Two Geishas

This photograph has special meaning for me. Not only has it become one of my most popular portraits, it also serves as a reminder of several core principals that have helped me over the years. That is, persistence and stepping outside of your comfort zone can sometimes lead to great luck.
As the name would imply, I took this photograph in the Gion district of Kyoto. In its prime, Gion was the most exclusive "hanamachi" (geisha community) in all of Japan. In fact, working in Gion was so prestigious that the geisha of Gion were referred to more respectfully as "geiko" or a woman of art. Nowadays, Gion is famous for being one of the few "hanamachi" left in Japan. Due to the rapid development, modernization and globalization of Japan, ancient cultural traditions and art forms have suffered atrophy. This, coupled with the fact that very few girls are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to carry on this unique tradition and it seems to be only a matter of time before geisha slip into historical lore like the the samurai.
I spent hours each afternoon in Gion strolling up and down the narrow streets lined with "ochaya" (tea houses), hoping to catch a glimpse of the famously illusive geisha. After two days of shooting everything geisha except, well, a geisha, I was beginning to think that they were just a figment created by the Japanese Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Then, in the late afternoon of my last day in Kyoto, a chance encounter of a photographer's dreams. As a rounded a corner I saw them, two of them! I walked slowly behind them taking some environmental and detail shots as they shuffled down the street, careful not to disturb the harmony. Once they sensed my presence, stopped and turned towards me I thought my ideal photo shoot was over for sure. After all, I have no idea how geisha feel about being photographed and even I felt a bit uncomfortable, like some kind of geisha paparazzi. Realizing this was my only opportunity, I smiled, showed them my camera and non-verbally asked them for a quick shot. Surprisingly, they giggled at each other and almost seemed flattered by my eagerness. I worked quickly around them, instinctively finding the best possible light and background and then took two frames before giving them a deep bow and letting them once again slowly shuffle towards their destination. "Arigato goziamasu" (thank you very much) indeed!

Silhouetted Seaweed Farmer

I made this photograph from the beach on Nusa Lembongan, a small island in the Badung Strait between the popular islands of Bali and Lombok in Indonesia. As you may suspect, the 7,000 or so inhabitants of this laid-back island depend almost exclusively on the ocean for their livelihood. Sitting like a speed bump in the deep Badung Strait between the Pacific and Indian Oceans has some distinct advantages. The shallow coral reefs surrounding the island provide not only protection from the strong currents, but also most of the locals diet. What's more, the entire economy of Nusa Lembongan relies on the reefs as they also allow for the cultivation of seaweed, not to mention the sea-loving tourists there for the world class surfing and scuba diving.
As I was photographing some of the farmers carrying their daily harvest of seaweed onto the beach, I happen to look up and catch inspiration. I saw this one last seaweed farmer guiding his flat bottomed skiff across the horizon. Knowing he would soon be crossing in front of the golden sunset, I framed my shot and waited for him to pass through so I could catch a perfect silhouette of him.

Little Emperor

China's draconian one-child policy, first instituted in 1979 in an effort to curb the population growth, is now revealing some startling side-effects. As you may imagine in a country where almost all of the children are an "only child", there tends to be a severe amount of doting parents who spoil their children incessantly. This is especially true for boys. So much so in fact, they have given these children the nickname, "little emperors".
I first noticed this adorable little emperor as he was squatting in the grass going pee through a slit in the crotch of his pants. Only later did I realize that this is the common practice in China. Rather than using diapers, parents simply cut a slit in their children's trousers so they can squat outside and go whenever they need to. The only thing more out of the ordinary to my occidental eyes than seeing toddlers relieve themselves in the middle of a city park, is the sight of their parents who often stroll the park in their pajamas! Anyway, I interrogatively gestured to his parents if it would be o.k. for me to take his picture. Of course they were honored and proud as peacocks. He was far more interested in playing peek-a-boo with me than having his portrait taken, but as you can see, I couldn't have asked for a cuter, more natural pose.
They say children are one of the most challenging subjects to shoot because you can't give them direction as you would an adult. I however, disagree. You simply have to think the way the do, get down to their level, play a bit and shoot the action.