It was a scorching day in Myanmar, and I was out with my camera, wandering around the busy streets. It was my first time in the country, and everything was new and exciting. But little did I know that one encounter would change the way I looked at photography.

I stumbled upon a street where locals were crafting Buddha statues. It was a grueling job done in sweltering heat, and most of the businesses looked family-owned. As I was taking photos of the busy scene, a young girl caught my eye. She was working on a massive statue, as big as herself, sandpaper in hand, smoothing out the rough edges.

The atmosphere was eerie, with dust floating in the air, but the light was perfect. The girl, with her tattered clothes and sparkling pearl bracelets, looked like an angel in a cloud of dust. I took a few shots of her, and she caught me in the act. She looked at me for a while, and I could feel her questioning my motives. I lowered my camera, but my reflexes took over, and I snapped another photo… this photo.

As the day went on, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I should have said something to her. Maybe a simple "hello" or "how are you" would have made a big difference. But I didn't, and it left me with a deep regret.

On subsequent trips to Myanmar, I searched for her, hoping to connect and maybe show her the pictures I took. But I never saw her again. The current state of the country makes me wonder if she's okay, and it adds to the weight of the missed opportunity.

Now why did this brief moment have so much impact on me? I don’t know… it just did. It made me realize that photography is not just about capturing the perfect shot or the technicalities. It's about telling a story and connecting with people on a deeper level.

I hope that I will shoot many photos in the future like this one, a photo I still think about and still evokes feelings even years later… I hope every photo I take is like that.

I no longer rush through my photography, snapping as many pictures as possible. Instead, I take my time, genuinely interested in the people and their stories.

This is photography of me, this is why I do what I do… and I hope I will be able to travel for Photography until I’m physically unable to do so… and even then, im left with the memories.

I miss Myanmar and I miss my dear friend Mya Min Din, a fantastic Photographer and a good friend, who helped me get some of the best photographs I have ever taken.