The Quiet Exchange, 2025

This photograph captures a moment of unexpected connection on a cold, rainy day in Vietnam. I was initially focused on the gate when a loud dog’s barking startled me. The lady, who I hadn’t noticed before, emerged from her home, speaking in Vietnamese as she walked toward me. Although we couldn’t understand each other, her warm smile and gentle gestures made the moment feel personal. As I raised my camera to ask if I could take her picture, she paused, smiled, and fixed her headpiece to present herself better. With a nod of approval, I took three shots before she turned, closed the gate, and went back inside. It was a brief yet meaningful encounter, a reminder of how silent exchanges can speak louder than words.

I’m Mattia Madami, a Italian heritage photographer born in Johannesburg , raised across Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Milan, and now based in Sydney. Inspired by my father’s filming and a childhood surrounded by portraits of past generations, I’ve always been drawn to capturing people and places through photography.