Mandalay's most important religious structure is the incredible Maha Muni Pagoda. Built in 1874, this glittering Burmese temple complex houses a gold plated image of Buddha that draws pilgrims from all over the world. More interesting to me, however, was the life that goes on within the walls of the Maha Muni. It is a labyrinth of corridors, linking courtyards, shops, and religious shrines. Here, a little boy carries his young brother on his back as he scurries through one of them. They are probably the children of one of its many shopkeepers.

This is basically an example of street photography. (See Gallery Sixteen for more on this subject.) Street photography often lends itself to black and white imagery, because of its hard-edged grittiness. In color, even sad things can sometimes be made to look at least somewhat pleasant. The color version of this image soothes the loneliness of these children, and works very well as an expressive travel image, showing off both the beauty and reality of the Maha Muni. You can see it in color in my travel article on Myanmar posted at: http://www.worldisround.com/articles/139134/photo97.html

As well as it worked in color, I think this image works even more forcefully and memorably as a gritty black and white “street shot.” Once I’ve taken away the warmth of those red and gold walls, this little boy and his brother suddenly become more forlorn and vulnerable. They are trapped between what now become two grim black walls on each side of the image (they used to be brown). They represent forces seemingly beyond the understanding of this uncomprehending child with a blurred foot and sleeping burden on his back. He now must dodge menacing figures while navigating a labyrinth of cold, tiled corridors, instead of strolling through that warm and welcoming gilded world of the Maha Muni we saw in the color version.