Photo Contest 2012 – Bill Davis

• “Umbrella Boat”
• LOCATION: Arakan State (Burma), 2009
• STORY: Where would you find a sail made from used umbrellas? “Traditional” in a lot of cultures means not throwing anything away—many people are too poor to afford this luxury (is this a luxury?). This is not the case in my own culture, but the green side of me appreciates this efficiency, and I’m often reminded of it when I travel. The boat in the photo is a great example: the sailmaker clearly honored this tradition of thriftiness, and the product was a beautiful celebration of her culture.