Madagascar, 2013

Driving through the Alley of the Baobabs in Western Madagascar, I spotted this flooded field overflowing with the blossoms of water lilies. We stopped the car to photograph the trees towering in the distance, when a splash caught my eye. A young woman was diving in the shallow water and gathering armfuls of the delicate flowers. She stood elegant and proud, presenting her small harvest to me like a bouquet.