This was one of my very first works, back when I’d just stepped out into the world as an assistant photographer. It means a lot to me, especially now, because this marks my 20th year practicing photography, both as a job and as something I genuinely love. Looking back, this image feels like a reminder of how far I’ve come. Everything was so pure back then, still a little naive. Money mattered, sure, but it was never the source of happiness. I just wanted to shoot. If I didn’t have the budget for models or fancy props, I’d make do with whatever was around in the studio I was working at. Maybe this image didn’t fully make sense to me at that point in time but it does now. That’s what makes it even more meaningful. It sums up what photography has taught me over the years: to stay flexible, adapt, and keep creating no matter the circumstances.