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No Choice...


No Choice...
Photo Information
Copyright: richard james (Kilted-Arab) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1008 W: 105 N: 2093] (8815)
Genre: People
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2007-01-12
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon EOS400D, Canon 24-70 mm f 2,8 L-USM
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-01-15 6:49
Viewed: 938
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Taken from a bar in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Booksellers wheel their barrows up and down, often with little kids like this in an effort to gain sympathy and dollars from tourists - it is often heartbreaking to witness. I think of myself and my own children ever being in that situation.

I look at the eyes of this wee child and wonder what they think as they parade past bars heaving with well-fed, wealthy tourists. Tourists who probably have never known hunger or real deprivation. What do they think when they see those tourists eating and drinking freely?

Travelling to Cambodia is truly a humbling experience. Most of us here probably take far too much for granted. Here is a country with an incredibly violent recent history and yet the people are humble, gracious and polite. Yet often they are ignored - people look away, find other distractions. And yet you cannot give to everyone...

Here endeth my rambling thoughts.

(p.s. I posted a similar, but not idential, image on TE in case anyone thinks this looks familiar)
patrickweiss, freedom1, wenqing, scottevers7, GreenBaron, lenore82, ScottHale has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To wenqing: yep!Kilted-Arab 1 01-15 23:56
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Richard,
it's a very nice shot,I like the blur foreground but really sad indeed!I pity those children who don't go to school and don't play with other childrenand beg at the streets for money.
They are just deprived of their innocence..
thanks,
Eleftheria

Very good scene with a strong message. Well done.

Very strong image. Perfectly composed. BW at it's best.

Bravo!

Cheers!

Ben.

very good journalistic photo here richard :)
i think you got the perfect POV to make this street photo work, i always like this type of "bystander" POV in street photos...documenting but not judging...

at first i was wondering why the blur figure on the left...then i realise he's not local...maybe a tourist? :)
very well done on the composition

back later with :))

Hi Richard,
A very compelling street scene. Well composed and framed. The conversion to B&W is a good one here. Nice contrast and tonal range. Detail is very sharp. Well done!
Scott

Hi Richard,
This is a strong image. The POV is very good. It is written "life" just behind her right shoulder, this is ironic as most of these kids haven't much of a life (the Michael Moore book also add to the irony).
Ciao
Annick

Hi Richard,
Impressive B&W image. Clearly showing the contrast between 'have' and 'don't have' and frightening and also a addoring view. Michael Moore in the background, how different and also simular is our world? Well captured my friend!
Hans

:) Later...

Richard,
Wow, simply stunnng capture. The look in the boys eyes is heartbreaking.
I think the b&w was a great choice because this little guy has no colorful life. Sometimes photography can bring painful moments, here it is quite effective. Well done, great notes and I leave this critique with my soul "stirred".
Scott

Hi Richard,
yeah this is hard, your shot has captured something that questions everything, as you say it could be a holiday, where you are out for a meal and then all of a sudden this child looks at you, wanting for nothing. Its even more disturbng when you realise you have become desensatised to it.
A good posting. This is thought provoking and grabs me.
Regards Richard
Philippa

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