Odyssey Collective Studio

Woman in Tigar village dances wearing traditional clothes.
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The faces of Holi, Kathmandu.

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South of Kathmandu in a small village called Bungamati, there are a collection of brick factories. The community of workers also live on the grounds where they hand-make bricks. After mud is solar-dried in the open air, bricks are loaded on a cart and taken by horse, to the furnace where they will be fired and hardened. I spent one hour observing this process, but the convoy of bricks continues all day.

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Cannabis is smoked openly for one special day in Kathmandu. Some holy men prefer to have their THC infused in a delicious tea. I was invited to sit with a collection of these men, and smoke and drink according to the custom of the day. Through rough translation we all found common ground, and connection. A well known side effect of passing time while enjoying mariujana.

Red rice paste is centered over the third eye representing its awakening and illumination.

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Prayers, food, and insence are offered up to the Hindu deity Shivaratri in a festival celebrating his name.

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Over time the cervial compression from carrying heavy loads results in unique spinal deformations.

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Weather doesnt stop trade and business on the streets of Hanoi. Carefully balancing her citrus cycle, this woman takes all precautions to deliver her fruit to the nearby market before the rest of the city wakes up.

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Future football stars greet everyone passing through Pho Bang the same way- with bright cheerful smiles, and an edgy salute that speaks to their way of life nestled in the crossroads of China and Vietnam.

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This series may challenge you.

These children work every day, selling handicraft that they, or their parents make. Some of the kids go to school for a half-day before starting their work selling souvenirs to tourists. Others dont go to school at all. How do you feel about suppoting children who sell products so early in life? Is your purchase reinforcing their lifestyle? Or, are you helping their family get by?

I wanted to share this series so maybe parents and their kids around the world could learn from these images, and talk about how fortunate they are. Perspective can provide valuable education.

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@ Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Offerings given at Wat Pho.

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