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Who Do You See?


Who Do You See?
Photo Information
Copyright: Skye Soroush (fireflyz) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 406 W: 24 N: 297] (2079)
Genre: People
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2005-06-15
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Nikon D 70, Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G, Nikon UV L37c
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/160 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): garbage dump in Phnum Pehn, The Hidden Life of Garbage /1/, "Little Princess", Children of the World [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-09-09 18:11
Viewed: 957
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi everyone,

Among so many pictures I took in Asia, there are a few which I've looked and stared at for a very long time, and this is one of them.
Something about her eyes. She seemed much more mature due to the hard life she has had, and the way she looks at me in this photo sends me through deep thoughts. Although it was late last night, I decided to write those thoughts down and share them with you. This is just a window to my thoughts I'm opening for you. You don't have to agree and I understand if it sounds non-sense to some people but I just had to share it for what it's worth;

Who Do You See?

As I'm writing this, her eyes are hunting my soul through the monitor. Her unspoken words and questions hammering my head;
Why?
What have I done to be condemned to such a misery?
What are you doing here? Why are you taking our pictures? Why "You" get to live in your fancy home with your fancy things? I maybe very young but I've had my share of pain. I've suffered many days and cried many nights with no one to wipe away my tears. We have no food or money. I'm here to find my next meal or maybe a piece of cloth that may fit my fragile body in the spring of my life. Look around you! Do these look like flowers to you? Is this what springs are made of? Take a deep breath! Yes, fill your lungs with these toxins and fowl odors. I've been doing it all the time in my daily existence.

You!.. with your reflections in my eyes. Tell me what do you see? Who do you see in my eyes? Do you want me to tell you who he is?.. and what he represents to me?

He is the mankind who failed me. The one with so much wealth and resources, spending billions on arms and interest for other planets, never asks himself why there should be any poor people like me at all? Why so much money has to be spent on unnecessary bombs and wars while millions like me go to bed hungry and sick? He is the mankind who never cared to liberate me! You see? There is no money in liberating me.. I'm not even sure the kind people and organizations helping us with small amount of food and material support are doing it for us or just making themselves good about themselves. To satisfy the need everyone has to feel good about themselves? You see? You don't genuinely care for me! You must liberate yourself before you can liberate me..

Go on! Take your pictures and get out of this hell hole as soon as you can. Get back to your comfortable life and brag about how well these photos came out! How many points will you get for them? Wow a real hero!.. Go on! put our misery on display for the whole world to see. But when you are back home sleeping in your clean sheets and comfortable bed, REMEMBER, we'll still be here! millions like me will still be around sleeping on cardboards and no cover in cold nights.. because you failed us!.. and that's who I see!
Philip, kensimage, t0mmm1, TRASH, Quentin, Gregtom, nicol_g has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To schapman: Thank you!fireflyz 2 09-15 17:06
To flydragon: Hi Simonfireflyz 1 09-15 13:08
To pnphan: Thank you Phuoc!fireflyz 1 09-12 20:53
To Swiss_ID: Hi Quentin!fireflyz 1 09-12 18:11
To Captain: Thanks Ian!fireflyz 1 09-12 18:06
To adrost: Thanks Adam!fireflyz 1 09-12 17:39
To TRASH: Thanks MAIQUYEN!fireflyz 1 09-12 17:34
To t0mmm1: Hi Tomi!fireflyz 1 09-12 17:03
To kensimage: Thank you Ken!fireflyz 1 09-12 16:59
To Philip: Thanks!fireflyz 1 09-09 18:48
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Critiques [Translate]

Beautiful picture and touching note! The BW works great in this picture. Keep up the good work!
Philip

You're right about her eyes, Skye, there's a certain pleading or longing in them. It's an excellent image, in terms of exposure, tones, framing, everything!

I agree with most of your note. However, I would not be so quick to criticize charitable actions that people take that make them feel good about themselves. If we only ascribe moral virtue to acts that involve suffering, we are headed down a dangerous path. It's a path Cambodian society itself followed not so long ago, by taking it to an extreme.

And you shouldn't feel guilty about putting her image on display. TE is not a voyeuristic place, and yours is not a voyeuristic image. TE is a place to learn about the human condition, which her state is unfortunately part of.

Regards, Ken.

Hi Skye,
this is (for me) one of your best shots. Yes this is great portrait. TFS

  • Great 
  • TRASH Gold Star Critiquer [C: 199 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-09-10 10:16]
  • [+]

It's difficult to believe your story "non-fiction".

Thank you for another approach to this reality: yours and Thanh's contribution are very impressive to me, they revealed many things I haven't been able to imagine before, or didn't believe while reading about...

Regards,

MQ

Nice portrait specially in B&W.
Greetings.
a.

Thsi is a excellent evocative portrait. I love the expression. Sharpness and DOF are good and I like the monochrome. Ian

Nice portrait Skye!
I like the baby's eyes. very good composition and PV.
Regards
Amir

Hi again!
Another superb image and beautiful and interesting note.
As you said her glance seems to tell so many thing! Greats
Your note and your photo must be seen by more people, in my favorite
Quentin

Good portrait shot skye. the DOF is nice. her eyes show how Innocent any kids can be no matter how hard their life is.
another great capture of this series.
thanks for sharing

Hello, Skye!
What a beautiful portrait! It is very eloquent and very emotional! Nicely blurred backround thanks to the low depth of field. I like the B&W technique that You have used. It is very adequate for a portrait like this. I think I would cuc a little from the left, to get more square composition. Thanks for sharing!
regards,
Greg

Hello Skye
very nice portrait and touching picture
your note is also good ans touching.
One thing disturb me, not your pics
but i wonder how many tourist come this place
and take picture there, i know its necessary
to show people and this kind of place. hope that will not turn to a photography club.
one thing i need to say and admire
even they have a realy hard life, kids have often the smile.
regards
••simon••

sorry my english is so poor

Hi Skye,
Even bofore reading your note, I felt that her eyes dominate the picture. And yes, I can see your reflection in her eyes and a concentration as if she is thinking about something or wondering.

You most definately should not feel guilty in any way about posting this image and others of similar theme. On the contrary, it's so important for people to see the conditions she and many others live in.

Posting such images will increase awareness and hopefully might even generate some work to help her and others in her condition. Thus, this image goes to my favourites in order to be seen by more people.

Regards,
Shelly.

Très beau portraits..
L'expression du visage de l'enfant est touchante et le noir et blanc ajoute de l'intensité à la composition
Bravo
Vince

  • Great 
  • feefee (0)
  • [2006-10-07 6:23]

O.O she/he looks a lot like me. 8sigh* i think that everytime i see a starving anything. When im older i want to be their hero.

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