Ethiopia, 2023

A small rowboat sets out across the pearly surface of one of Omo Valley’s many lakes, suspended on the blurred line between water and overcast sky. The boat’s sole occupant dips his oars and the quiet splash of each paddle echoes back to the shore. Simple high key compositions like this where all sense of space is lost can create a sense of stillness and serenity, especially from nature. With very few clues about the underlying story, save for the rower and the ghostly silhouette of another vessel in the distance, it is easier to simply appreciate the feeling. Not every image has to have a narrative behind it, even if the storyteller in me cannot help but look for one.