The derelict citizen Photo

Photographer’s Note

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The derelict citizen

This is a Vietnamese vendor on her mobile grocery boat over Tonle Sap Great Lake, Siem Reab, Cambodia. She belongs to the Chong Kneas Vietnamese Floating Village at Northwest tip of the lake.

In Cambodia, she is considered a foreigner because she maintains all Vietnamese tradition, language and costume. If she ever has a chance to visit Vietnam, she would be a foreigner again right on her ancestral soil because she couldn’t even tell where her parents were from her native country.

The village kids go to the floating school to learn English from a Cambodian teacher using Khmer as teaching communication. The classroom and tuition have been paid by benefactors from abroad who cover the basic cost to keep them from illiteracy. But the children must follow tourists to sell postcards, or to beg for donation so they could pay for the chalk, pen and notebook. To them, motherland is nothing since they never have a night on land, just water. Their life is a synonym of Chong Kneas. Cambodia and Vietnam, to them, just as abstract and out of reach as the airplanes crossing by on the sky.

For those benevolent viewers of this picture who are considering some help, here is the contact address:

Jesuit Service
Catholic Church
P O Box 93036
Siem Reab, Cambodia
Tel: (063) 963846 or (012) 661747
Js.siemreap@online.com.kh

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Thanks, and God bless!

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CycleEyes, Albrecht, huynt, marieaude, Paolo, smash2707 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Luan (15935) 2005-05-11 4:52

The golden sea ;o), such a beautiful shot Thanh, I like the woman and the boat outlines. There are also some nice colors on the boat. Excellent framing.
You were on another boat ?
Really well done.
Luan

CycleEyes (610) 2005-05-11 5:09

Hi Thanh! Great DOF and the exposure is very good, constrasting the silhouete with golden colours. And i like the posture of the vendor. Nice capture . Congratulations.
George

hugolef (4909) 2005-05-11 5:36

Hi Thanh
a beautiful shot. i like this work on light : the woman is in shadow, but some details on boat keep their color. The golden water create a lovely and quiet atmosphere ... Thanks for sharing
Regards, hugues

Albrecht (11271) 2005-05-11 5:41

Hi Thanh
Very well chosen POV and the black man as a silhouet is wonderful against the colour of the water.
Well done, regards Albrecht

huynt (5077) 2005-05-11 6:28

Hi anh Thanh
A shot is very nice, very impressive and meaningful. This is a bad reality for some Vietnamese population living in Cambodia.
Thanks for sharing

arnabchat (7097) 2005-05-11 7:54

the sharp silhouette and the golden color of the setting sun, a perfect match.

ardes (2653) 2005-05-11 8:03

Beautiful shot and what a light.
Regards.
Armand

hdl (6737) 2005-05-11 8:59

Great composition and excellent use of the light. This looks like a "golden river". Bravo!

marieaude (1196) 2005-05-11 11:01

Hello, This is really a very nice photo. The water looks like gold and the shape of the woman is very well done. Congratulations and thanks. I like it.

Kenny10pin (19301) 2005-05-11 11:21

lovely shot of this person and the water colours are great.

I like the silhouttes, well done

softflower (0) 2005-05-11 13:25

Superbe contre-jour Thanh !
J'aime beaucoup, Bravo.
Nico.

flydragon (0) 2005-05-11 15:17

hello Thanh
hope u are fine long time i was off
i missed a lot good picture
this one is beautifull
i like the shadow of this woman
and the light on her hate
beautifull gold color here
well seen Thanh
regards
••simon••

RandomCameraGuy (3063) 2005-05-11 23:46

Hi Thanh, great golden light and silouette. Nice simple colours on the boat too. Really a nice shot. Well done,

af

NgocSon (282) 2005-05-12 20:55

I like the unseen horizon, along with the colorful stuffs behind the vendor. Thanks for sharing.

DrorAngkor (164) 2005-05-23 20:50

Excellent composition and DOF , great colors and touching note .

Very well done !

Paolo (40818) 2005-06-06 8:23

wonderful image Thanh!
wonderful.
you captured perfectly that great sunset. there is also a magi contrast between the man and the lake.
thanks, also for the long note.
ciao.

Or_Han (810) 2005-06-20 1:32