Jali. Delhi, India. June 2018.
Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, India. June 2018.
Visiting India was a beautifully noisy experience. There are scores of people at every corner feeding the city its bustling energy. Humayun’s Tomb is one of the most visited sites in Delhi so when I saw this woman sitting alone with her son in one of the exterior niches, I had to capture it.
In June, when it is an average of 98-100°F/37-38°C each day, any shade and breeze is key. Lattice work known as jali, as seen in this window, is not only beautiful, but also serves a functional purpose. Jali helps moderate temperature and air flow, by serving as a natural air conditioner. As air flows through the openings it is compressed and released, when this happens, air becomes cooler. Jali also helps with ventilation as it filters sunlight and increases the movement of air, creating a cross breeze. Without direct sunlight you also get a beautiful soft light indoors.
Not to be a complete creeper, but jali also has privacy benefits. Due to the difference in light, you can see from the inside out and it is difficult to see from the outside in. This meant I could take this shot without disturbing the mother and son outside.