A stone’s throw from Mandalay’s stone carving district is a street lined with foundries casting bronze Buddha images. Using a process that dates back thousands of years, skilled craftsmen create detailed wax images of Buddhas which are encased in earthenware clay. The mould is then heated to burn out the wax and the bronze poured in. Foundries in Mandalay are renowned for producing high quality bronzes that are commissioned for temples all over the country.

Here a sculptor at a workshop in Mandalay is working on a large wax image.

Fifteen kilometres from Mandalay in the former capital of Amarapura is U Bein Bridge. At 1.2 kilometres, it’s the world’s longest teak bridge and possibly Myanmar’s most recognisable landmark. It’s certainly one of the most photographed.

I first visited here 12 years ago when the country was attracting few visitors. Today, it is well and truly on every itinerary and I shudder to think what it will be like when the Myanmar tourist industry develops.

U Bein Bridge is one of those locations where you hope for clear skies, still water and vibrant sunsets. Unfortunately on the first of two visits last week I got a nasty washed-out sky, a breeze and no sunset to speak of – hence the need for a tripod and a slow shutter speed to get bring a touch of blue to one of the shots. I returned briefly the following evening when conditions were pretty similar but at least the sunset was OK.

U Bein Bridge connects two small communities and spans a vast area which during the dry season is used for farming peanuts, sesame and other cash-crops.  This year, Myanmar’s rainy season has been longer than usual but seems to be nearing the end. As a result the water was still pretty deep when I visited and the fishermen were out with their nets.

In years of excessive rain it is not unknown for the bridge to be completely submerged. In fact the middle section now includes some concrete posts, replacements for teak pillars that were washed away a few years ago.

Next week I’ll be uploading a large batch of images from Myanmar into the Portfolio section so keep a look out. And don’t miss the fisherman sitting in the tree below…

I’ve just returned from a week-long trip to Myanmar and the city of Mandalay to take photographs for my current book commission. Mandalay is to Myanmar what Chiang Mai is to Thailand – the centre of the country’s arts and crafts industry.  Weaving, bronze casting, stone carving and much more can all be found here.

As with most arts in Myanmar the focus of the stone carvers is religious. In one part of town the streets are lined with the workshops of skilled craftsmen who attack pure white marble with angle grinders and drills to create the most enigmatic Buddha images.

Carvings of all sizes, from the smallest keepsake to monumental three-metre high statues, can be seen in all stages of production.

It’s a fascinating area to explore, especially in the early morning when monks and nuns walk the streets collecting alms.