Once again, it was the color of this picture that struck me first. I liked the warmth of the tones of this skirt, as well as the Laotian design of the fabric itself, and built an image out of it by moving in on the hands as they sliced the beans. The skirt not only symbolizes an aspect of Laotian culture – it serves a practical purpose as well. It incongruously catches the trimmings. Other photographers would probably have included the whole person, including her smiling face. I decided to abstract the image, and feature instead the skirt and the incongruous cuttings resting in its folds.