Inle Lake Myanmar — Leg-Rowing Fishermen Dawn
37,480.80 ¥
The leg-rowing fishermen of Inle Lake, Myanmar at dawn — a single fisherman balanced on the stern of his wooden boat, the traditional one-legged rowing technique with both hands on the conical net, morning mist on the lake surface.
Description
The Intha people of Inle Lake practice a rowing technique unique in the world — one foot wrapped around the oar blade and the leg used as the primary rowing mechanism, freeing both hands for net management or conical fish trap positioning. The visual clarity of this technique from a photograph made at water level communicates the extraordinary balance required immediately, the fisherman standing on the boat stern on one foot while the opposite foot is wrapped around the oar. This image was made at 5:45am from a hired boat at water surface level, the fisherman casting the traditional conical net while balancing in the leg-row position. The morning mist has not yet lifted from the lake surface, creating atmospheric separation between the fisherman in sharp foreground and the stilt houses of the lakeside village in soft background. Shot at f/2.8 on a 50mm prime, available pre-dawn light.
