In the warm light of sunset, this shaded figure of Buddha, plated in solid gold, echoes the golden curves of the Banyan tree planted just behind it. I used indirect light to make this image. Its beauty, as well as its mystery, is expressed by the reflections that cover the body and head of the Buddha. Its reflective quality is not accidental. The figure itself is seated as if in a reflective pose, and the more we look into it, the more we will see of ourselves and all that surrounds us. The old tree behind it is just as important as the figure. Its external roots are illuminated by the low, warm light coming from the side, giving them greater depth and making them stand out in bold relief. It is the combination of vitality radiating from both the light on the tree and the reflections on the polished gilded statue that give this photo its energy and its meaning. Photographing both at another time of day would not have produced the same effect, nor expressed the same meaning.