 His smile was what first caught my eye as I stood watching the people of Sittwe, Myanmar, on a warm December afternoon. He was a tricycle taxi driver waiting for customers from a bustling market half a block away. Often when I am photographing people on the street in a new place, I take a wait and watch position. That's because standing in one spot just watching the rhythm of the street gives me an idea of how to photograph the people. Sittwe was in a very remote part of Myanmar. When I arrived from Yangon, I was the only westerner on the flight. Guide books had suggested staying at one of three hotels in town, and their ratings were barely two stars. But this was not a tourist trip. As always, I had come to take photographs. I have always been in love with the black and white image. It has been more than 50 years of shooting; I have not stopped looking. For me, black and white photos strip away all of the unnecessary information. "Is it a moment?" I ask myself, or have I "just recorded a scene?" I could tell the taxi driver was getting shout outs from the others. They had noticed me and my cameras, but I waited just a few seconds longer. Putting my camera to my eye, the man turned and flashed an incredible smile. Not a big moment, I told myself. But not merely a scene either. This was the first thing I photographed in Sitwee. It was going to be a good trip. Fine art prints for sale at Fine Art America.com or www.pixels.com
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