One of the entrance staircases to Shwedagon Paya in Yangon, the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar. 

While the pagoda itself is magnificent, it is also probably the most photographed motive in Myanmar, so I tried to also focus my time and eye on the less obvious, such as this impressive staircase. Leading from the city to the plateau of the pagoda, it is characterized by the solid pillars, wooden ceiling and beautifully carved decorations. The long exposure blurred the passerby, with only one person stopping and seemingly noticing and maybe admiring the details of the staircase.

I visited about a year after the Saffron Revolution and the ensuing military crackdown, a time where the city was still largely being avoided by travelers. Even here at the Shwedagon Paya, the single most famous site in Yangon, I encountered only one other pair of foreigners. Despite the circumstances, being alone among locals made visiting the pagoda for me personally a much more special and unique experience.

Signed, limited edition of 20 prints.

Printed in 20x30cm or 30x45cm on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Pearl, a natural white, pure cotton paper with a soft pearl-gloss coating. Custom sizes available on request. Each print comes with a certificate of authenticity.