Hoi An's Golden Reflection

According to 16th-century folklore, this bridge wasn’t just built for transport through Hoi An, it was actually built as a weapon. The Japanese traders who commissioned it believed the earth rested on the back of Namazu, a giant catfish that caused earthquakes whenever it thrashed. The bridge was designed to act as a sword, driving into the creature’s back to pin it down and stabilize the land.

When I took this, the water was so calm it turned into black glass. I love the contradiction of it, a structure built on fear and violent mythology that looks absolutely peaceful in the dark. Captured at night, long after the crowds had dispersed, the bridge loses its mythical weight. The long exposure smooths the river into a perfect mirror, suspending the 'sword' and its reflection in total stillness. It is a study of balance, violence in the history, peace in the frame.