His Smile, 2026

Acrylic, cyanotype on linen

I was riding a high being I had just seen a wild Bengal Tiger that weekend on a safari in India. We were leaving the resort we had been staying at which was positioned right outside this little village. As we drove down the winding dirt roads I noticed this almost fluorescent building peaking out at me. I asked the driver to stop so I could take a photo and as I positioned my camera this sweet little boy came out of his home and walked towards me. His smile was piercing. His aura felt so bright and pure. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I had just left this all inclusive resort, and right outside the gates were people living entirely different realities. Though his life seemed to be much harder from my outsider view, I found myself looking at the photo of him to realize he seemed to be just as happy as I was that day I saw that tiger. Overjoyed just to meet a new person and have his photo taken. His innocence and elation allowed me a perspective shift. Perhaps we can find joy in the smallest of things.