a badjao family Photo

Photographer's Note

Similar to other developing nations in Asia, the Philippines has its shares of minorities which are often forgotten by the government. This Badjao family met the inter-island ferry which took me from Manila to the Visayan city of Tagbilaran. I could only assume that the family’s boat must be too small to accommodate everyone, and that is why the older boys were in a separate raft.

I felt ambivalent about taking this photo. The photo conditions were quite ideal, but I was also bothered by the fact that my camera probably could probably feed them for months. I felt better after seeing this family again an hour after we had disembarked from the ferry. The kids were playing on the shore and asked me to buy them coca colas after they noticed that I was watching them. I gladly obliged, and somehow I felt a tad better.

There is another Badjao photo in TE by fray (Francis Joseph Yanga

BrittanyS, hispic, andante, pablominto, asanak, kiwi_explorer, manatee, cam, banyanman, plimrn, tiobibi, paromitadey has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

verge (1241) 2006-03-05 18:39

Sad photo of the family from the south. I like the way you've taken it, the framing, color and focus are all very good, well captured......rgds

verge

limule (4176) 2006-03-06 4:33 [Comment]

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hispic (9619) 2006-03-06 7:48

Very impressive shot of the family, Danilo.
I like especially a sleeping child with deep blue background, which he feels to be really family.
Regards,
Hisashi

reynocum (297) 2006-03-07 1:37

Another winner, Danny. Colors and details are perfect. Excellent composition.

zeca (19762) 2006-03-10 14:01

Very nice shot, Danilo! Good framing, colours, contrast. I'm impressed by the kid's eyes. So many details. Nice composition! Tfs!
Zeca

pablominto (53744) 2006-03-12 6:12

Hello Danilo,
A very interesting piece of photo journalism, telling a lot about the way of life of the Badjaos... Awesome!
Well composed image with good saturated colours, accompanied by a very good note!
Greetings,
Pablo -

asanak (1972) 2006-04-17 4:41

hi danilo
I guess I am so lucky I came across your photo.A great combination of technique and artistry is demonstrated in your photo.
TFS.asana

dHitman (0) 2006-05-19 2:45

Hi Danilo,
Great composition and the high POV looking down on the subject gives so much details and information on the image. Picture like this is what TE is all about. TFS!
Regards, Jino

dominique (11414) 2006-05-21 4:01

Etrange cette vision , la famille sur le bateau et le gosse qui dort sur l'eau , c'est quand même etrange , bien vu le sujet vallait la photo .

mrmike1935 (2754) 2006-05-21 9:32 [Comment]

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kiwi_explorer (12209) 2006-07-19 6:04

Hello Bay,
My heart sinks every time I see this kind of scene ... quite sad and evokes social conscience. The colours are so crisp and natural. The dark blueish waters is a perfect background to make your subject standout. Excellent photo ... bilib ko nimo, Bay!
Cheers,
Renier

s10001in (0) 2006-08-18 23:30

Danilo, This is again better shot with intresting POV & action.

Wow. I really mean this is beautiful & this location is magical for me.
Sure I will go to this place. I cannot wait longer.
One problem I feel here. Lady sleeping on the boat & only leg in in frame. I can say it is very negliable but when Such strong shot is there a partial subsatnce of 4th Human life will damge the total strength & Beauty of shot.
Well done. but still can be improved.
-Shailendra

Just Planning to add WS. Let me think for a while to Improve it.
-Shailendra

Angshu (51174) 2006-08-24 23:44

Hi Danilo
Apart from the fact that this is a very interesting piece of photo journalism, telling a lot about the way of life of the Badjaos...this is an awesome composition. Superb deep colours of the water enhance the effect of the white raft where the children are..
Regards
Angshu

dcawker (5717) 2006-10-30 10:18

Powerful image - strong perspective that really lends itself well to your excellent notes about it as well! Regards, Doug

cam (9041) 2006-11-07 21:41

Hi Danilo
We seem to forget how life can be hard for peoples in other country and even ours.
Here we learn about other cultures and how they cope with life.I wonder if these peoples learn to swim before walking?
Thaks for sharing this document.
Charles

banyanman (7772) 2007-04-24 10:27

I recall seeing a couple of your other posts of Badjao families, Danilo, but this one caught my eye because of the boy sleeping in the little raft - you have incorporated that very well into your overall composition. The fact that a child can sleep so soundly on such a flimsy raft emphasises how close these people are to the sea. I didn't notice the other leg poking into frame until I read Shailendra's critique. That doesn't bother me too much, but I think it could have been a tad sharper (if you shot this from a moving boat, maybe that is due to a little camera shake?) Cheers ... David

plimrn (21344) 2007-11-06 6:08

Hi Danilo,
Actually the boys get the luxury bedroom!! A floating mattress is MUCH more comfortable than that hard bamboo. I really like the contrast between the simple classic lines of the outrigger and the very effective use of somebody's trash. The rich color of the water provides a great background. Nice that you were able to give a bit of a modeling fee. That's what makes street musicians a good subject, it's easy to reciprocate.
HLJ, Pat

lestans (16770) 2007-11-08 5:15

Hi Danilo!
thank you for this picture, that is both a good picture and an informative one. You are right, sometimes our cameras are a shame in front of poor people homeless.
But cameras let us describe what we see, if we are good travellers and if we have eyes to look at the world

Ciao!!

Livia

cerenguven (204) 2009-12-01 1:02

Hi,

A touchy story with well composed photo that fits the story of their lives.

May God help all those in need!

Cheers,

C

paromitadey (596) 2011-03-22 22:18

Hi Danilo,

Amazingly striking composition. Loved the framing of the makeshift fishing household and the positioning of the raft with the two kids.
Very inspiring shot goes straight to my list of favorites.

TFS.

Best regards,
Paromita