Burmese Girl in Straw Hat
I was leaving the market when I saw this lovely child being carried by her mother. Something about her face stopped me in my tracks. She seems very aware of her surroundings, curious, unafraid and self-contained.
It was mid-day with the sun overhead. Not good for photos unless you take your subject into the open shade. Luckily, her wide-brimmed hat took care of that for me.
I love her dress, sort of a 1940’s gingham look. I imagine her mother made it for her. Look how nicely made her camisole is, the squared corners are perfect. You don’t find that in the stores. Her mother takes pride in her daughter’s appearance. She has applied the thanaka to the girl’s cheeks in a leaf pattern. Most mother’s smear it all over the child’s face. So, we can surmise that this is an only child. When you have a houseful of children, you don’t have time for the leaf pattern.