a balinese ceremony, bali, indonesia
teenage girl, purification ceremony, bali, indonesia
woman doing her hair, preparing for a balinese ceremony, bali, indonesia

The spaces we dwell in

Kolkata, 2023

street barber, night, kolkata, india
woman standing in middle of crowded lane in colourful slum, kolkata, india
two men standing with bicycle and baskets of chickens, kolkata, india
man combing hair after washing at the end of work day, kolkata, india
woman reaching in front of green doorway, street market, kolkata, india
man cleaning his teeth, Hooghly River, Kolkata, India
man sitting in shop doorway, night, kolkata, india
woman wearing orange sari standing among men in busy market
man sitting quietly amidst the market, kolkata, india
 

Carolyn McKay is a photographer currently based in Sri Lanka - but always willing to travel.

Let’s work together.