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Jennifer Zhou | all galleries >> Galleries >> Shanghai Story > Sleeping Beggar, Shanghai, China, 2006
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12-AUG-2006

Sleeping Beggar, Shanghai, China, 2006

She lies alone on an overpass near the Bund, no family in sight, a bucket of coins at her feet. People stop to stare at her, and move on.
She is like a piece of paper that someone has thrown away. It is a hot night, and a cold world.

Canon EOS 10D
1/13s f/4.5 at 26.0mm iso800 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Sheldon Zhai 05-Oct-2007 02:01
Absolutely heartbreaking.
Its perfect. I just went to China with my girlfriend last summer of 2007 through Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Hohhot, Hangzhou. I saw so much of this.
Kevin LI 13-Jul-2007 21:37
Really sad for this.
goobernaculum05-Mar-2007 23:07
I've heard that in China, sometimes the children's legs are crippled so that their legs waste away and they can then beg more effectively. Not certain on the details, but I have so little faith in the chinese society I can readily believe this sort of cruelty.

What works really well for me in this picture is the pattern of the tiles. The way they are slanted and skewed seems to suggest a degree of craziness and loss of control. It is as if the the beggar child is helplessly being carried away by the eddies and undercurrents of society. Her sleeping form is so innocent that the contrast becomes so unbearingly sad.
Guest 05-Feb-2007 23:39
Incredibly warm color. Incredibly cold shot. Even chilling. This is the saddest reality of the Chinese society today as the country jumps on the jubilee van of raw capitalism. The social costs are colossus - as reflected by this and many other photos of yours.
Roe..22-Aug-2006 22:26
heartbreaking..v
caveman_lee21-Aug-2006 14:47
An impressive and powerful shot. A heartbreaking shot as well. Together with the next shot, these two shots are the very best I have been seen for the last few months. These images moved me and reminded me about the evil side of human and there are always someone, specially those innocent children, need our helping hands. GMV for sure.
Guest 21-Aug-2006 14:23
A powerful image !
Chris Sofopoulos21-Aug-2006 09:49
Awesome by no doubt!
A strong composition also with fantastic light!
Many bravo.
Guest 21-Aug-2006 00:04
Outstanding. V
Ray :)20-Aug-2006 23:45
Her little hand barely has the strength to reach out, but human instinct tells it to. The passer by appears to be walking as far away as possible to hide the guilt.
V.
Phil Douglis20-Aug-2006 20:06
****A shocking image, made more so by your title. I would have thought the kid was just taking a nap on the street while his mom was waiting for someone. But your title and caption add important context -- this child has been left on the street as bait for money. It is a photograph of evil, as evil as evil gets. It is hard for me to realize that in the 21st century, such barbarity can exist. The shadows of the child and passerby almost merge here, but remain just far enough to suggest the disconnect between this practice and the society at large. As some have already pointed out, the color is warm and nostalgic, incongruously paired with a subject that is horrific. It is your strongest social commentary since "Living a nightmare" was made two years ago. (http://www.pbase.com/angeleyes_zyl/image/34751430 )
Christine P. Newman20-Aug-2006 18:29
Without reading your caption, I would have never believed that such sight could exist. Yet I know that there are countries where children beg on the street and are exposed to abuse. I wonder if sometimes adults do not use these children as a bait to get money. In any case, living on the street is often their only option.
Guest 20-Aug-2006 17:23
Hi, Jen! I like how you approach the individuals. As you mentioned, many pass by, stare and such, as if the individuals are a spectator sport. They rarely realize the humanity. I love the use of the lighting and color. Sure, the color suggests heat, but I feel the color also suggests the pressure of the situation. Their world is not quite balanced, and they feel the pressures of life. The composition and colors captured demonstrate these very very well. -- Rod :)
Guenter Eh20-Aug-2006 12:16
Bitter sweet - this is at a first glance a wonderful night shot with it`s warm orange light and mood. Even without reading your caption we can imagine at the second glance the cold truth! The pose of the sleeping child on the rough ground with his arm and hand streched out is extremly moving. The lady and her shadow symbolize the indifference of the people passing by. It`s important to show the world this kind of pictures. Thanks for your courage!
Guest 20-Aug-2006 11:13
wow! Jen! as Kal as already said...one of your best. it's one of those subjects that is essentially exploited by photographers, but you approach it with your own style and bring a new dimension of both sensitivity and reality to it. the warmth of the yellow contrasts with the cold, sterile, stark and brutal existence of the child beggar. sleeping...but a hand still outstretched...poignantly suggestive of the fact that this means of survival is so imbedded into the psyche. and the shadow of the woman, larger than the child, throwing dark onto the pot of money the child has already collected. there is so much i could say but at the same time i don't feel i need to say anything. it's such a powerful piece of photojournalism that speaks for itself.
Kal Khogali20-Aug-2006 09:52
! I think I know this place, and everyhthing about your composition from the shadow of the lady to the fence that suggests entrapmentent is incredibly powerful. Even the tungsten light that says this is warm, but hot...One of your greatest on the subject. K
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