Portraits

The Noodle Maker

This photograph, taken in a noodle factory in Vietnam, is one of my favourites, ever. As soon as I stepped into this dimly-lit kitchen, I knew straight away that the lighting is out of this world. I stood there in front of her, waiting for her to look up. She wouldn’t budge. She knew that I was there. I kept the shutter button halfway-pressed, ready to take a picture the moment she looks up. Ten minutes into this stand-off, she finally did. Only to hurl some Vietnamese insult and gestures at me. Well, I couldn’t blame her. I would be pissed too if someone points a camera at me for that long while I am working in the heat. But hey, I GOT THE DAMN SHOT! It was all worth it. Till we meet again, ma’am. I won this time.