BURMA_D04IR_2541
Post Cards from the vacation that is my life. the "I have been some remote placeless but....... " section 2011 edition
(three of four images)
I was on assignment for American Photo magazine (back when magazines existed...) This is in a region in Burma that non Burmese (and even then it is strictly limited) can no longer travel to.
This is the thrid shot of the sequence after she gave me the "scary laser stare of death by a tattooed faced woman" and the the one where she looks right through me stares. I look from behind my camera say to her "OH come on....." this last capture is the gift of her smile.
See explaining story below:
There is an old wives tale that the most beautiful women in South east Asia are from Burma specifically from the village I photographed this woman in. So hard core was this belief back in the day that the men of the village took to tattooing the faces of the women so no one would want to steal them. This was done with bamboo needle and ink at 13 years old with out any for of local anesthetic.
To get to this village this village we travelled 11 hours by car one one of the "Burma Super Highways" three hours by boat then 6 hours by car then 7 hour day boat during the monsoon season up the Irrawaddy river. Along the way we had to bail the boat out and head to shot when it dumped rain or we would sink ( this is also where I proved that a Nikon camera can indeed be pelted with 1.7 liters of water per hour....). All I know is that when we FINALLY arrived sat this village I was hell bent on photographing a tattooed face woman. I entered the village and it was completely empty. Only chickens and pigs running around.
As my angst, frustration and concern started to simmer to a boil of "@&$*%(!!" level expletives, I hear, flowing in the air around me, the is beautiful bell/bird song like voice in the most exquisite mix of births and brumes accented English say "Are you looking for me?" I spin around and all there is an empty village. the again I hear flowing in the air around me, the most beautiful voice " I cannot come down because I mail but you may photograph me if you would like to."
I would like to believe that my mother did not have any idiot children I said to my self "look up" and there above me had to be one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Stopped me dead in my tracks. Also keep in mind that the last white man to visit this village must have been during the British occupation. I eventually found my voice and said "yes I traveled here to photograph you" (I had no idea that I had travel here just to photograph this woman but it was as if she was notified via psychic link or carrier pigeon that I was on my way and on "official" American Photographer magazine business. She smiled, giggled a bit, I then lifted up my camera she made this face.
Shot with the fabulous D200 modified for Infrared by Life Pixel. 28-300mm f4.5. Post processed with Capture NX and the NiK collection Silver Efex Pro in Photoshop CC #Nikon100 #nikonlove #lexar #kelbyone #photography #onOne @NikonUSA #mirrorless #NikonD200 #NikonNoFilter #niksoftware#nikonUSA #Epson #wacom #xritephoto #onone #sunbounce#fineartphotography #DxO #iamgenerationimage #iamnikon #B&H #PhotogenicbyBenQ #lexarMemory #nikonLOVE @lexarmemory elite photographer #lexarmemory #nikonnofilter #lifepixel #IR #Myanmar #burmabilezik
BURMA_D04IR_2541
Post Cards from the vacation that is my life. the "I have been some remote placeless but....... " section 2011 edition
(three of four images)
I was on assignment for American Photo magazine (back when magazines existed...) This is in a region in Burma that non Burmese (and even then it is strictly limited) can no longer travel to.
This is the thrid shot of the sequence after she gave me the "scary laser stare of death by a tattooed faced woman" and the the one where she looks right through me stares. I look from behind my camera say to her "OH come on....." this last capture is the gift of her smile.
See explaining story below:
There is an old wives tale that the most beautiful women in South east Asia are from Burma specifically from the village I photographed this woman in. So hard core was this belief back in the day that the men of the village took to tattooing the faces of the women so no one would want to steal them. This was done with bamboo needle and ink at 13 years old with out any for of local anesthetic.
To get to this village this village we travelled 11 hours by car one one of the "Burma Super Highways" three hours by boat then 6 hours by car then 7 hour day boat during the monsoon season up the Irrawaddy river. Along the way we had to bail the boat out and head to shot when it dumped rain or we would sink ( this is also where I proved that a Nikon camera can indeed be pelted with 1.7 liters of water per hour....). All I know is that when we FINALLY arrived sat this village I was hell bent on photographing a tattooed face woman. I entered the village and it was completely empty. Only chickens and pigs running around.
As my angst, frustration and concern started to simmer to a boil of "@&$*%(!!" level expletives, I hear, flowing in the air around me, the is beautiful bell/bird song like voice in the most exquisite mix of births and brumes accented English say "Are you looking for me?" I spin around and all there is an empty village. the again I hear flowing in the air around me, the most beautiful voice " I cannot come down because I mail but you may photograph me if you would like to."
I would like to believe that my mother did not have any idiot children I said to my self "look up" and there above me had to be one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Stopped me dead in my tracks. Also keep in mind that the last white man to visit this village must have been during the British occupation. I eventually found my voice and said "yes I traveled here to photograph you" (I had no idea that I had travel here just to photograph this woman but it was as if she was notified via psychic link or carrier pigeon that I was on my way and on "official" American Photographer magazine business. She smiled, giggled a bit, I then lifted up my camera she made this face.
Shot with the fabulous D200 modified for Infrared by Life Pixel. 28-300mm f4.5. Post processed with Capture NX and the NiK collection Silver Efex Pro in Photoshop CC #Nikon100 #nikonlove #lexar #kelbyone #photography #onOne @NikonUSA #mirrorless #NikonD200 #NikonNoFilter #niksoftware#nikonUSA #Epson #wacom #xritephoto #onone #sunbounce#fineartphotography #DxO #iamgenerationimage #iamnikon #B&H #PhotogenicbyBenQ #lexarMemory #nikonLOVE @lexarmemory elite photographer #lexarmemory #nikonnofilter #lifepixel #IR #Myanmar #burmabilezik