22-JAN-2005
Dust Patrol, Luang Prabang, Laos, 2005
Like all Laotian cities, Luang Prabang is dusty. Its public streets are left to accumulate layers of it, but its vast temples are kept gleaming by the flying brooms of their young monks. To me, this trio of sweeping monks was unknowingly performing an exotic ballet of the workplace for my camera. The fellow at left seems to be off in own world of fallen leaves, while the two monks at right arrange themselves and their brooms into an intricate pattern of geometric angles while searching for some remaining dust to move around.
The Empty Basket, Mandalay Jetty, Myanmar, 2005
A never-ending procession of people carry heavy baskets of sand on their heads from a ship at the Mandalay Jetty. The sand will be used for construction work. One of these women, however, is returning to get another load of sand, her basket empty. And so the cycle repeats itself. Load after load after load.
I saw this image as a tableau commemorating the traditional work process of Burma. For example, the Burmese technology of moving sand fill basket with sand, put on head, walk to dump, empty sand, come back for more has not changed much in 100 years. This colorful scene is like a vintage stage play. I layered it heavily with levels of action. In the foreground, a blurred pile of sand. Then the slope of the beach, a triangle slashing across the bottom of the image. Then the cast of players, each with his or her job to do. And finally, the old double decked boat, giving context to the scene.
If I were to make an image that captures the essence of how Burma works, this would be it.