Happy children, a photo from Phnum Penh, West

Photographer's Note

Cambodia, a garbage dump in Stung Mean Chey.

Children living hard lifes.

Luckily sometimes they forget about it...

Nobody oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

Michael_Gan (2776) 2005-01-21 6:05

Ghee Maciej, this is fabulous work! The joy of these children is very obvious and I especially like the way how you included and cropped the kid on the left. She seems to be happy because the other girl is having fun and isn't that a nice way of enjoying yourselves? Excellent DoF too, revealing just enough of the background to see that it's either a garbage dump or a slums area. If you allow me to be very picky: there's a little dark spot at about 1/3 from the left in the center and it's stupid but it's a bit disturbing to me (sorry for that...).

Fixfocus (9385) 2005-01-21 6:36

A fine and interesting shot,Maciek!I like the colors.Good sharpness,nice bokeh!

RGatward (20108) 2005-01-21 6:40

I just checked this against some of your earlier shots of this site. It's really quite a different mood you've caught here, the busy compo well fits the sense of fun that you're protraying here. nice work as usual.

Porteplume (4036) 2005-01-21 6:56

To be able to tell so much in one single shot... Great work! I can't imagine a better way to tell us what is happening "far from our bed" and what must always be in our thoughts.
It's so very difficult to express in English what I feel when looking at your images but be sure you always have an important impact on your viewers Maciej. Thank you for that.

olli (2091) 2005-01-21 7:03

Your shots are always excellent both visually and technically but the fact that they also usually have a deep message makes them so great. I think we all can learn something of the message of this image...
Great composition/tight framing and DOF, beautiful overall tones, excellent expression on those two faces, interesting mix of hats...

michel_r (1118) 2005-01-21 8:25

this one is realy good maciek. Very good framing and very PP. I like very much these colors you have got here.
regards, michel.

clodreno (0) 2005-01-21 10:31

a good image, but not the best one of the serie. i think that if the girl could have had the eyes open it would have been a super one becuse the compo is very good.

Xalkida (11744) 2005-01-21 13:21

Excellent scene Maciej! The reality is harsh and we must see it at the eyes! Thank you for this great image!

Piotr (0) 2005-01-21 17:37

Ciekawe ujecie, smutny los tych dzieciakow i wesola, krotka chwila sprytnie uchwycona
Pozdrawiam, piotr

Praetzer (209) 2005-01-21 18:36

Great composition; excellent DOF.
Agree with clodreno; With the eyes open my rating would jump from 8.5/10 to 9.5/10

flydragon (0) 2005-01-22 4:52

Hello Maciej
i remember this girl in black and white
i like also this one in color
sad about those kids life
thx for this nice pics
simon

Curioso (9271) 2005-01-22 6:53

The composition is excellent, the choice of the DOF is perfect. Everything contributes to evokate the happy moment of these children in such a sad context. It makes this shot very moving.

I wished the light would have been with you because the scene is a bit flat. I also wished you could have a picture with the eyes of that girl wide open or with a even more expressive face.

ngythanh (8458) 2005-01-22 6:54

Maciej:

Many people mentioned this garbage dumping place to me, but nobody could give me exact directions on how to get there from Phnom Penh. Could you help, please?

Thanks for sharing...

cgrindahl (6113) 2005-01-22 15:25

Another stunner Maciek! As has been noted, this image conveys joy rather than deprivation. I note that depth of field is more limited here than in your "The Ray of Hope" image, which means the details of the garbage are lost in this capture. We know there is a dump there, but in this moment it seems dissolved, perhaps by the girl's play.

I also note the blue cast, which, interestingly is present in each of your color images from this site and contrasts with the images produced by Swiatek Wojtkowiak with his D70. His images lean toward brown and gold. Those matters aside, however, this is a wonderful statement of how children find joy even in the most challenging of circumstances. Human beings are remarkably resilient, which is surely a cause for celebration. I'm pleased that this shot was not lost when your equipment was stolen.

bantonbuju (51815) 2005-01-25 8:18

po prostu bajeczka, ostrość idealnie tak gdzie byc powinna, genialne, możesz podać przesłonę z exif'a?

eleparc (24063) 2005-01-28 4:33

despite the harsh iving conditions, you were able to display a lot of joy in this photo... like take the gem out of the muddy soil... thanks for them and for sharing...

I tend to like those photos, like my little series on the Lepers from leh, because it shows that these poor people assume their life with a high joyful spirit also...

ash_parikh (2266) 2005-02-05 5:11

Beautiful moment captured. Nice composition. How these kids seem to keep themselves smiling inspite of all the hardships is amazing.

Jan_el_africano (24) 2005-02-16 16:34

pieknie, jak na amateur... podziwiam tak wspaniale refleks, wzrok i wrazliwosc, które razem pozwalaja na uchwycenie tak bogatego ujecia. Jesli po cos sie wpisalem w te gre, to wlasnie po to: czerpac przyklad.

100 punktów (pozwalaja tylko na 2...)

cobraphil8 (84) 2005-06-03 3:20

Very pretty note to accompany a beautiful photograph full with emotions.
It is true that these children do not have easy lives... But at least they live their childhoods, which is not too any more the case in the Western countries or if little.

slarnold (156) 2005-08-08 12:22

Excellent use of DOF, beautiful colours, interesting compo too.

Marmou (396) 2005-09-09 16:02

Happiness taking place on garbage : strong shot ! Nice one !!

roconnell (327) 2006-01-16 1:48

Beautiful. The composition is a poignant bit of photojournalism, but your note is more so. The DOF, clarity and color are marvelous. Well done.

TomekWalkiewicz (233) 2006-01-30 5:09

swietna fotka
dobra robota!

fanoo (500) 2007-09-29 12:30

Salut
belle photo
l'expression de l'enfant est trés sympa. La PDC est bien gérée et la compo agréable

Photo Information

Copyright: Maciej Dakowicz (maciekda) (19895)
Genre: Ludzie
Medium: Kolorowe
Date Taken: 2004-04-00
Categories: Życie codzienne
Camera: Canon EOS 300D
Wersja zdjęcia: Oryginalna wersja
Temat(y): garbage dump in Phnum Pehn, Kasia's Favourites 6 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-21 5:51
Ulubione: 7 [Widok]