01-JAN-2009
Please Help My Mother
A man begging for money from the public to help his mother who is sick. He was moving his head up and down non stop for at least 20 minutes.
By the way, there are two faces of Shanghai. One part representing the modern out look with high skyscrappers while the other side consist of a lot of old buildings.
06-JUN-2007
The Lost Soul
Spotted this man sitting at the bus stop in his own little world. There he sat all by himself with his dirty looking clothes and jeans. He doesn't even careless of what was happening around him like a lost soul in the city.
That's My Life
This is the typical life at the countryside of Sapa, Vietnam. You can see some of the peddlars sitting by the roadside selling their goods. Some of the tribes walk for miles to town to sell their goods and take home the necessasities back home. Life as such.......
Check out these shots also :
24-JAN-2007
A Nibble
The kids don't have much to eat or even enjoy. Just the local food (if any). The poorer families just live by eating rice only. Attached below are a couple of pictures illustrating the scene of village life.
Sad
This group of children looked depressed and sad. No smile and the first boy also got the sniffles. I wonder what were their parents doing? And even what was on their mind. Probably nothing, just staring without any particular reason. They don't even look curious or excited seeing a tourist taking a shot of them - since there's no sign of joy or excitement on their faces.
A Face With Many Stories To Tell
I am sure if we were to sit with her and speak her language, she will be most happy to tell us the story of her life. It's not an everyday face we see in the city, except if we went to look for them.
More Than A Thousand Words
I found this shot a very moving and captivating image. It's depressing in a way but I feel a swell of compassion in my heart for the children. Their facial expression with their dirty looking clothes describes to me a life of hardship.
Man Made Stroller, but without wheels
I have seen a man made stretcher, a handmade baby cradle (like the image below which you use a cloth to wrap and tie around one's body to hold the baby/child), but not a man made stroller (without wheels) like this one. I suppose this is another convenient way to carry the younger ones especially if he is already too big to be wrapped around the body. It must be pretty scary for this little boy. It is definitely not fun for those who are carrying him and having to walk a long distance which they do from the homes to the town to work. I was told the journey could take as long as 1 full day and the roads are steep, narrow, muddy and still they do this everyday without any complaint.
Life At The Other Side
Here you see a very young boy lugging on a couple of logs. To me they look heavy especially him being so small and young. I can never imagine any city kid having to do that ...I only presume that's because of the lifestyle and environmental setting. Being where they are secluded from civilisation that's the way of life living in a tribal community.
Below is a BW conversion of the image:
You will find that the BW conversion brings you closer to the boy but as a result you loose the details at the background. This is just a comparison of the impact that an image can give you if you were to use either colour/BW.
Left Alone
The children are left behind while the adults go out to work. Some go to school, while others just wonders around.
Almost Mohawk Hairstyle
Very often we see little children playing with sand and getting themselves dirty. This boy clad in a dirty T-shirt, held on to a lump of clay. This is probably the only thing around for him to play with other than a few stones on the ground. It is so different if we compared to a city kid with lots of toys to play with. He probably hasn't even seen a hot wheeler car before. I am sure if you were to put your kid here with them, they would probably have no problem blending in but if he were to see that car, he would be thrilled and also wished he owned one.
Check out this shot and you will know what I mean.
A Sign Of Hope
The joy on the children's face with their peace sign of hope.
Below is another`Peace Sign' shot which I have captured in Tonle Sap Lake. See the different interpretation of the sign which is suppose to signify `peace'. For this child, it symbolizes money (USD2).
Survival
While the adults go out to the fields to work, the children are left at home to take care of the younger siblings or play among themselves. Look at this girl, despite her age and small size, she has to carry her little brother piggy back who is sound asleep.
It's quite a common sight to see the older siblings carrying the younger ones around, even some will cradle them to work.
24-JAN-2007
The Guide
I suppose he has a lot to tell about his life. About the number of tourists who have visited the temple grounds, his life, the stories of the ruins since he spent most of his time there.... He is a guide at one of the temples. He is quite old in fact or looked old. He only earns around USD15 a month and he has a family to support as well.
Below is a BW conversion of the image:
Living In Poverty
It never occurred to me how lucky I am to be born in this part of the world, or at least where I am, not having to suffer. I only started to realise how lucky I am to have almost everything I wanted and desired, without having to walk about the street to beg or even scavenging stuff from the rubbish bin. I mentioned to one of the guides at one of the place we visited that this was the first time I visited Cambodia. He simply replied - "How lucky you are to travel. As for me, I am have never stepped out of Cambodia, let alone even travelled around the country. You are so lucky." I didn't know what to say after that. I was speechless. Be thankful for what God has given you. Be contented and not complain. For another image description -
Scavanging
The Village Boy
There is a sense of innocence in the boy's eyes. Despite of his poverty state, he looked pretty carefree in his simple lifestyle as a village boy. Count our lucky stars that we are able to have a roof under our head.
The Simple Lifestyle
We will never come in terms with contentment until we see how other people are less fortunate than ourselves. Sometimes I just like to sit back and reflect. It helps me to appreciate and be thankful for what I have already. This shot of the children potrays a scene of a simplicity and contentment.
25-JAN-2007
Please, Please, I Beg You To Buy My Bananas..
So who should you buy from? From the girl on the left? Or the boy on your right? Or even the other girl at the back of the boat? Dozens of them waiting for tourists to buy their bananas. A dollar for a bunch of bananas. These floating village people spend their time `begging' tourists to buy their bananas. Most are from Vietnam.
25-JAN-2007
Ooops...Sniffles
Most of the children whom I have met during my trip at Siem Reap had a runny nose. I suppose medical assistance is poor in the village area, mostly depended on witch doctors to heal their sickness and travel to the city to the hospital is far, plus some even have barely enough to feed the family. For another shot -
Bald Is Beautiful
A Picture Paints A Thousand Words
Like the old saying goes: A picture paints a thousand words. Every picture taken is like a painting. It involves every aspect of photography from composition, toning, subject matter and the list goes on. I like this picture, as the expression on this little girl's face is heart moving and priceless. By just looking at her face, you can already feel something for her, a need for help, compassion and a desire for escapism from her bitter life. The first thought in mind is,`Please help me....I am in dire straits'.
25-JAN-2007
Life As Such
Living standard and quality life is obviously poor. I can't imagine how difficult it is for them having to live in wooden straw houses, some even have a `nomadic' lifestyle where they have to move houses, when the water rises. I sincerely feel for them. Just look into her eyes. I am sure you feel the same.
Natural Models
Children make very good models for photo shooting. They are sponteneous and natural in their poses. This shot looked best in BW for its rustic flavour. Look at the boy on the far right, he seemed to know his work and he posed so naturally. The little girl's smile is a treasure.
25-JAN-2007
The Blind Nun
I wonder what was her past life like and being blind here she sits waiting for passers by to give her some money. On contarary I was told that `monks' don't beg for money, here we see a `nun' with a bowl of money in the city streets. Maybe that's what we can give in return to help them.
23-JAN-2007
Three Wheels
Unfortunate for this man, he was a land mine victim. He lost one of his legs. Nevertheless he still carried on with life. Have a look at the following image -
Check My T-Shirt
24-JAN-2007
Children Of The Mud
Sad as it looks but most of the kids don't wear clothes.......you can literally call them children of the mud. They actually play there!
25-JAN-2007
The Beggar
This is not just an ordinary potrait shot of a Cambodian lady with her daughter. She is a beggar at the market. Her drabby clothes, dirty and carrying a young toddler; to add in pity to passers by, she looked at me and asked for money. I wonder what caused her to be at this state. I offered the kid a sweet but that wasn't what the lady wanted......
13-APR-2007
Thinking Hard
Sometimes I wonder what goes on in their mind. It's raining and there he stands looking at awe. Maybe he is worried for the padi field harvest? Or thinking hard on how to get to school.
25-JAN-2007
I Am Scared
I couldn't figure out what is the best expression to describe the boy's face. I suppose at one glance he looked scared, could be also not feeling well. He sure didn't look happy. He being naked also tells us of their lifestyle being poor and most of the kids don't have clothes to wear.
23-JAN-2007
The Forsaken
I don't particulary look for sad scenes. They are just there around where we were. Spotted this little girl lying outside one of the shotlots in town taking a nap. It was in the middle of the afternoon. I only presume she's homeless.
