I had to take quite a few pictures of this woman before the exposure came out correctly. The sun was too bright. I had to comprimise with my desire to keep a shallow depth of field and a wide shot. For this picture, I had to stop the lense down one notch and step a few paces closer in order to adjust the exposure.

She grew embarassed yet flattered at all my snapping. I cannot help but think that morning that having a firang dude snapping pictures of you while you work in your field was just about the furthest thing in her mind she thought was going to happen that day. I wonder if they still think about us?

You walk a fine line sometimes: trying to be playful to entertain your subject in order for the both of us to feel that we are gaining something from the interaction yet without being corny or rude in order to be considered exploitative and having the mood grow sour. The feeling out in the field was one of playfulness and curiosity. We had a great time and the workers really enjoyed showing us how cane was reaped, peeled and eaten.