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another genuine smile from another old man in this city of lijiang. he might look a little creepy to some, but his wrinkles, beard and teeth are just a good sign of happiness to me. unlike most standing characters in disney, theis man was not posing, and not to mention being paid to smile and pretend. this man is the real deal, carrying on a legacy of traditions from the dong ba kingdom in lijiang, china.

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history carries lifetimes of culture and traditions, which are usually treasured, yet at times are not favorable to the benefit of everyone. the lady in this photo is a victim of suffering through traditions. in acient china, it was believed to be better/ nicer for girls to have small feet, so they would have them tied extremely hard, so that their feet wouldn’t grow. all i can deduce from this is pain, which i think her face marks so clearly to remind us of her past.
happy mother’s day (costa rica)

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i bought some traditional chinese sweets from this lady. spoke to her for a long while after too.. this lady keeps this big smile for almost twelve hours a day, working really hard, preparing sweets all day long for people passing by in the streets.

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i was surprised to see the never-ending smile this man shared with everybody. him, along with another garbage collector joked around as they collected trash through the streets of lijiang, laughing, and waving at everyday merchants and tourists in the streets. very inspiring. unfortunately, so many local people have been affected in the recent yunnan earthquakes. wish them nothing but the best.

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the largest country is the world: rich in history and culture. their dominance in the various art fields carry a tradition from so many years back. in this scenario, it is hinted that this musician is a tuba player, taking a short cigarette break from a long day in front of a tourist attraction. he orchestrated the small musical convergence with the beat of a bass drum and a cymbal through his rythmic perfection.

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personally, i think i can easily spend like forty percent of the time i’m awake daydreaming and staring into the blue. it is even better enjoyed when it is complimented by really really calm music or sounds, as i observe patterns, texture, or anything moving along those lines with millions of stories to tell. i do believe this girl enjoys the same. this was in the berlin museum square/district in front of the altes. 2009

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this photo makes me happy. not only the colors, but the actual moment. for those of you who know savannah , you would understand the pleasure of sitting outside zunzi’s after an incredible meal. sitting under the shade of the colorful umbrellas with the company of your closest friends sipping on south african sweet tea. can’t get any better.

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i am frequently asked about the reactions of the people i photograph. i rarely ask for permission, unless they are looking at me in a very serious manner. from my previous experiences, i have found the most geniune reactions in the most remote locations from people who haven’t really been exposed to the world that much. in this occasion , this cheerful lady just waved as i “secretly” tried to take a photo of her in a very small town near dali, china, summer 2008. her attire reflects one of the fifty-six distinct ethnic groups scattered trough china, and it’s for real.. no disney effects, promise.

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this took place a bit after sunset in downtown manama souk, also know as the downtown city market. as you can see, this vendor is selling seeds, which arabs accustom to enjoy in snacks and desserts. notice all his seed plates, the box where he brings them in, and his bike in the background. i think he does well selling seeds, with a nice clean thobe, nice watch, cell phone, hmm think about it.. a very easy going, special and welcoming place indeed. very nice people too.. the photo was taken in late august 2007.

this post marks a week too.. wow.