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BIFA 2024

Buffalo Transporter

  • Photographer
    Kirby Ma

Along the northeastern coast of Mindanao Island of the Philippines, amidst the deserted villages in the region, local Filipinos still live a humble and primitive lifestyle. Two young boys were riding a buffalo from their home to the farm to do various kinds of laborious work. Not familiar with cameras, the boys were either feeling shy or afraid of their facial images being captured by the camera, simultaneously and instantly raising their arms to cover their faces. Buffalo, as a means of transportation, is becoming less and less popular than diesel-powered tractors these days.

Kirby Ma is an award-winning passionate Chinese Canadian photographer based in Hong Kong, practicing street photography, portraits, landscape, cityscape, nature, and snap. With the work nature of previous career engagements in corporate business development, he stationed and traveled to different countries, namely North Korea, Egypt, the Philippines, Brazil, the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc., he developed a deep interest in its local culture and lifestyles. His vision is to share photography's joy and bring people happiness.