
I was photographing an annual four-day Bhutanese celebration called the Paro Tsechu, one of the highlights of a visit to this remarkable country. Sitting as close to the dancers as possible so that I could get the best shots, suddenly I was part of the show. One of the red-clad Atsaras, a clown who jokes with the audience while carrying a large phallus, began teasing and hugging me. Singling out the Western woman photographer was fun for the locals, and for me, and provided some unique images when my husband grabbed my second camera and shot photos of the experience.