The book follows the life journeys of four operators in Delhi, Jaipur and Pushkar. Minute cameras were once widely used in every corner of India, giving on-the-spot black and white images for identity cards or as souvenirs in parks, at holy sites, at tourist spots and on countless street-side pitches.

In general the story of these operators has largely been forgotten in the history books, since their work catered mainly to a clientele that could not afford anything else. Their cameras, built by carpenters and repaired ad hoc, also do not fit our world of manufacturing and classification — one reason, no doubt, for the lack of attention. The four in this book are among the last practitioners.