- Gold washing - Photo

Photographer’s Note

On the road between Guelwongo and Boungou, we stopped at a gold washers' cabin. This kid was the child of one of those gold washing families.

Burkina Faso is a famous spot for gold washing activities. This contributes 10% of the Gross Domestic Product of the country, and comes third for exports after agriculture and cattle breeding, and long before industry. This activity draws a large number of people, nationals and foreigners, old and young, women and children, all eager to improve their lives.
They mostly come from the peasant world, and end up in gold washing out of pique, after being the victims of draughts and hunger. Urban unemployment also swells those numbers. After a few years of gold prices fall on the international market, those poor populations have particularly suffered and now present a whole range of social evils : difficult working conditions, promiscuity, lack of hygiene, alcoholism, prostitution, criminality, illegitimate births and environment degradation.
They are also particularly affected by HIV/AIDS and are now the target of some UNO campaigns in Burkina Faso. Numerous reports can be read on the web on the issue(although mostly in French).

a color version of this photo posted as a ws

conneally, faubry, designsoul, luisafonso, Paolo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

conneally (105) 2007-05-31 7:52

great picture - captures so much so simply - the note was good

thanks

paul

designsoul (21394) 2007-05-31 8:45

A powerful composition with this sad little child with yearning in his eyes... his little sweater with the teddybear in that poverty is very moving. I love both colour and bw, and it's hard for me which to vote for ultimately... both are different in their own right...
lovely sad work
puszi
sasa

mlopes (492) 2007-05-31 16:17

Power photo!
The framing ... the framing is excellent ... superb mon amie!
The curtins fall and the show is about to begin... now i just have to close my eyes and imagine the rest of it...
Wow ... i've been missing top quality pieces of photography while i was away

luisafonso (858) 2007-05-31 17:12

Beautiful Eric! Man, this trip to Africa is really showing how an outstanding photographer you are. The way you interact with your subjects is so good, so human, so sensitive. Just look at these kid's eyes, looking at you. So intense but also so inquisitive. The composition is very good with the entrance wall a bit off-centered. Textures and light are very good also and your b&w looks perfect. I just miss a bit more sharpness, but that's really an extra. Superb photo.
Edit: Seen the color version. Can't really decide which one is best. They are two very string versions...

faubry (32291) 2007-06-01 4:33

j aime beaucoup la composition avec cet enfant qui apparait derrière le rideau, bonne idée du BW, à la mode en ce moment....je crois que la version couleur est mieux? bises
francine, à demain

Paolo (40703) 2007-06-01 6:03

Hi Eric, great picture, a really great portrait from Africa, with this child comin' out from his house of mud and earth.
The eyes are terrifiant, as the note can suggest us.
excellent picture.
thanks, ciao

Faros (12) 2007-06-02 9:05

Salut Eric,
Pour moi la version couleur est parfaite, avec cet improbable pull rose.
Have a nice trip !

Phil.

nicoz (1963) 2007-06-06 6:36

Salut Eric,
J'ai vu que t'as passe le seuil des 900 photos! C'est impressionant!
Il est genial ce sweat-shirt nounours, j'aime bien le clash entre ce symbole de la culture occidentale et ce gamin parfaitement cadré a la sortie de sa hutte bien africaine. Le clash. Je sais pas si tu l'as cherche ou pas, mais la plupart des portraits que tu nous ramene sont assez tristes il me semble. J'ose esperer que les gens ne sont pas tous tout le temps triste la bas...
La je suis 100% avec toi sur le choix du B&W.
Bien joue!
Nicolas