Photography begins before the shutter is pressed. On these journeys, I have stayed in people's homes, shared meals, walked with them, waited for festivals and ceremonies, and spent long stretches of time simply talking. Sometimes, even with my camera with me, I didn't necessarily have it up because getting to know someone mattered more than making an image.
Many of my most memorable moments happened outside the frame, like an ordinary afternoon with a family, waiting several hours for a ritual to begin, learning how a costume is repaired, hiking into the mountains for medicinal herbs, or discovering unexpected similarities with someone I had just met.
Those experiences shaped the way I photograph. I try to approach people first with curiosity, respect, and the willingness to listen. The photographs come afterward.
