It was one of those unexpected gifts life offers. We were wandering along Baker’s Lane in Leh, planning to climb up the hill to the Shanti Stupa, when an unpretentious little store caught our eye, a place selling pashminas, but not like the usual shops for tourists. Curious, we stepped inside and, to our surprise, encountered Vikram, a man we had briefly met just a few minutes earlier. He introduced me to Arif Surkha, the owner of the house… and, as it turned out, quite a photographer. I lingered with him, speaking about life, politics, and photography, while he showed me some of his striking work. It was an instant coup de ❤️. Arif has the romantic path of an adventurer, navigating between cultures, and his photographs reflect this worldview: sensitive, layered, and deeply human, infused with a passion for his Cashmere roots. What began as a chance encounter unfolded into two hours of conversation about odds and ends. Even as we spoke, I knew I wanted to write this entry, to pay homage to his talent. Arif has his own portfolio featured on Vogue Italia and an active Instagram presence. I fell in love with several of his photographs, and even purchased one. Arif is a busy man, traveling back and forth between Leh, Singapore, and Poland. I truly hope he will continue to cultivate his photographic gift and share more of his work for us to admire.
