Neon Light on Amritsar Midwife Before Dawn

Cool blue and warm orange neon reflections fall across the deeply furrowed skin of an elderly woman. Her face fills the frame, marked by laugh lines that curve from the corners of her eyes to her jaw. A slight sheen on her forehead indicates humid air after rain in the still hours before dawn. She wears a traditional sari in muted autumnal tones, the fabric texture rough against her weathered neck. Dark shadows pool in the hollows of her cheeks while the neon glow illuminates the fine wrinkles of her skin. Negative space surrounds her, showing the quiet intensity of her gaze. A small bead of moisture rests on her upper lip, catching the electric light.