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Description
This man is a saddle maker from Karachi, Pakistan, whom I met in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

He was making a small living in repairing shoes on the street, at his spot near the Old Basaar and the central bus station. He sat on a mat directly on the sidewalk, his tools (sewing needles of different sizes, yarn of different materials, several new soles and clasps) fitted into a small plastic bag.

Neither of us spoke the language of the other one, he spoke Urdu and a bit of Arabic, I only spoke English. Still somehow we managed to learn a bit of the other one's life.

Drinking tea he asked friends of his to buy from a stall near the old basaar we tried to converse with hands and feet and drawings in the dust, sometimes helped along by a few translations into broken English by passing-by customers.

I went back twice, always hoping to be allowed to take his portrait. The third time he allowed it, but he wouldn't let me photograph him with his tools or at work. I had to wait until he had put everything away and had arranged himself, and then indicated me that he was ready. When this shot was taken the sun was already setting and a lot of the light was provided by street lamps.

He was set to leave the UAE again soon after my last visit as he didn't have a permanent visa.

Sometimes I'm asking myself how he is, and where.

Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Description
This man is a saddle maker from Karachi, Pakistan, whom I met in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

He was making a small living in repairing shoes on the street, at his spot near the Old Basaar and the central bus station. He sat on a mat directly on the sidewalk, his tools (sewing needles of different sizes, yarn of different materials, several new soles and clasps) fitted into a small plastic bag.

Neither of us spoke the language of the other one, he spoke Urdu and a bit of Arabic, I only spoke English. Still somehow we managed to learn a bit of the other one's life.

Drinking tea he asked friends of his to buy from a stall near the old basaar we tried to converse with hands and feet and drawings in the dust, sometimes helped along by a few translations into broken English by passing-by customers.

I went back twice, always hoping to be allowed to take his portrait. The third time he allowed it, but he wouldn't let me photograph him with his tools or at work. I had to wait until he had put everything away and had arranged himself, and then indicated me that he was ready. When this shot was taken the sun was already setting and a lot of the light was provided by street lamps.

He was set to leave the UAE again soon after my last visit as he didn't have a permanent visa.

Sometimes I'm asking myself how he is, and where.

Al Ain, United Arab Emirates