One dollar, Mister! Photo

Photographer’s Note

No gallery from the temples of Angkor can be complete without at least one picture of the ever present children trying to sell you virtually everything (oddly the price always seems to be one dollar - I am sure everybody who has visited Angkor know perfectly what I mean!) They are really part of the whole Angkor experience, and their repeating "One dollar, Mister" is what you hear virtually on every corner there.

Of course you can have mixed feelings about this. Those children should be at school, no doubt about that. What is more, the things they try to sell are the things they make at school, so their time at school is not devoted only to learning. On the other hand we must realize that they live in very poor families, and that the money they earn is an important part of their family's budget.

So this is how it goes - they don't have enough money, so they work instead of learning. Because they don't get much education, they get little paid jobs, and that's why their children have to work instead of learning. We all know this story so well, yet we are still searching for the proper solution.

PS Since some of you may have a wrong impression, let me just add that the dollar she holds in her right hand is the dollar we just gave her, but not for posing for this picture. We try never to do that. Have a look at the workshop to see what really happened.

al-Farrob, gabrielpat, Colombiana, Nessie, yedirenk, hispic, elkab, patdeph, dareco has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

gabrielpat (6553) 2008-11-24 13:31

hi Michal,
A nice portrait talking about the problem of children working.When i see what she has in her right hand,i can understand..
friendly,patrick.

Colombiana (2580) 2008-11-24 13:39

HI Michal,
You are so good at capturing these nice
kids' portraits! The girl has a very beautiful
expression despite the harsh reality. Very sad
indeed. There are millions like her. I have
very "radical" views when it comes to this kind
of situations some people tell me, so I'll
stay quiet here.

Warm regards my friend!
Maryori :)

saparot (1782) 2008-11-24 13:42

One dollar !

for the photo ? to smile ? for the memories ?

hahahahaaaa

The beauty of this small smile of princess is priceless ...

Michal beautiful photo , beautiful contry ...

(^_°) jp007

RGatward (19751) 2008-11-24 13:53

Yes, amazing, no inflation there! In a way they seem to be getting quite an education of sorts, and I'll never forget the wit of the girl who called after me whilst wearing a ridiculous shirt covered in pictures of oranges 'I'll give you one dollar for your organges', to which I replied 'but I'm wearing them'

I wonder if they've noticed that the dollar is now worth something again.

Anyway, very nice pic.

elkab (3326) 2008-11-24 13:58

Bardzo atmosferyczne zdjęcie oddające prawdziwe oblicze człowieka (jako właściwie dziecka) z brudną koszulą, wychudzonego, z żyłami na wierzchu, z wredną reklamówką, sprzedającego coś (siebie) żeby zarobić na (prze) życie z marnym jakościowo tłem (choć fajnie pokazanym)
dziękuję
elka

yedirenk (7545) 2008-11-24 17:43

Hi Michal,
very impressive scene with a great portrait from hard life.very innocent,very beautiful but very sad details.sharpness,colour,light and vertical frame are excellent.thanks for sharing
Greetings

Cevdet

hispic (7399) 2008-11-24 19:13

Czesc Michal,
Nice portrait with marvelous catch light in her eyes. It seems you had one potential idea to show her home. I occasionally donate a small money to UNICEF.
Regards, Hisashi

everlasting (10942) 2008-11-24 21:40

What a pose, a self assured young business-woman. Of course, with our western eyes and precultured thinking we may not agree with this, but is she being exploited? I remember very well one young 'sharp as a pin' girl of about 8 or 9 around angkor who tried to sell me a flute for a friend.
Buy for your daughter?
i have no daughter
Buy for your brother
I have no brother
Buy for your son
I have no son
Buy for your friend
I have no friend
Everyone has friends!!

Fine capture wth nice light and details. Glad you didnt pay for the photo but for her wares.

Jeppo (12142) 2008-11-24 23:24

tak michal, this young lady looks szczsliwie while posing with you.
I had the same feeling in India...and I think I'll share this feeling too next month when I will visit this place too.
the young kobiekta has such a cute and ladny usmiech...you can hardly resist

pozdrowienia z wlochy
Silvio

cyborg83 (3798) 2008-11-24 23:33

Siemka Michale,
to zdjecie to juz ekstaklasa fotografii. Swietne zdjecie portretowe i reporterskie zarazem. Modelke miales wspaniala bo swietnie sie ustawila i jeszcze lepiej usmiechnela - z tego co piszesz nie ma latwego zycia a jednak nie brak jej dobrego humoru. Pieknie wykombinowales to zdjecie - bardzo podoba mi sie ten dolar w jej raczkach..
W WS rownie ciekawa fota,
pozdrawiam

patdeph (18348) 2008-11-25 2:56

hello Michal
you have bought her something,it's the best way to help her,so,she isn't a beggar,and you are not one of these tourists who gives money for nothing!Yes,the situation is sad,in a world were the money is the only important thing!But,is it really sad?The more I travel,the less I know where is the truth!Anyway,the portrait is very beautiful,with splendid coulours,and a nice expression of the little girl!I like very much!
Regards
Pascale

BennyV (4919) 2008-11-25 3:03

Good picture with a good note, Michal.

I was at Angkor Wat almost ten years ago and back then there were only a handful of children around and only at the main sites. You raise a difficult issue. In fact the small things they sell often are just alibi's to ease the mind of the rich tourists who "would never give to beggars".
I always feel uneasy with the difference this thing creates between the ones who have access to tourists handing out money and the ones who don't. Also I often feel sorry for the parents and older people who have to work, because for them just being cute is no longer enough. And I hate it when tourists hand out dollers to cute kids, but do very difficult about (or plainly refuse) patronizing their parents' small businesses.

Anyway, the vicious circle you draw in your note is spot on, and the smiles in the WS are real, so...

A post with a heart. Thanks.

Benny

dareco (17104) 2008-11-26 8:09

I didnt' get the chance to critique this earlier, but I LOVE this portrait. She is such a gorgeous little girl, and I love her expression in both pictures. I have showed this to all of my family :) Added to my favorites. Also a very informative note. Great job! TFS

dobert (56) 2009-01-03 12:54

Urocza dziewczynka. Gratulujê zdjêcia!
D,