Lonely School Boy Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is not the best shot I ever made, technically, but it means so much to me. The place where I spent most of childhood days. This is the wall of the classroom of my old school, in the little town called Seno, where I was born and lived till I was 10. There were so much memories of my childhood in this place.

This boy when he first saw me, he was kind of skeptical of my presence, he was shy and look a bit sad even, he reminded me of myself in this school when I was the same age, (though I was not this cute) I took a photo of him before he ran away, later when there were more students around, he was not so shy anymore and I took a few more shots of a group of them which I will post later. It is strange being back here again and almost see my childhood days played out in front of me. After returning, I make a couple of paintings of the children, this is one of my favorite.

If you are interested, take a look at it, I think turn out rather well I think.
Oil painting - Boy and A Red Balloon.

ManuMay, fulvio52, rginer, Philippe, danos, patdeph, plimrn, Sistercosmo, BennyV, clio, BelCan75, didemay, sacimar, trekks, shevchenko, feather, avene, quillo, everlasting has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ManuMay (10704) 2009-03-16 0:01

Hi Way!!

Nice portrait!! Very well composed and an option good to post that way!!

It is great your feeling and this desire for visiting your old school, your respect for the places where you have passed so many time and learn so many things...it tell us so much about you...THANKS!!

It is a beautifulhommage!!
Have a very nice day.

Best Regards from Marid...

Friendly...

Manuel

rginer (530) 2009-03-16 0:06 [Comment]

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fulvio52 (8314) 2009-03-16 0:12

Hi, Way.
I go once in a while through comparable scenes and moments in my life, and I'm sure this portrait has a very special meaning to you. Well, it looks special to me, for a start. His eyes are priceless, they truly speak volumes... Powerful composition, its mood is overwhelming. Thanks for sharing buddy! Take care, I'll see you soon.
Fulvio.

smarcell (14279) 2009-03-16 1:13

A very nice portrait.
The wooden wall is a very good background for it
Regards Stefano

Philippe (11771) 2009-03-16 1:53

Hi, Way. Yes, he looks shy and this is all expressed by the way he is looking at the camera and playing with his hands. The wooden background makes him well stand out in his white sweater. A nice innocent look, typical of childhood. Good off-centre composition.
Have a nice day,
Philippe

rodgerg (23849) 2009-03-16 4:17

Hello Way,

An excellent portarit with the expresion nad especially the glance of this child very well collected. Good balalnce in the composition too with the chil well located in the image. The child arise very well to the graphic BG.
Have a good week,
Roger

zmey (7244) 2009-03-16 7:58

so, way, you are a bit of a painter? :) nice work on that rendition in the workshop! keep them coming, friend!

k.

danos (32264) 2009-03-16 9:37

Hello Way,
nice the portrait of the little fellow that is clear and handsome and ready to go to school.I like the complementary WS with the boy and the balloon.Well done.

Regards,Danos

patdeph (17748) 2009-03-16 10:30

hello Way
nice portrait of this little and shy boy!The wooden wall is a good background to makes him standing out,and this is very well framed!I like very much your touching note,and can understand your feeling!I also like your painting,you have done it with a great talent!
Regards
Pascale

plimrn (19602) 2009-03-16 11:39

Hi Way,
I can imagine you as this little boy, the photo is very nice, the painting is also amazing. I think the slightly bigger eyes except are okay, although a bit stereotypical; but I really miss the the soft hesitancy of the photo boy's mouth. In the painting, it has all of the assurance of the actress, Angelina. I would think the painting was perfect had I not already fallen in love with the original model.
HLJ, Pat

Sistercosmo (2573) 2009-03-16 11:57

Hello dear Way!
You know, everyone has a different idea of why they are here and what they want from this site. You, my friend, seem to have the same idea as I do - it's about sharing. If everyone posted only perfect shots, we would be missing quite a lot!!
I love this one! Sure, technically, it has its faults, but emotionally it is simply perfect! It touches me much deeper than almost all of the super top quality photos I look at. This is a shot of the town you were born in and I bet, in some ways, this little guy reminds you of your youth. The look on his face is just priceless. He makes me want to take him in my arms! Indeed, a return to the innocent days. This shot demonstrates that perfectly.
And your painting is fabulous! I love the red balloon too.
Wonderful work, Way. It's really touched me!
Thanks so much and take good care!
Linda

BennyV (4642) 2009-03-16 13:00

Hello dear Way,

Thanks for uploading this one. Even though - as you say - it's not your best one, it certainly contributes to the story. Your personal note plays a vital role here, my sincere thanks for this one. Imperfection doesn't stand in the way of love, for me it's often exactly the opposite.

Benny

clio (22605) 2009-03-16 14:15

Hi Way,
I like this story. The portrait is really beautiful and surprising and it goes so well with what you tell. A face at once amazed and a little bit worried as had to be yours. We are always worried of being suddenly in front of his memories. There are so many things as our spirit erases voluntarily that sometimes we are afraid of finding everything but at the same time we want it. It is a beautiful idea to have managed to make this review.
Difficult to explain in my bad english!
Diane
Beautiful is your painting in WS, GREAT! Congratulations.

BelCan75 (2418) 2009-03-16 14:18

Hi Way,

Wonderful shot with a good portret of this little boy. The story behind the photo makes the photo. Interesting to read and nice that you are able to go back. What a sweet looking boy. Great capture!

Greetings,
Ann

emka (21261) 2009-03-16 14:43

Hi Way,

Very touching the story behind it. I can imagine your feelings in this old school. It must have been wonderful and strange to see it again. Have you met there anyone of yoyr teacher or maybe friend of the childhood? Wow, this journey of yours was full of emotions. Strange, but I imagine you like this boy, even before this shot:)). As to me, I do not care about technical side and the feelings of the photographer are for me much more important. I like the painting too, nice composition with the balloon. You are talented artist!

regards

Maggie

didemay (2431) 2009-03-16 15:10

Hello Way,
I think this is one of your best shots because it means so much to you...to be in the place where you spent your childhood...I think the photographer's view counts more:)
this is a beautiful portrait of a sweet little boy. Hope to see the others.
Best regards,
D:)

sacimar (7381) 2009-03-16 15:31

Hi Way,

Sometimes the importance of the picture is not the techincal things but the story behind it. I like the child expression, good job,

Regards

Sergio

trekks (14262) 2009-03-17 1:23

hi Way

Although I had no chance to cross the border to Laos or Vietnam but the regional resemblance of the people from Indochina is making me realise some of the ways of life there, especially living out of the rural villages and towns. This boy is well dressed and although the sharpness is not as expected, the composition is done well.

Needless to say, a place where you can readily identify and grew up must possess all the values that came into you. For taking a trip back to the past is itself a worthy action. I remember your 1st post of the floating boats on the river.

Very noble to draw a painting out of the shot. Having just returned from Cambodia, I have a better understanding of lives in this region. Perhaps going back to Hanoi, Myanmar and Laos if possible later.

tfs, bill

BlueRaven (35) 2009-03-17 4:51

Hi Way,

Technically it's maybe not the best shot of all times, but it has something that more than makes up for that. The innocent and shy look on the boy's face is priceless and there is so much emotion in this shot, especially connected to your wonderful note. A very touching shot. Your painting is wonderful, too - superb idea to give him that red balloon.
Thanks for sharing this emotional and personal shot.

Best wishes
Claudia

berek (28871) 2009-03-17 11:34

Hi Way,

nice portrait with clever framing. I like soft colours and shining eyes. greetings.
Burak

shevchenko (9872) 2009-03-17 20:32

Hello Way,
This scene recall my memory too when looking at the wooden wall with remnant of chalks' writing, today some schools in my city begin to use marker pen and white board as teaching materials, I like the clothes of the boy, thanks for sharing a portrait of an innocent child.
Ally

feather (49858) 2009-03-18 9:49

Maybe you haven't read my intro, but if you do you will see that I don't think this site is just for showcasing our technically best work. Showing us something that has meaning for you is far more important, and you demonstrate in the only way possible how important the note is. Together with the note this is an excellent post. You also demonstrate your wonderful talent for painting, as the WS is superb.
I don't usually write 'Thank you for sharing' but this overused phrase never had more meaning than now!!
Kath

avene (10944) 2009-03-18 20:25

hello Way,
there seems to be something off with the quality here, the shot does not have your usual sharpness and clarity. but it is not overly important, the engaging look of the kid immediately attracts the attention, so I can easily forget about the technicalities. you're right, the kid does look a little sad, may be resigned, may be a little lonely. as I said - engaging portrait, I like it a lot.

best,
Kristine

foozi (4701) 2009-03-18 22:37

Hi Way,
what a lovely and good impetus for thinking about us Asian in the yesteryears. I too more a less the same. Now there is too much in Malaysia that people seem to forget the beauty of hardship, nothing to benchmark the hardwork and the strength to struggle. Thanks.
The texture of this shot is lovely as it cntrast with the boys atire.
well composed in clarity and good gesture from the bpy.

regards,
Foozi

Angshu (33607) 2009-03-19 9:32

Sabaidie Way
There are times when technical aspects of a photograph is not of paramount importance, what is relevant is the pertinence of it & the emotion attached to it. He has a shy look on his face & an interesting aspect is he seems to have overgrown his trouser. I was aware of your painting abilities & the one in the WS is really superb!
Best Regards
Angshu

quillo (7158) 2009-03-20 14:52

-

Hola Way Ne Lim . . .

The image is very finished, that transmits feeling,
tenderness, innocence, all good expressed in
this photo with good colors and interesting
contrasts, I like.

Un saludo amigo.

-

everlasting (10898) 2009-03-25 4:44

Dear Way, as you say not the best image technically but this has so much more. Together with your note it shows so much emotion and not to mention the oil painting. You are a gifted person Way with a big heart.

holmertz (9586) 2009-07-02 4:55

Hello Way,
I had missed this fine portrait as it was posted while I was in India. I like the attentive eyes of the boy and the way he is holding his hands. He is surely not entirely comfortable with the situation but bravely lets you go ahead. The grey background is well chosen, so is the off-centre position of the boy.
Kind regards,
Gert