Having a photograph taken is considered luxurious for the Burmese people. The majority of them turn to photographic studios to have their yearly portrait.
There are several studios in the big cities of the country, however, the Mahlaing Thida tent is a special enterprise and the only one to be moving around the cities of central Burma every month. A tent of a hundred square centimeters, the make up and costume room and that of digital photograph printing, the photography backgrounds and the six employees comprise the mobile Mahlaing Thida studio. Currently, the studio is situated in the archaeological area of Bagan.
The visitors of various ages are possessed by feelings of admiration and awe when looking at the camera. Although the cost of a single photograph is discouraging, most of them and mainly women and children choose to live their fairytale, dress up and pose in front of a romantic background. A portrait is a special gift they can offer themselves. In this sense, the MT (Mahlaing Thida) studio offers the dream world ticket to the Burmese, even though the journey only lasts for few seconds.
Olga Stefatou