Juan y Elizandro, a photo from Distrito Nacional, East

Photographer's Note

I was walking down Winston Churchill Avenue when I saw this couple of kids. Juan and Elizandro are two of "the usual suspects" you can find in almost any corner in Santo Domingo. They clean windshields for a few coins. Most drivers reject the service as an annoyance, and often the kids are mistreated or abused by other grown kids.

Juan and Elizandro are friends. But they have learned the "pleasure" of playing money just too early in their youth. When I spotted them, they where play a local game named "La Raya" (the Line), for which each participant bets some coins that he/she can throw the coin the nearest to the designated line.

I spend about half an hour with them, and in that timeframe Juan "won" about 40 pesos in coins from Elizandro. This was nearly half Elizandro's money but instead of quitting the game he insisted in challenging his opponent. I guess this is how game addiction begins.

I shooted this pic against sunlight and tried to capture only their legs and shadows and the coins reflected in the floor. I grayscaled it trying to make the picture more powerful. Framed. Shared.

worldcitizen, bigboroboy, designsoul, delnaja, Emile, picardo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

worldcitizen (4031) 2006-12-27 19:45

Hello Dario,
It's nice to see your photo again. :-) I think you captured a very nice effect, especially with the grayscale and the tilted POV. The black silhouettes and shadows are strong, and it is a nice touch that the coins are sitting on the ground. I like the tight crop and the feeling of motion. I hope you had a good holiday!

bigboroboy (1096) 2006-12-27 20:35

Excellent. I'm a big fan of this kind of photo. The shadows are exceptionally bold and I love the way the light plays across the stone surface (looks almost like slate). All round great shot - technically spot on in my opinion.

PHIL

designsoul (21486) 2006-12-27 23:00

Hello Dario,
Lovely work. I am always fond of shadows and light, to shoot against the sun can be wonderful, as it is here. A beautiful diagonal composition, too... with lovely attention to textures and contrast.
So funny, just a little while ago I have uploaded a similar shot though clearly an inferior one...
tc,
sasa

Zepi (22848) 2006-12-28 1:46

Hello Dario,
Dans le même genre que l’image que Sassa a postée tout à l’heure !
Avec un contraste encore plus marqué !
J’accroche aussi un max !
C’est superbe !
Beau travail
Joyeuses fêtes de fin d’année
Amicalement
Sébastien

delnaja (1901) 2006-12-28 3:25

Hi Dario,
I love this work on light and shadows... always a fascinating result.
Great choice of the b&w.
Fred

ninaL (21221) 2006-12-28 3:30

Very good work, Dario. I like it very much. A lovely pavement, and perfect composition with this legs, shadows and pieces. Best regards. Grazyna.

elBud (2235) 2006-12-28 11:29 [Comment]

Show Comment

westernisles (738) 2006-12-28 11:33

Hi Dario,
that's kind of picture is really good.
I'd like to make it.......
It gives a good atmosphere...
Well done.
Christian

Emile (20345) 2007-01-06 16:39

Hola Dario.
Muy buena foto en blanco y negro con grandes detalles y definicion. Muy interesante tu nota, la pena es que esto pasa en cada esquina de la ciudad donde estan estos niños limpiando los vidrios de tu carro, juegan lo que ganan.
Feliz Año Nuevo y que el 2007 este lleno de mucha salud, prosperidad y paz para ti y toda tu familia.
Abrazos.

picardo (2459) 2007-01-16 10:06

Hola Dario, tanto tiempo!,
Entre en tu galeria y encontre esta fantastica foto. La verdad es que me gusta mucho por su simplicidad y realmente representa lo que relatas en tu nota.. el "trabajo" que muchos niños realizan para conceguir algo de dinero y poder comer. En Uruguay pasa muchísimo ultimamente.. y eso no es para nada bueno.. Respecto a la fotografia, creo que el blanco y negro le quede muy bueno. La composicion es sencilla pero muy buena.
Saludos
Picardo