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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Three: Expressing human values > Handicapped children’s school, Dalat, Vietnam, 2007
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27-DEC-2007

Handicapped children’s school, Dalat, Vietnam, 2007

One of the most moving experiences of our visit to Vietnam was the few hours we spent with the young students at Dalat's Hoa Phong Lan Handicapped Children's School. Most of the children were delighted to see us. This child is looking at some of the visitors through the window of his classroom. To some, the bars might look as if the children are restrained. To me, the bars simply represent the barrier between two worlds – the outside world, and the world of the school itself. We represented the outside world, and this child’s excitement at the prospect of meeting us, learning from us, and sharing something with us was palpable. The entire experience was an adventure in such human values as curiosity, enthusiasm, confusion, pleasure, and in a few cases, avoidance. You can view other images from this school visit by clicking on the thumbnails below.






Leica V-Lux 1
1/200s f/4.0 at 16.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis20-May-2018 22:23
Love, and particularly "unconditional love," is an overwhelming human value. If that is what you see in this child's response to his world, I have succeeded in making a worthy image. Thank you for this validation, Merri.
Merri 19-May-2018 23:04
The wonder in this child's face is obvious, uncomplicated, and infectious. It's been my experience that children with intellectual disabilities are stuffed full of unconditional love for others. The bars on the window could represent this child's disability, but he is definitely not letting them get in his way to engage with the world.
Phil Douglis30-Jan-2008 00:47
And that is exactly why I made this image, Vera. The child was awestruck by what he saw, yet the bars separated him from his vision. So yes, this image is full of emotion. It is also full of desire.
Guest 30-Jan-2008 00:36
When I look at this picture, I imagine the child looking at something beautiful outside. It is an expression of awe with the mouth slightly opened, which is enhanced by the lighting that seems to make the child's face glow. I can feel the emotion.
V
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