life in Paradise.. Photo

Photographer’s Note

Stung Meanchey series;

Many children go hungry and are extremely undernourished. Some children have no homes to go to so they sleep on the bare ground during the day and prowl the streets at night. They have no one to love and care for them. They are forced to live in unhygienic conditions and are defenseless against sickness and disease.

The sick children just lie in the streets and cry because they have no one to help them. Others escape the harsh reality of the slums by seeking temporary comfort in the illusionary dream world of the dangerous drug Kav (pill type). They can’t live without it. Kav makes them happy for a while so they relish it and enlist others to do the same, fueling their addiction with a life of petty theft.

These children are victims of circumstance, abandoned by adults who were too busy fending for themselves. Some children roam the streets as shoeshine boys for a small fee. Little girls sell flowers at restaurants and local temples, while others rummage through dumpsites for used plastic bags to exchange for whatever little food they can get.**

To help you can contact several organizations. I don't recommend religious organizations, they have ulterior motives.
Check out these two sites. The second one is recommended by Maciej (maciekda):

Cambodian Orphanage International, Inc

Pour un Sourire d'Enfant

Best Regards,
Skye

** Text source

Galeota, ishai, don_narayan, pnphan, apache, carobnica has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

kensimage (8545) 2005-09-08 13:49

Tragedy is very well depicted here, Skye, your image could be an ad for a charity. A shot with a little more context visible would also work well (in addition to this, not replacing it.) Excellent work. Regards, Ken.

Galeota (10334) 2005-09-08 15:01

Hello Skye. I appreciate the message you vehicle with your image and your note. I like the way you framed the boy cropping a part of his head in the lower right corner, and letting the wide angle add depth on the upper part. Smart post processing with the burning of the upper corners and what seems to be a grainy texture. Well done.

ishai (4093) 2005-09-08 15:34

Hi skye,
This is a nice and good Point of view here
The grain size and the B&W make this more dramatic
I find that the top side is on the dark side ( too)
But the composition is good and strong

I find your note very strong (good) and maybe this time a bit stronger then the picture

Ishai

schapman (0) 2005-09-08 17:31

Hello Skye,
It is such a powerful message your note, as well as your image, conveys. You have communicated in this photo not only a very different culture, but also sorrow, pain and tragedy. I'm aware that the source of your note is the Cambodian Children Organisation website, but are you a journalist? (you definately got the talent).
Regards,
Shelly.

flydragon (0) 2005-09-08 17:49

hello Skye
what a strong picture
and a big message for those kids
your note is good
i will work maybe soon with a thai orphanage
the b&w make the pics make the mood
very well seen and wish the best for those kids
regards
••simon••

don_narayan (2014) 2005-09-08 19:02

wonderful shot. it provokes emotion, which is what these kind of shots are meant to do. the light is very good and you did a nice job converting it to b/w.

ngythanh (8504) 2005-09-08 21:03

The composition and the appearance of "grains" by purpose are two elements I admire most from this picture. Seems to me this is one of the peak from your series.
Thanks.

Thanh

kinginexile (2440) 2005-09-08 23:56

Skye, your image is worth being a poster for one of these organizations, or any others, who wish to fight the exploitation and misery of children around the world. The expression of desolation is unmistakable, yet no sentimentalism or sensationalism in it.
In its understatement, it speaks of too much indifference, kids not being central frame in the affairs of the world, jus as you represented him.
Thank you.

erdna (5360) 2005-09-09 16:23

The dirt and grime and the murky future of the child is very well depicted in this photo and your note. Photo has very good composition.

Andre'

Amirsun (2114) 2005-09-10 7:00

Hi Skye!
Very nice shote and great portrait. I like the effects made bye noises in this shot. very good composition. Tanks for posting this nice photo.
Zende baad!
Amir

apache (1426) 2005-09-12 22:50

hi Skye,
A wonderful picture very well complimented by your touching notes. I like the way you have framed the kid in this picture with the garbage in the background with the grains providigna documentary feel. A picture fit to go into the magazines.
Nicely done
Ranjith

carobnica (1336) 2005-09-14 5:24

hej this photo is great;
very artistical... my complimetns.
I like very much the way you put your camera and how you composed the whole scene.
really beautiful.
and again very sad note.
and B&W is making all this very expressive...and more dramatical...
no more words...
ana