18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Blue Nets on a Rainy Day

These photos out of Asia are not purely organic. From the Cormorant Fishermen of Guilin to the balancing net fishermen of Inle Lake or water lily gatherers of Vietnam these photos often get passed off as organic and authentic but are in truth staged. This photo is one of that category, but I love that it still captures a taste of local life and culture. This is a local woman who models variations of this shot. She has a net - a new net I believe - set up in an old warehouse or factory. From there, I entered, chatted briefly with her through my guide, and then began to capture images. It's natural light in an old warehouse, on a cloudy/rainy day. The light flows in through an open loading bay portal, and a small amount of dust can be seen floating in the air. The combination of her traditional outfit, the blues, the yellows, the reds, and the flowing sea of net create a wonderful blend of old and new which is why I've chosen to submit this shot.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: Xiapu, China
Camera: ILCE-7RM3
Copyright: © Alex Berger