"Little Drummer" (Bali) has been taken from the series "Urak Lawoi" (People of the Sea). It pays homage to the people of Southeast Asia. The portraits have taken shape following my near-death experience in 2004 when the Asian Tsunami struck and the small fishing boat I was travelling in nearly capsized off the coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. My recollection of this event has recently appeared in The Guardian and on BBC World Service. In the years since the tsunami, I've been privileged to continually return to the region and strengthen the connection I share with the Urak Lawoi people. My photographs (created over the course of twelve years) document the growth of this relationship and my reverence for this culture, which is as unique and beautiful as the tropical landscapes it inhabits.