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Gimme a smile!!


Gimme a smile!!
Photo Information
Copyright: Dennis Bours (Dpbours) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2022 W: 540 N: 1862] (7542)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-21
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom, Olympus 27-110 mm, 1:2.8 – 4.8, SanDisk Extreme III
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Northern Uganda
Theme(s): Portraits by Dennis (abroad) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-04-15 11:17
Viewed: 1843
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Give me a smile!!! No... I never asked a kid to smile, nor did I ask any kid to look sad, traumatized, curious, indifferent, reserved, happy...

I posted already a number of pictures on African kids from Sierra Leone, Angola and Uganda. Some of you replied, telling me how hard it must be for those kids. Some thought they were better of without any intervention - since that'd be the reason they are in the current position. And some felt that I posted too many kids looking sad, or scared, or ... well, at least not smiling!
Where are all those smiling kids??!! Where are the 'UNICEF-thank-you-for-your-contribution-pictures'? (No, no, I don't work for Unicef ;-) )

In the end there is not such thing as "the African child". The low-educated child, the child with limited access to basic healcare, the aids-orphan child... Maybe in statistics, but in real life there are millions and they are all different. Some looking scared, some traumatized, some curious, but allmost all of them live their lives with a passion and spirit from which we can learn something!
For all those kids, and for all of you (and especially for Martine), the smiling African child ;-).

Technical note:
Adjustments in highlight and shadows, cropped slightly, resized and a frame around it.


This photograph is part of my theme "Portraits by Dennis".
thea0211, TravelerNL, stego, grantlp, Rychach, dareco has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

hi denis,
well captured group portrait of 'smiling african children' :)! they look happy indeed, which is good - and one can easily see the passion and the spirit you're talking about.
thank you,
dora

Hoi Dennis,
Het beeld vanuit de media is vaak zo tegenstrijdig met de werkelijkheid. Ik kan het niet zelf beoordelen wat waar is en wat niet omdat ik het niet met eigen ogen heb gezien. Wat ik uit de Afrikaanse media (Allafrica.com) meekrijg is dat er zeker problemen zijn, maar ook dat er op allerlei fronten hard wordt gewerkt om de situatie te verbeteren waarbij het niet alleen bij proberen blijft maar er ook daadwerkelijk resultaten worden behaald, al zijn die in het begin klein.
Deze foto laat een deel daarvan zien, de onbevangenheid en het plezier die de kinderen hier al vaak snel niet meer hebben. Een mooi tripple portret van drie nieuwsgierige kinderen.
Goed werk. Groet,
Harko

  • Great 
  • stego Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3747 W: 629 N: 5015] (15266)
  • [2007-04-15 18:23]

Hi Denis,
It's a wonderful portrait, full of contagious joy. Technically, the only noticeable flaw is the oe on the left, but that is almost inevitable given the circumstances and the most important things, the faces, are pretty well exposed.
I didn't do any comprehensive statistics on your portfolio, but this isn't the first photo of joyful african children you post. Actually, one of the things I like on your photos is the message of hope that perspires in most of them.
Regards, José.

Hi Dennis,
Having lived in Africa myself (Zambia, Zimbabawe and South Africa), I understand what you are saying in your note above. There are so many problems throughout the region, but definitely there is a wonderful spirit in the people in these countries. Your image above provides a great reflection of that spirit and the smiles on these children is fantastic to see. Well done on a great portrait shot.
Cheers,
Grant

Oh yes, these are with no doubts african angels...
(Please, visit mines...)
Thank you for sharing.
Javier

  • Great 
  • karn Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 22] (478)
  • [2007-05-24 0:53]

Hi Dennis
They are so cute I like their eyes when they look in to your camera.Good job Dennis.
Regards,Karn

  • Great 
  • dareco Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1744 W: 42 N: 783] (11055)
  • [2007-07-23 15:04]

Such beautiful children. Keep up the great work.

Hi Denis
What a nice triple portrait. Exceptional gaze of three pairs of extremely piercing eyes... Very touching and greatly composed. Love the colouring and light effects.
Greetings T.

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