This photo was taken for a post-tsunami recovery project based in Madampagama on the south west coast of Sri Lanka. The project is a joint effort between The Sustainable Trust in the UK and The Centre for Environment and Development in Sri Lanka. For more details on this project click here.

What a delight this old couple were! I was invited into their house and, as none of us spoke each others language, I had no idea why but because they exuded such kind and wise personas, I would have followed them anywhere! I so wanted to take their photos but was nervous of asking these vilalge elders for fear of insulting them. So you can imagine how amazed and happy I was when we got into their house and they indicated to me they wanted their photo taken. They posed beside a dark table full of photos and I obligingly took a couple of shots even though the light was terrible. Then, with new found confidence, I repositioned them by the doorway. For some reason the old man grabbed the door curtain; an unexpected but wonderful additional element to the shot. It just goes to show that allowing your subjects to do their own thing can lead too results you could never have composed yourself!

 

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