CHILDREN of GOD... Photo Gallery by Manuel Libres Librodo Jr. at pbase.com

CHILDREN of GOD...

My pictures in Nan, Thailand are probably the ones that created a big impact on me.

Why?

Take a look and give me an answer. Is it their EYES? Their SOUL? Their SMILE? Their INNOCENCE? Their PAIN? Their SIMPLE HAPPINESS?

(This gallery is a monochrome rendition of some of my favorite pictures from that trip. Come back for more. I intend to put AT LEAST 30 shots here.)

M A R B L E S	S I B L I N G S	S O U L
R E L U C T A N C E	S O U L F U L	S H Y ?
WANTED: Good Role Model	THREE DOLLS	P O R C E L A I N
B O Y' S WORLD	S L E E P Y	L E A D E R
H A N D S	BIG BROTHER	D O L L S
D R E A M Y	S M I L E S	LOOKING UP
G A N G	G E M	F R A M E D
P R I N C E S S	C O K E	S H I N I N G
WITH GROWNUPS	MY PET, MY TOY	F A T H E R
C H A R M S	P R A N K	RESPONSIBILITY
J O Y	THE LITTLE ONES	S U N N Y
P L A Y M A T E S	BIG SISTER	A S L E E P

Guest		14-Oct-2012 15:08
Superb and powerful portraits.... -V-

Deniz Kilinc		27-Nov-2009 12:03
wonderfulll ....

Guest		15-Feb-2008 21:47
I like your photos, but in my computer it seems that you exagerated a little bit the contrast. I have a daughter that was born in Cambodia (I adopted her), and I can say that these children are exactly like any other children. They like their mama, they like to eat, they like a warm bed, they have their aesthetic preferences, etc. It's hard to remember that children like them were bombed with napalm (in Vietnam).

Guest		24-Jan-2008 09:00
your photographs leave me breathless... love jil

Elena Kalis		07-Jun-2007 13:24
Amaizing gallery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Apostolos Tikopoulos		19-May-2007 19:47
One of the best gallery in PBase. These are really the children of God. My big vote.

ricky		29-Jan-2007 11:49
That's so nice yaar.........!

x by x		15-Jan-2007 01:24
beautiful images. you are amazing talent.

Guest		18-Nov-2006 11:12
these are really great. you ask why but I'm sure you know children are not spoiled by life, they can give a wondering trustfull expression. you succeeded in capturing this . B/W make it very strong regards, wim

Latifa Messaoudi		10-Nov-2006 20:53
you are definitly THE BEST!

Chris Sofopoulos		06-Oct-2006 18:12
I came back because these photos are so strong and full of emotion. Simply one of the best monochrome works in Pbase.

Guest		13-Sep-2006 02:51
Estas fotografías apuestan al corazón! Impresionante poesía que rescata la belleza de lo más oscuro. Lo mejor! http://www.serigrafia4t.com.ar

Mikey		07-Sep-2006 04:34
It doesn't get any realer than this...

nadet		04-Sep-2006 09:52
wow!!! the best!!! keep up the best work!!! just remember to offer your talent to GOD!!! exhilirating!!!

SP		26-Jul-2006 16:07
all pictures are nice Great!

ROBBY		19-Jul-2006 04:58
ASTIG YUNG MGA PICS MO IDOL!!!!

Marcelo Esqueff		12-Jul-2006 13:41
Incrível galeria. Parabéns pela criatividade e por conseguir retirar expressões tão legítimas dos pequenos seres humanos de Deus. Marcelo Esqueff

Vida Soraya Verzosa		11-Jul-2006 05:51
the best of Asian imagery! you're a fantastic photographer, i wish to grow into someone like you, eventually. very nice contrast, clean pixels. wow.

Guest		22-Jun-2006 11:20
Amazing me dear friend..

Guest		21-Jun-2006 15:43
Childred are the most powerful subjects.

Guest		18-Jun-2006 15:04
Yes i can feel what you are trying to express from the pictures you took. Very touching.

Alvin		13-Jun-2006 14:57
Hi... these are really good pictures... sa your heart and God's heart crying out... keep snapping and take more pictures with the heart of God... God bless you....

Gunawan T		20-May-2006 06:08
Rarely can pictures move my emotion, but your pictures--espescially your children pictures--did move my feelings. BRAVO!!

Guest		16-May-2006 13:38
each photograph speaks in different ways.. with different messages.. each photograph is worth looking at.. you got my vote.

Donald Verger		13-May-2006 07:27
yes! children of god! the eyes indeed! and i too started with the nikon 4500... thank you for your suggestion re slr! i think that moves me to saving for it... which one these days or this fall? any thoughts and what 1 or 2 lens work well for you? thanks Manny! vote!

Guest		28-Mar-2006 11:07
DO YOU GET ENOUGH FOOD NOW

Eric		15-Mar-2006 18:17
Hi I am eric and I like to join the family

pinay23		20-Feb-2006 06:59
vote! vote! vote! the best!

Daniele		19-Feb-2006 13:29
what could i say? there's nothing to say! PORCELAIN is amazing! i love that photo! bravo!

Lewi		17-Feb-2006 10:25
I saw this pictures really deep, and I can see how it touch my life, such a powerful shot. Maybe someday I could me your model, if you come to Jakarta. Until then, keep on the good works.

charissa herbst		07-Jan-2006 18:00
Dear Manuel I love your photo's, they really are beautiful. Youve caputere the beauty of the children's souls. I would like to know if I can use your photo "Joy" and dreamy for my website called " International Business for children" (currently under construction)which is a non profitable organization that financially supports children in third world countries taking care of their direct needs, such as food, clothing, education, medical and play. Do you have any colour photo's available of children? Please continue capturing such beautiful photo's, the world needs to see these! Blessings Charissa Herbst

frank_1112		30-Dec-2005 07:40
JUST GREAT FRANK

Guest		28-Dec-2005 20:01
your portraiture work is truly amazing!

Guest		27-Dec-2005 14:55
Fantastic work, Manuel! These sweeties tug at the heart. Congrats!

Jacek Manulik		25-Dec-2005 23:14
It grips your heart first, and then it squeezes a tear out of your eye and leaves you speechless…

Guest		23-Dec-2005 08:59
beautiful gallery. Vote

Guest		21-Dec-2005 08:49
Excellent gallery!!! Congratulations. Voted. Andea.

Guest		20-Dec-2005 13:52
goodness...

antje kroeger photograpie		19-Dec-2005 10:35
vote!

Richard Calmes		16-Dec-2005 01:01
They certainly are.... GMV

Guest		07-Dec-2005 07:11
I totaly agree with raychan's comments, you are a born artist and should not limit your slef at Pbase.

Guest		30-Nov-2005 00:25
This is a really powerful gallery. Children are amazing.

Guest		01-Nov-2005 20:50
Amazing pictures. You are an artist. Let this coffee table book be for real!

Guest		28-Oct-2005 17:38
A smile and a tear...

pijoly		26-Oct-2005 08:32
Yes it is! BRAVO! Encore une foi! 8¬)

mike fraser		24-Oct-2005 21:43
Thank you for the pictures of the children, You asked about the impact and why?. I believe it to be al of the answers that you have given...and the fact that we as adults reconize our loss of these virtures and attributes...thank you ..mike

Guest		24-Oct-2005 07:01
"You have a gift, you see people" Quote from Rose in Titanic This phrase sums up your innate ability to photograph people at their natural environment. These are the kind of photos that National Geographic will want to buy as you are able to capture the human element. Looking at these photos, it invokes a sense of pity for these children in me. Coming from Singapore whereby most children are looked after by maids and doted by parents who buys them GameBoy, XBox, PlayStations, Radio control cars, barbie doll houses and whatever toys money can buy, these children depicted in your photos have no such things & will be extremely happy and contented if they were given a candy or softtoy. Itr really shows the contrast of growing up in a less-endowed region as compared to some of the spoilt brats in the developed countries. The children depicted in these photos may appear to be deprived of fun or life's simple pleasures, but look deeper and you will see their joy and contentment even though if they are just playing with a bolster with a ski mask or a bicycle tyre. You have a talent photographing people and you should consider selling some of these photos to magazines and showcase these to the rest of the world and not just in Pbase. You have my vote Manny ! Raymond Chan - Singapore

Toh		23-Oct-2005 18:37
Absolutely Mesmerising.. Beautiful shots of beautiful children of thailand. So innocent and so real.. Humanity has shone through your lens, congratulations.. Thank you Manuel..

mdaveau		22-Oct-2005 19:49
Hi So nice pictures I like so much this atmosphere thanls

mdaveau		22-Oct-2005 19:49
Hi So nice pictures I like so much this atmosphere thanls

Guest		21-Oct-2005 23:09
What a fantastic gallery,you have what it take to be a great artist,thanka for sharing this beautiful photographic pleasure ,look forward for more ,wonderfull! Regards from Pbase.com/elias2033uk Your feed back will be very appreciated,

lovebobo1314		20-Oct-2005 10:52
Simply speechless. http://www.pbase.com/lovebobo1314

nty		20-Oct-2005 02:07
Your photo has made me look around and grateful for the better lives that we and our kids have on the side of the world.

Guest		17-Oct-2005 08:39
simpy breathtaking... So much innocence and love...clear truth in their eyes

Achublue		15-Oct-2005 15:12
These are truly children of GOD... Great work

michbast		06-Oct-2005 18:52
marbles is such a wonderful picture . One of these pictures that let you in a deep solitary moment. Eyes to eyes with her, I could listen all she want to say . Thank you fot this graet time. If you see her a day, give her a kiss for me .

Koushik Sridar		04-Oct-2005 01:21
one of the best i have ever seen!!!!

my @ www.michaelyeoh.com		12-Sep-2005 05:14
The best of B+W portraits! Nice series...

Guest		12-Sep-2005 00:39
Love this gallery .!! Amazing pics..

❏		09-Sep-2005 01:44
outstanding photography !

Zsuzsa		03-Sep-2005 10:36
These photos are very good!!! Good luck! Zsuzsa [Hungary]

Helena		29-Aug-2005 14:24
Grandes imágenes! Grandes fotografías! Impresionantes gestos! Impresionantes caras!! Preciosas todas ellas. Enhorabuena!

B.Niai		28-Aug-2005 17:37
Truly nice work!

Guest		26-Aug-2005 05:57
splendid reportage, my compliments

Olaf Herrig		24-Aug-2005 19:45
A great serie, excellent work! Regards, Olaf.

Guest		23-Aug-2005 14:50
It is one of the most beautifull photo collections I have ever seen

Herve Blandin		23-Aug-2005 03:30
Hi, Manny this is unlike anything you have shot before, that I have seen at least. You achieved here greater depth , the contact is direct between them and us, the viewer, by eschewing the esthetics of color, and also your approach to the subjects, raw. I must also say that children of Thailand are often thought as happy kids, even in poverty, but your gallery shows their condition is a bit more complex than that. This is a piece of work that makes us question how we see or reduce people , and therefore how we photo-shoot them. This is no "coffe table" portfolio...Much better! I hope you continue in this vein.

lebororo		19-Aug-2005 10:15
a photo who talks is a good photo. yours are no exceptions... Bravo ♥ lebororo

faubry ( TE)		18-Aug-2005 21:15
i am not professional, and in like photographies, i find what your pictures have a great impact on us and for you by the childrens regards... sad or enjoy, they are an attraction. you knows how capture their expression, and it's the most important for me, i try take regards and i like and learn from you; thanks for your greats protraits francine

Patrick Tee		17-Aug-2005 00:18
Great, very meaningful and touching. brings out true feelings of the children.

Tom		16-Aug-2005 22:20
Hello, my compliments for your nice work! Please come see my photos sometime? Best regards, Tom from The Netherlands. http://tomjutte.fotopic.net .

Mark L		16-Aug-2005 21:52
Thanks Manuel, fantastic gallery.

iLoveYou		16-Aug-2005 02:11
Their eyes echo your feeling..............

marilyn k holmberg		16-Aug-2005 01:54
hauntingly beautiful gallery!! .. heartbreaking and glorious at the same time! 'm'

Guest		15-Aug-2005 20:48
Manny, pamatay na naman! Hanep ang ganda! sachi http://www.pbase.com/sachiv

Guest		15-Aug-2005 18:10
Fantastic!

Mei		15-Aug-2005 09:02
Gosh, they are so...wonderfull, so..outrageous 'moving'. I am speechless. Mei (Thai-Belgian student)

Yanis		15-Aug-2005 06:59
Wonderful! Just a thought for 'oberver' - 'Wow... It's amazing how crappy God treats its' children.' I think it's amazing how 'crapy' WE treat our children! Instead of waiting on God to take care of children in some 'mystical' way - lets do it, and take care of them! Because that is a very thing that God intended us to do - to take care of the World that is Broken and in Need!

Focus		15-Aug-2005 01:54
Bodacious!!! Outstanding!!! It got my vote...........thanks for sharing.

observer		14-Aug-2005 21:43
Wow... It's amazing how crappy God treats its' children.

HuiMin		14-Aug-2005 14:47
It is very touching.

Guest		14-Aug-2005 13:09
i really amazed looking the children...as my childhood is amost the same.... I'm currently in referring people to below website, when you join under my line and after you have paying member fee , i will have 10% referral commission. So please help, i really need money for college fee as i am a poor student, yet my parent can't give me more... http://www.studiotraffic.com/index.php?refid=40719 thank you, cricketboy...

alex		13-Aug-2005 19:09
WOW...i juz had nth to say..but WOW..truely..i m touch..

Guest		13-Aug-2005 16:06
Speechless.... Your photos make my heart ache. Beautiful!

hans van den Berg		13-Aug-2005 15:36
Speechless, great, don't know the right words to express what I feel looking at your photo's.

Marcel de Jong		12-Aug-2005 14:14
Forget landscapes. This is what photography is all about .... Thanks, Marcel

Anne Young		12-Aug-2005 12:56
Very beautiful and powerful gallery. Nicely done.

Donald Verger		12-Aug-2005 08:39
yes it is their eyes! the window to the soul! i am so glad you have shared and experienced these wonderful children and can share them with us... their beauty, peace, sadness, dispair our children/the children of our world are our present and our future... and our actions i hope but the well being of the most needy children first and all children first... peace and love, don voted so others can see this important images!!! ps if you would like please send an image to the IMAGINE...images of peace... gallery, m first gallery... to .... donverger@gmail.com... and anyone else as well, please contribute and image..... seee the gallery at pbase.com/donverger

Guest		12-Aug-2005 04:43
Great work. "Marbles" being a favourite.

GOTW Team		11-Aug-2005 22:48
Really powerful photographs.. You really have captured not only their faces but their emotion quite well.. This gallery has been featured for our Gallery Of The Week at dphotojournal.com Congratulations! Best Regards, GOTW team http://www.dphotojournal.com

Guest		11-Aug-2005 17:47
A moving gallery. I don't know that I'd have the courage to look at these children and take these shots. GMV

Guest		11-Aug-2005 15:14
Great work. Everything fits perfect together.

Guest		11-Aug-2005 13:24
The sense of lifelikenessis strong while with children.

Guest		11-Aug-2005 12:47
nice i like it

Daniele Zappavigna		11-Aug-2005 10:54
wonderful gallery. you are a great photographer

thechebb		11-Aug-2005 08:11
Manuel, I am left speechless again by these images - haunting, yet beautiful they're a powerful visual journey through your eyes. Please continue to amaze us and I truly hope that you find someone to publish a book of these as well as your other "slivers of time"....Peace be with you. Cheers, Henry

Sergey Kovalev		11-Aug-2005 07:50
Îëè÷íûå ðàáîòû. È ïî èñïîëíåíèþ, è ïî ñþæåòó!

Chris Sofopoulos		11-Aug-2005 05:45
Awesome work. My congratulations. It deserves a place on popular galleries.

Guest		10-Aug-2005 18:48
You catch the intimate soul of these children! Such keen eye! Voted! :-) Andrea&Serena

Guest		10-Aug-2005 17:46
Manuel, I think these have a huge impact on anyone who views them. For many reasons! Wonderful Work. Audra

Ana Carloto O'Shea		10-Aug-2005 16:21
Such fantastic works Manny! It really looks like we were also there by your side as you took each of these photos, all the emotions are transparent on the children's faces. Another fantastic gallery. My most sincere congratulations!

Sher Hogue		10-Aug-2005 00:21
they truly are children of God. the old adage about the eyes being the window to the soul rings very true here. and God surely has touched your soul that you may capture such emotions.

chrisso		08-Aug-2005 20:47
Wow...really powerful portraits. Very difficult to shoot children without images coming off as "easy." Very nicely done...voted

chrisso		08-Aug-2005 20:46
Wow. Really powerful portraits. Love this...voted

Guest		08-Aug-2005 10:31
Spectacular job Manuel. Heart breaking images. I have seen many children in the same state in Nepal and India although I did not put together as impressive gallery as this. http://www.pbase.com/ira_morenberg/asia_2005

Guest		07-Aug-2005 08:06
Amazingly wonderful......one of the best Portraits in Black and White....Wow.

aRcHiE		06-Aug-2005 15:17
absolutely breathtaking....

Guest		06-Aug-2005 10:36
Hi manny this is an exceptional gallery of portraits:! i'd love to go to nan one day with you and shoot around with you! one year ago, on that very day, i put my foot in ladakh, a place that has done so much for me like nan for you, iguess. take care! Eric

Juliano Lopez		06-Aug-2005 02:12
Very nice gallery, some great portaits. Very touching.

Guest		05-Aug-2005 18:38
Hi Manuel. Very nice serie of Nan.....and all these children. Thank's for this beautiful sharing. You capture all these scene very well.... Fred of TE

Guest		05-Aug-2005 14:26
I can see why they made an impact on you, they do for me as well. And that even though i am only looking at them without having ever been there. These are first class Manny.

Guest		05-Aug-2005 02:52
First class portraits,Manuel!! My vote.

Guest		04-Aug-2005 12:51
Great! Compliments!

click on thumbnails for full image