As a tuk-tuk driver, Moe Wai feels that he has honed both his observational and people skills. Wai lives and works in Myin Ka Par, a village in Myanmar, and became interested in mobile photography several years ago. In this instance, he used his phone to capture this gaggle of local children as they were returning home from school.
“They were playing on a sandbank with their own plastic bottles,” Wai recalls. He’d been collating props for some time; bottles and hoops he had painted in a variety of colours, including neon pink. “The children were happy to let me replace theirs with my own colourful ones for the purpose of this photo.” He later applied some minor edits using the Lightroom app.
Wai says their village is “generally considered a relatively safe environment for children. It’s a close-knit community where families tend to know one another, and outdoor play is a regular part of daily life. Despite challenges, there is a strong sense of care among residents.”
While he didn’t play on this beach himself, Wai recalls taking part in “similar improvised games” in his own childhood. “We used whatever materials were at hand to invent new ways to play. This image evokes memories of carefree afternoons spent outdoors, and the shared sense of imagination that defines childhood everywhere.”
The three girls and five boys he photographed were thrilled to see the result, Wai says. “They were delighted, laughing, pointing, and excited to recognise themselves in such bright colours. That moment of connection was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.”
