This is the second article in the series "Bhutanese Adventure." Click here to read Volume 1.
Just find a unique and interesting background and wait for something good to happen. That’s the travel photographer’s mantra and it was my ticket to photographic adventure on this day in Bhutan. One day wandering through a rural agricultural area, I came upon this farmhouse. On first inspection, it looked like nobody was home. What really caught my eye were the ubiquitous chiles hanging to the right of the doorway and a group of melons lined up on a pile of wood. This could be good I thought to myself. Now all we need is some people.
I wandered downhill of the farmhouse and noticed a woman harvesting green chiles in a field. I wandered over to her with my guide and they exchanged small talk while I quietly assessed the shooting opportunities. Mmm….busy scene and the overcast conditions were making the sky quite a bit brighter than anything else. I held my fire while the woman handed me a chile to examine. Better wait until she’s done I thought. Just watch her. Maybe you’ll learn something. If I’m lucky, I’ll catch a shot of her walking in front of the farmhouse.
In time, she finished her harvest. All of her chiles filled a large burlap bag which she loosely stitched shut. There was a short, but steep trail leading up to the farmhouse. I’ll offer to carry her bag up. I gesticulated. She nodded. The bag was way heavier than it looked. Arms burning and heart pumping audibly, I made it to the top of the trail where I placed the bag on the ground and backed away to catch my breath.
My guide helped the woman put the bag of chiles on her back where she tied a makeshift harness with a piece of rope. As she walked in front of the farmhouse, I snapped my favorite shots of her. My patience had paid off. I already had my background in mind and I was delighted that this small, strong Bhutanese woman had gotten between me and it.
Stay tuned for Bhutanese Adventures - Volume 3 to hear about what happened next.
Click here for more information about the 2010 Bhutan Workshop.
