hard sell, a photo from Mandalay, North

Photographer's Note

A picture taken from the ferry on the Irrawaddy, somewhere between Mandalay and Bagan. Slowing down and sometimes even stopping at riverside towns en route, saleswomen approach the boat and sell a variety of 'street' food. This lady knew her business. I hope she had a good day.

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for the victims of the cyclone of May 2, which left at least 78,000 people dead, another 56,000 people missing and an estimated 2.4m homeless and hungry.

"The Burmese-language daily, Myanma Ahlin, said cyclone survivors could get by without 'bars of chocolate' from the international community."

(BBC World 2008-05-31)

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analogue print scan

delic, isabela_sor, worldcitizen, happypoppeye oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

delic (6735) 2008-05-31 14:18

I hope she is still alive and doing well, Benny. Terrific photo, esp. the seller's expression on her face and the hint of motion in her hand. Regards,
Hakan

isabela_sor (47748) 2008-05-31 14:42 [Comment]

Show Comment

eversmile (11636) 2008-05-31 14:45

Hi Benny,
A good composition, with a good harmony in colors and nice details. Actually I had no fun on this boat. I found really disturbing to see the people so desperate to sell their food that they enter in the water up to the belt and when the tourists jumped on their feet to shoot, and shoot and shoot, while some others, to pay their purchases, threw away the money in the streams, like if they were giving peanuts to monkey; I felt really ashamed of these behaviours.
Regards,
Marine

worldcitizen (16108) 2008-05-31 14:46

Hello Benny,
I like the arrangement of food on this plate, and the way you captured the woman in action. Nice, tight crop, so we can see all of the details.

scalerman (26900) 2008-05-31 18:27

B: vivid portrait, cogent note - fine journalism. best, c

partha (14023) 2008-05-31 19:47

Nice documentary shot.His face shows a harsh life he has to deal.
Good top angle view also.
Partha

SteveH (8220) 2008-06-01 0:38

Hi Benny, The POV you chose for this image works well and I like the tihgt crop, showing just her and her goods. I would have been tempted to clone out the yellow thing behind her head, though it is more "honest" as it is. Her snacks certainly look appetising. I can taste them now...
Cheers, Steve

kschanna (6) 2009-01-08 1:12

Hi Benny

Now this is a true portrait. The PoV is quite unique and quite inclusive of your subject. I am interested to know what has she got smeared on her face? There is one more reason why I like this shot. In the west, we dont 'see' very often, people in the act of making a living...in contrast to that most people in the east seem so close to their trade...no judgement here though.

Thanks for sharing
Kamran

abmdsudi (95869) 2010-04-25 10:47

hi bennyV
i captured the same scene during the same down river boat journey mandalay to pagan. i post mine later hope
you can comment mine, thks

happypoppeye (4819) 2010-12-19 11:03

Hey ...who doesn't like donuts, chocolate covered pretzels and apple dumplings, right?...
Gulp, yes, I know, probably fish and organs...
Good one,
John

yquem46 (38752) 2010-12-19 11:10

hello Benny
I was not yet on TE at that time but I could not miss this one
Superb daily life scene, very natural of this young woman in her traditional make up and carrying the cakes and samose
An excellent one benny
Best regards
patrick

Roeznillo (50) 2011-05-10 12:53