Sea Bajau Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

This girl belongs to the ethnic minority of Sea Bajau (sea nomads) that life in the area between Malaysian and Indonesian Borneo and the Philippines. Children of the Sea Bajau don't go to schools - they are stateless people and schools don't accept them. Instead of having knowledge from schools, Sea Bajau children are very skillful. They are perfect swimmers, they know how to catch fish. The sea is a natural place for them, it is almost their home.

You can see an altered crop of the image in the workshop.

Have a nice weekend!

eversmile, bisok, casperduppy, patdeph, robjol has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Alex61 (736) 2008-10-18 1:40

Beautiful portrait. Pose and facial espression looks graet inspite of the harsh shadows.

Gessle (70) 2008-10-18 2:13

Hej Michał!
Piękny portret - doskonale wpasowane dziecko w kadr.
Świetne światło i gra z cieniem.
Bardzo mi się podba!
Pozdrawiam, Anka

melchior (74) 2008-10-18 2:15

Hello, nice portrait, it remind me a trip to the philippines. Beautiful light, the clear background could have been tricky : well done

trekks (14334) 2008-10-18 3:13

hi Michal

I was waiting for this one. No visit will be complete without a Sea Bajau on a boat, IMO and you finally posted it.

Frankly I would post the WS because the hands are there (although you cropped the fingers slightly).

A good portrait considering that the direct light above is not giving too harsh shadow on the face. I like her curious expression and as we all know, Sea Bajau never poses with a funny expression, they just look normal as if you dont have a camera.

tfs, bill

hubert (1566) 2008-10-18 5:39

Buon Giorno Michal,
A fierce and sure look.
Marco

casperduppy (1470) 2008-10-18 15:11

Michal,

What a beautiful portrait of this beautiful young girl. I watched a wonderful tv program on the Sea Bajau people recently. To think about the sorts of things that this young child probably does, the relationship she has with the sea, so much that she probably knows about her mysterious marine environment - yet at such a tender young age. It is quite incredible. But also a shame to hear she is not accepted at a school. The times they are changing. The marine environment is impacted by a number of anthropogenic disturbances, most of which are beyond the control of the Bajau.

Hopefully communities like those that this little girl comes from will be able to ride-the-wave, so to speak. But nevertheless, everyone should be entitled to education. And no one should be victims of prejudice.

Lovely shot, Casper

patdeph (18338) 2008-10-19 3:51

hello Michal
beautiful portrait of this lovely girl,even if as trekks,I prefer the WS,where the hand is not cut!I like her sweet expression,the colours are superb,the blue background made by the sea is magnificent!
Best regards
Pascale

ilDottore (4004) 2008-10-19 11:49

Hej Michał,
Gdybym był prezydentem Malezji (czy kto tam w ogóle rządzi...) to bym Cię porwał z Polski i uczynił oficjalnym fotografem!
Strzeż się zatem, bo może nie tylko mnie to przyszło do głowy! :)
Bardziej mi się podoba kadrowanie z WS. Zdjęcie wyjątkowej jakości, mogące śmiało reklamować optykę Zuiko. Obłędne kolory.
Fajnie, że są jeszcze w dzisiejszym świecie ludzie olewający struktury państwowe i nie płacący nikomu podatków... cieszy mnie bardzo, że jeszcze to możliwe. W oczach dziewczynki nie ma smutku i rezygnacji typowej dla większości azjatyckich zdjęć, jest duma i wolny duch.
I o to chodzi! :)
Pozdrawiam!
Krzysiek

BennyV (4905) 2008-10-20 0:23

Hi Michal,

An excellent portrait, with good use of natural light and great cropping. I prefer this version to the one in the WS.

Benny

Stepan (27175) 2008-10-22 23:32

She looks really cute and you composed her perfectly. Off-centering, blue dazzling bokeh, sharpness, light... All is ok here, to have a great great portrait.
Stéphane

bisok (290) 2008-11-02 1:52

Witaj Michale jeszcze raz dziś :-)

Koneserzy Canona i tym "podobnych" - proszę nie czytać dalej :-)

Tutaj bezsprzecznie widać potęgę optyki stosowanej w Olympusach. Te kolory ...AHOHAHOHAHOH etc.
Tak jakbym tam naprawdę był. A byłem :-) więc mogę powiedzieć, że tak to wygląda. Bez przebarwień, przekolorowań, i tym podobnych mankamentów.

O innych walorach tego zdjęcia nie będę się już rozpisywał bo ... TO WIDAĆ.

Pozdrawiam.
Mirek

eversmile (6423) 2008-12-19 3:57

Hi Michal,
That portrait is full of emotion! The composition is excellent, and the colors are really very beautiful. The pink bangle, contrasting nicely with the crystal-clear water, is the icing on the cake!
Congratulations!
Regards
Marine

PS: I like the WS version and this one equally

robjol (2061) 2009-04-14 6:23

Hello Michal,
Lovely take of this girl, I read of this Sea Bajau people, life on the sea most of life.
Thanks yor notes and showing.
Regards
Robert