Afternoon Beer?, a photo from Merida, West

Photographer's Note

Thanks to rmorillo for pointing out my previous error. I was under the impression that the child is drinking a beer, when it is fact a beverage bottled in the same container as the local beer. However, it does make you question the marketing techniques of the beer industry in Venezuela.

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Critiques | Translate

khmelins (960) 2005-02-27 18:39

His eyes.. It could be only a look of a kid but a beer in his hand is grabbing all the atention. Also the opposition between the beer and that fridge full of nice stuff to eat..
It is a very sad image, a very strong one and the high contrast b&w is helping here.

regards,
anton

RandomCameraGuy (3071) 2005-02-27 23:16

Nice portrait. I like all the black in the shot, it really brings the kid out. I remember the kids with beer from my S. Amer days too. What were you doing there BTW? Just travelling or working?

If you're thinking of setting up a beer theme I have a shot called
Breakfast Beer to add! :)

rmorillo (273) 2005-02-28 8:30

Mark:

Most likely the child was not drinking a beer. He was enjoying a "malta". Malta is a popular drink among young Venezuelans. It is a sweet non-alcoholic drink made from malted barley just like beer but it does not contain alcohol. It is actually very nutritive and it is supposed to contain many vitamins and other goodies. It is produced and marketed by the beer companies and packaged in the same size bottles as beer but clearly labeled for what it is. I don’t agree with the packaging for its subliminal effects but it is actually cheaper that other soft drinks. For a poor child, a “malta” for breakfast is probably one of the lesser evils.

I like the picture a lot. It captures many components of the Andean environment. I bet the child wished, and probably asked you for money to buy some of the sweet delights on the showcase.

[2] +

pridel (233) 2005-03-01 12:05

Mark
I am happy to learn that it is not beer.
About photograph, compo is successful in two vertical bands and the b&w is beautiful. beautiful contrast too between the clear and dark zones.
I like to see the child beside the delicacies.
congrats
Pascal