typical photographs of the maldives are bursting with azure seas and skies. i didn't see the maldives the way most people do. i lived amongst the locals. i worked alongside the migrant workers. this is what i saw.

maldives by freelance photographer mark l chaves maldives by freelance photographer mark l chaves portrait of a dhoni sailor by freelance photographer mark l chaves maldives by freelance photographer mark l chaves
god of thunder - dhoni sailor by freelance photographer mark l chaves everyday maldives by freelance photographer mark l chaves waiting for the sun by freelance photographer mark l chaves
football practise - maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves maldivian topographics by freelance photographer mark l chaves dhoni captain - maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves prison gates - maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves male maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves male maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves that lonely feeling - maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves everyday maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves

maybe you noticed. there are no photos of women. since the maldives is a strict muslim country, i didn't feel comfortable pointing my lens towards a maldivian woman.

burning rubbish - maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves going home - maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves male maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves flying mantas maldives 2014 by freelance photographer mark l chaves

these photographs were made in late 2014. i hope they offered a rare and different view of the maldives. thank you for visiting.