Plain of Jars, a photo from Xiangkhoang, North

Photographer's Note

During the Indochina War (Vietnam /American War 1965-1975), the USA flew more than 580,000 bombing missions over Laos. This is equal to one bombing mission, every 8 minutes, around the clock, for 9 full years! This intensive bombing campaign, coupled with artillery battles on land, has left the landscape in some areas of Laos filled with craters.

The Plain of Jars is an ancient historic site that sustained 20% damage to the jars, which were probably used to store funerary ashes. There are bomb craters to the right, & in the left background, in this image. Tourists are strongly advised to stick to the tracks. Every year, several children are killed by UXO in Laos. (Unexploded ordinance).

This part of Laos is poorly represented on TE, so I may post more from this locale later.

bantonbuju, Paolo, Fixfocus, bazal, RGatward, greg64g, jhm, Kenny10pin, nwoehnl, cessy, capthaddock, ikeharel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bantonbuju (51815) 2005-06-10 3:51

hi chris, this is a very IMPORTANT picture with a message, accompanied by a great note; sad picture about the horror times; :-(
thanks for sharing this, very well;
bw, jerzy

Paolo (41254) 2005-06-10 3:54

I know that Plain! it's a so strange place.
excellent POV, colors, light. there's a little bit of contrast more.
thanks for the dramatic note.
ciao

Zepi (22848) 2005-06-10 4:20

Hello Chris,
Belle image,superbes couleurs!
J'aime bien ces gens dans la composition,ça donne une idée de la grandeur des lieux!
Beau travail
Amicalement
Sébastien

Gregtom (7169) 2005-06-10 4:29

Hello, Chris! This land has a very terrible history. Sad landscape. Thank You for showing us the atrocity of war. This is very important in our world!
regards,
Greg

Fixfocus (9385) 2005-06-10 4:39

Hi Chris,
Great image with an teribble story behind it.
A very well composed shot with good included foreground details.Excellent sharpness and saturation.
well done,
hermann

jrj (34843) 2005-06-10 5:27

Interesting story and a fine photo to go with it. Good details and overview from the compo. Very interesting place here.

bazal (7900) 2005-06-10 5:54

Very interesting, and moving, documentary shot, Chris. Thanks a lot for sharing !

RGatward (20086) 2005-06-10 6:15

Absolutely Chris, not only TE, but this issue is one that's very little represented in general. Excellent note, and illustrative shot. 30 years on and they still haven't cleared up their mess, they really ought to have done, before they started creating any more.

greg64g (11193) 2005-06-10 6:55

Hello Chris,

I like you picture, but iprefer more the note you written. 580 000 bombing mission woooo impressive...
cheers
greg

toni_al (15875) 2005-06-10 7:00

Hi Chris
J'aime bien ce cadrage avec les rocher au premier plan et tous ces personnages après.
Nice shot
Toni

jhm (191287) 2005-06-10 8:07

Hi Chris,
Very interesting note about the WAR in Laos, but very sadly for looking, excellent composition.
Have a nice weekend,
John

Kenny10pin (19301) 2005-06-10 8:19

very interesting shot, I like the jars here and I like the note too, very informative, well done

nwoehnl (122) 2005-06-10 10:58

Interesting and very TE-relevant posting today, Chris. A good comprehensive photo to illustrate the history of the place, with a good rhythmic element provided by the jars and nice leading lines towards the back resulting from the footpaths. Well captured.

MoosicMan (1231) 2005-06-10 21:43

Very nice sharpness here, Chris, with excellent DOF and wonderful deep blue color in the sky. Good note, too.
Best wishes,
Matt

PixelTerror (0) 2005-06-11 4:33

Hi Chris,
A good photo with fine depth and clarity, the colors avery good here and the sky nicely blue, sad story but it belongs to barbarian history of the 20th century.
Have a nice week end,
Jean-Yves

cessy (13647) 2005-06-11 10:15

beautiful picture
I like the angle and composition a lot, and important note with it
very well done, chris

elihesamian (26149) 2005-06-11 15:01

580,000 !!!!
My God!...

Thanks a lot for this admirable posting,Chris,wellworks and well detailed with great sharpness and quality,and well composed,too.

It shocked me,and you know that I'm underestand a thing that called "War"!

Best Regards
M

anakin (2775) 2005-06-11 22:08

Original and interesting place, good your perspective and note, great image
well done

joseelias (0) 2005-06-15 9:12

This is a very sad reality, and a sign how humans are so stupid in order to destroy their own memory… I also think that those responsible for dropping these bombs or placing land mines should be forced to remove them once the conflict was over. It’s unbearable that people get injured so many years after.

In fact I never heard of this place and the use of using these jars as funerary graves. Very interesting indeed.

mumek (20226) 2005-07-05 18:44

Good evening Chris!
Very nice scenery but very sad and interesting story abot this part of Laos.Thanks very much for the note!
best regards
ziggy

capthaddock (28790) 2005-08-19 9:36

Hi Chris - very interesting and a rare sight from SE Asia, the dry brown landscape is different from the more stereotypical lush jungle,from a rarely seen place, also excellent note.

ikeharel (98746) 2016-07-19 1:55

When thinking of Laos, Chris, this is not what to be expected - but your note provide good explanation.
The view is unusual and with excellent depth and visibility, people stroll in the lanes gave life to the barren area.
My best regards,
Ike