Balancing on one foot, a fisherman in Myanmar holds a cone-shaped net and leans perilously close to the edge of his skiff, like a ballet dancer executing a delicate pirouette. What he’s doing may look strange, but the practice is rooted in hundreds of years of tradition and pure necessity.
The technique, referred to as one-legged paddling, is practiced because the reeds in the water are so abundant and thick that it’s impossible to see them when seated in the boat. This particular image is just one of many examples of Burmese life captured by Theresa Gingras.
Gingras, a photojournalist based in Santa Maria, has unveiled a new collection of images at Allan Hancock College’s Ann Foxworthy Gallery highlighting her travels through Southeast Asia. Myanmar: Moments in Life features a collection of photographs that emphasize portraiture and the lives of people Gingras met on her recent expedition.
Gingras is a seasoned world traveler who has visited India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia.
Like most other young people curious about the world beyond her doors, Gingras was electrified by images in publications such as Life and National Geographic, which she said helped her see the world at large. An Ernest Righetti High School graduate, she started exploring her passion for photography in high school, rotating in and out of the photo lab on her free hours and joining the photography club.
“It was always a passion of mine,” she said. “For me, the appeal is about distilling the world down to a frame and being able to figure life out that way. It organizes something I could relate to.”
Gingras earned a degree at Allan Hancock College, which eventually led her to her formal study at Brooks Institute, a visual and media arts school in Ventura. It was there she decided to pursue commercial photography, discovering a way to turn her passion into a money-making skill.
“Commercial photography was a way for me to work in the medium,” she said. “So I put my fine art work on hold. I didn’t quite know how to turn that into a living. That’s when I went to Brooks Institute. That helped me hone in my craft.”
Now a teacher at Hancock, Gingras photographs commercial architecture, residential property, and food for local restaurants and publications. She said her career gave her a chance to explore her interest in travel.
“I’m interested in understanding the world and the relationship between cultures,” she said. “We are so similar.”
In May, she set out to Myanmar with two camera bodies and a variety of lenses, spending weeks crisscrossing the area with guides who helped her translate and communicate with her subjects. In all, she covered several regions including Chin, Shan, and Kayah States.
“I take time to acclimate,” she said. “I allow myself a few days to assimilate to a new culture. … I do ask for permission. I engage with them, find out what they do, how long they’ve lived in the village.”
In the central region of Mandalay, Gingras obtained an architectural permit to photograph the temples of Bagan. She said the opportunity also allowed her to learn more about Buddhism.
“We worked with novice monks,” she said. “For me, this is a way of exploring the Buddhist philosophy and way of life. I wanted to capture the essence.”
In lieu of a formal reception, Gingras has offered to host Hancock students at the gallery and discuss her work. As for the future, she hopes to be able to combine her love of travel and photography, offering global tours for others interested the kind of work she’s done.
But one project looms high above all others. Gingras’ father was a Vietnam veteran and she is currently working with the U.S. State Department, retracing his steps during his tour of duty.
“That would be a pinnacle trip for me,” she said. “I want to immerse myself in that culture.”
Rebecca Rose’s hobby is food photography, mostly so she can obsess over eating the food. Contact her at rrose@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 24-31, 2017.