(southeast) asia

My first trip to Asia was actually for a contract to teach in South Korea. There was a huge urgency to travel but equally a large presence of reluctancy existed with my decision. To no fault but my own I was hasty in choosing to move abroad due to many personal matters that affected me in Baltimore, MD. Therefore the initial visit was marred with mental distractions, however, three years after my initial stay in South Korea I contracted work to visit Southeast Asia. This time it was a transformative experience for my inner-self that allowed for deep reflection on life. There I witnessed the practice of Buddhism, opened my tasting palette and discovered more about my photography and my process. Without much deep intention I was drawn to the peace, the balance and the beautiful spirit expressed by many Thais and Khmer people. My photography in this region was about documenting those moments of peace, interactions of kindness, and highlighting the comfort I felt in a land that was truly foreign to me, and as a Black man… I offered many new interactions and experiences for people who didn’t consider “Americans” to be any other shade than white.