Her face smeared liberally with cooling Thanaka paste, this watermelon vendor rests for a moment in the shade of one of Bagan's ancient ruined temples. She normally carries her tray of watermelon on her head. The watermelon is in her lap, but the small head pillow she uses to support the watermelon, remains ready for use at a moment’s notice. The convergence of colors in this image amazed me. Not only does she paint her face yellow, but the walls behind her seem to be painted with splotches of the same color. The top of the curving, sun-baked wall is the exact color of her head pillow. The colors of the wall blend with her so well, it seems as if she has become part of it.

A series of repeating rhythms pull the eye through this picture. The curves and points of the watermelon slices repeat the shape of the wall cutouts she leans on. Just as the watermelon slices are arrayed on her tray, point by point, so, too, the top of the wall behind her is designed as a series of repeating pointed shapes.

At ease, she looks at the camera, glad to find a spot of shade in the brutal mid-day heat. Soon she will place the watermelon back on her head and resume her rounds on the streets and plazas surrounding the ruins of Bagan’s most famous temple.