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Future of Sierra Leone - Part 1


Future of Sierra Leone - Part 1
Photo Information
Copyright: Dennis Bours (Dpbours) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2040 W: 542 N: 1885] (7673)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09-25
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom, Olympus 27-110 mm, 1:2.8 – 4.8
Exposure: f/4, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Sierra Leone - A small break
Theme(s): Children of the World, Children Portraits, Regards d'Enfants du Monde, PORTRAITS OF CHILDRENS (2006/07) NGO contribution, Portraits by Dennis (abroad) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-02-07 4:15
Viewed: 3816
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The legal and illegal trade in diamonds has shaped the history of Sierra Leone and its people. Every significant twist in the story of modern day Sierra Leone can be seen through the lens of its diamonds. Between 1930 and 1998, approximately 55 million carats were officially mined in Sierra Leone. At an average price of US $270 per carat (1996 dollars), the total value is close to US $15 billion, money which has never benefited the majority of Sierra Leonians.

The history of the last 15 years have been marked by rebel attacks, counter attacks and civil war in which mostly the population of Sierra Leone suffered. Choosing side was no option, choosing no side was no option either. The cutting off of peoples hands started during the general elections in 1996 to derail the process. The practice started in response to the government's publicity campaign slogan for the election, "The future is in your hands".

A civilian government - the first freely elected administration - was formed but the rebel war smouldered on. A group of disaffected Sierra Leone Army soldiers seized power again in May 1997 and pillage, rape and terror almost became institutionalised throughout the country. The capital of Freetown was retaken by an intervention force consisting of ECOMOG forces (established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)) and professional mercenaries (Kamajohs) in March 1998 and by April the previously elected president was reinstated.
On the 6th January 1999, the rebels took much of Freetown after rumours of an imminent attack were ignored. Caught on the back foot, ECOMOG and the Kamajohs fought hard to recapture the capital. Before the rebels could be forced out of the city, much of it was destroyed. The attacks and counter-attacks were marked by the world's worst crimes against humanity at the end of the 20th Century - mass killings, rapings, amputations, maimings and so on.

A good documentary is 'Cry Freetown', which gives an eyewhitness report on the atrocities.

The picture was taken half an hour East of Freetown, about 5 years later. It's hard to estimate the age of the girl and imagine what her parents have been through. Whatever happened, the future of Sierra Leone lies in her hands...
(Partly courtesy of http://www.cryfreetown.org/ 2007)

I was visiting Freetown to see my girlfriend Martine, who was at that time working over there.

Another picture can be found at:
Future of Sierra Leone - Part 2


This photograph is part of my theme "Portraits by Dennis".
javelot800g, jcdurka1, dflydsgns, savask, matt_harris_42, dareco, Xen has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To mikeo: Light leftDpbours 1 08-25 21:50
To Mangoman: LuandaDpbours 1 07-01 03:15
To pgorod: Sun on the seaDpbours 1 02-09 20:21
To javelot800g: AfricaDpbours 2 02-07 17:40
To wolf38: Sierra LeoneDpbours 1 02-07 07:32
To jcdurka1: No flash in this one ;-)Dpbours 1 02-07 06:32
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Dennis

Beautiful kid. Beautiful eyes. Beautiful hair. Viva Africa

Samir

Nice portrait, with a very special glance. Is usefull to use a flash, when the light is in front of you.
Welle done.
Regards,
Jean-Claude

Hi Dennis,
excellent potrait.Beautiful kid with his beautiful eyes.TFS.
My Compliments
bulent.

Hello Dennis. A outstanding Portrait. The face expression of the girl is full self-confidentness and grandeur. A really unusually good photo. Best regárds, Wolfgang.

Hi Dennis, this is an excellent portrait as you managed to capture a very intense expression, very close up. The exposure is perfect for the little girl, something which is not always easy with dark skin.

The counterpart is that there is a lot of burned white on the left-hand side of the picture. I really miss some sort of detail there, no matter how blurry or faded.

The composition could also have benefited from being less centered - well, that's what the rules say, but in this case I think they do apply.

Even so, you deserve the two points (even three, if it was possible) because the main subject is quite extraordinary. Great shot!

  • Great 
  • savask Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 384 W: 35 N: 239] (1635)
  • [2007-02-24 20:05]

Hope lies in her eyes

Hello
J'ai essayé de sélectionner une photo parmi celles que tu as mises sur TE.
Les visages des enfants sont tous splendides mais comme j’avais décidé d’en choisir une et une seule : c’est celle de Freetown « Future of Sierra Leone – part 1 » que je retiens

Bon Week End

Marc

I saw this in your random photos and was struck by this portrait and also the title... Don't know what to add, except that it is very moving and also such a good photo !
Bravo,
Cath.

Hi Dennis,

how di bodie ?
Ik denk dat jij hetzelfde zoekt al ik in een portret.
Hier is het gelukt. Zij ( het is toch een meisje denk ik) staat er precies zo op zoals ze erop moet staan.
Ik ben zelf geen 'technische' fotograaf en zoek altijd naar de reden waarom iemand op de foto zou moeten. Dat is nooit een technische reden.
Prachtige foto, prachtig land, prachtige mensen.

Gr uit Luanda
Jan

  • Great 
  • Delfin Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 99 W: 28 N: 168] (1369)
  • [2007-07-25 14:26]

Amazing portrait, Dennis.
and I don't care that a left part is washed out.. to me it even looks interesting)
The texture, the sand on the face, is incredible. I only wonder how dim the light actually was if your exposure was f/4, 1/80sec?!
Olya

  • Great 
  • mikeo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1236 W: 92 N: 1436] (9708)
  • [2007-08-25 12:10]
  • [+]

Hi Dennis
Great portrait of this girl, her eyes are incredible.
Good sharpeness and composition - I only regret on the left side seems too much light appeared but nevertheless photo is very good...

Greetings
Aga

  • Great 
  • dareco Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1883 W: 53 N: 750] (12015)
  • [2007-09-04 4:17]

This little girl has such a determined little face. A survivor!! I always love your portraits. The people always appear so comfortable with you. Her eyes look absolutely incredible!! TFS

  • Great 
  • Xen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 20 N: 93] (582)
  • [2007-10-04 15:24]

Hi Dennis. I really like your photo. When i first looked at it, i wandered what was behind this childs eyes. What was she thinking about the second you took that photo. Your photo made me feel blessed about inheriting a democratic country to be born in because we don't pick where we are born!!!

Well done - brilliant composition and your notes were very interesting.

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