Sad eyes, a photo from Siem Reab, West

Photographer's Note

The photograph that I uploaded yesterday titled ‘Family band’ gives the background to this shot. This is a close-up of the young girl in that picture and I took this shot to capture the sadness that I could see in her eyes. Banging a drum all day long in the Cambodian heat is not the way for a girl like this to experience childhood, but I suppose, like her brothers, she must do that to help her family to make a living. It makes me sad to see children living like this in the third world, but at least these kids look healthier than many we see in central Africa, India, and some other parts of the world. I tried cropping this shot harder on the right to remove the arm of one of the other brothers, but that didn’t look as good as this version leaving the arm in. I couldn’t move any further to the left as the father’s back would have been in the way. Focal length was 120 mm.

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Critiques | Translate

masdog (95) 2005-06-17 13:57

I like this photo, however, I think you can make it much more powerful. Crop out the little boy on the right, and I think you will have a picture that is, emotionally, more powerful. I will attempt to post a workshop on it.

Besides that, this shot is great. The colors are good, and the subjects are well composed.

[workshop] [compare] +

clodreno (0) 2005-06-17 15:03

a nice scene David.. i only wish the guy in grey on the right wasn't there;. still a very nice moment you caught here.
Interesting note as well.

Joaquin (422) 2005-06-17 21:24 [Comment]

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frankisch (51) 2005-06-18 6:00

salut David
très joli portrait
de beux enfants
bonne netteté
frank

oochappan (4880) 2005-06-29 19:15

In fact it is the boy with his serious almost angry look who takes all my attention here more then the sad look of the girl, like he was saying, it is my siter, so take care !

Porteplume (4036) 2005-10-29 13:13

Bonjour David!

A very sensitive picture indeed. However I'm not sure about "sadness" - it looks more like, because of circomstances in their country, they must behave like an adult faaaaar before it's time to be one... And THAT fact is sad!
And I think that little boy can't be missed here, he seems to be the "protector".

* Please don't bother about "green points" - if you read my intro you'll see that I'm happy enough with a visit and well thought words under my images, merci beaucoup! :o)

elmec (12210) 2006-03-31 15:25

Hello David!
Great portrait of the children!
I like the frame, and light and colours!
Great sharpness!
Very good done!
Greetings!

devimeuxbe (58557) 2007-02-03 22:50

Hi David
I just Found this lovely picture from Cambodia.
Glances of the childs are interesting.
Excellent DOF
Regards from Cambodia
Bertrand