Innocence, a photo from Manila, NCR

Photographer's Note

He was playing like there was no tomorrow. He was running around like everyone was chasing him. He was murmuring to himself like everything and everyone around him were his playmates. He was so innocent, pure and had an angelic stare. But he was stark naked. And nobody was playing with him. No mom or dad was watching over him. I summoned him, gave him some food (money was not an option because he had no pocket) and asked him to pose for me. He never did hesitate. Very soon, alll the other kids were around me and I lost him. I asked everyone where the "naked boy" was and they pointed him to me. He was back to the swing, talking, laughing, running. I didn't call him again.

Taken at a children's playround beside Rizal Park, Manila. I have to cut the picture to avoid showing him in his "naked glory".

smael, yerevantsi, LMAN, tomauer oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

clodreno (0) 2004-01-08 5:09

Very nice picture Manuel. i like the way you cropped it letting him be on the right part of the frame. The texture of the wall is also very interesting. A classic shot.

[2]

mitternacht (1839) 2004-01-08 5:10

Great note.

His eyes are wonderful, 'innocence' is a perfect title. You really captured his attention. I like it a lot.

boof (634) 2004-01-08 5:16

did you use the spotlight filter to darken the left side or more to the point to emphasize the boy? if so it works well. Good facial expression on the boy. might even be able to crop out the booy up to his chest to give more focus on that face that says allot I think. that would create a wide horizontal picture with nothing on the left side that might add to the feeling of nothignness or alone or poverty other adjectives that I think describe this photo. very well done

[2]

Mireille (2604) 2004-01-08 5:37

You already show a picture of this little boy, he was with other children. I said at this time that I love the face of this little boy. I still love it. I just have one word : EXCELLENT !

iamxa (3103) 2004-01-08 7:28

Thank you very much for your note and your extraordinary image.

SavioCastro (601) 2004-01-08 8:41

Grande foto,
O título é perfeito para foto. sua nota também está ótima.
A composiçăo está perfeita, a criança está muito natural, e o seu olhar reflete toda inocęncia e fragilidade.
Parabéns.

leongfm (84) 2004-01-08 9:40

Hi Manuel...Striking photo! Nice lighting and good eye contact. The off-center composition works very well.

dsidwell (9783) 2004-01-08 10:07

I really enjoy the lighting here. Did you use a filter to get the light over on the right? I've seen this in several other of your shots, and it's a fun technique. I'll have to try that some day! Again, super work!

ninadev (5377) 2004-01-08 11:24

I like it a lot Manny. The soft light on this child works well with his tender look. This stone wall makes a perfect background.

nwoehnl (122) 2004-01-08 12:10

You're outdoing yourself again with this one, Manny. Each time that I think your children shots can't possibly get any better, they still do. Perfect title, compelling note, and a wonderful picture. The expression of the boy is priceless, and the way you framed it is adorable. Very impressive work.

momshu (505) 2004-01-08 12:34

Yes, yes Manny, a brillant photo. I can almost see him breathing.
I still have to ask, Did anyone, child or adult, know who is this child?

ilouy (3370) 2004-01-08 14:48

Strong shot Manu! It could be use for an ad campaign without hesitation! Nice composition, great expression for the children, nice texture on the gray wall... this picture "talks"! Bravo!

emax (920) 2004-01-08 15:08

Artistic shot of photogenic (poor child) person. The darkest left side of the grained wall makes the pic pretty abstract. Classic for you Manny.

Goran (247) 2004-01-08 17:40

Wow, what a portrait!
This deep expression in his eyes in a technically great picture make this one of my favorites.
Thanks for the note too.
Great portrait!

avigur_11 (22535) 2004-01-08 18:21

I like the uncentered position of the boy and the large area of the wall. Excellent light, also plays nicely in is hair.

Very well done, Manuel.

shoko (1055) 2004-01-08 18:47

The lighting is superb. The contrast between soft skin of the child and the grainy wall is interesting. Composition IMHO is perfect. Your subject eyes do the work. It is on my computer as wall paper.
Simply beautiful!

zorro (530) 2004-01-08 22:45

very good subject and backdrop versus the expression of dirt face...lots of explanation and emotion.

mikhalych (1319) 2004-01-09 3:40

As I see everything was said already. Very emotional portrait. Classic!
Bravo!

joseelias (0) 2004-01-09 7:11

Great cropping, not only to avoid his "naked glory" (funny expression, eheheh) but also in creating a very good composition. Even the cut of the top of the head works! Very smart choice of that dark shadow.

As usual great tones and the caught of the perfect expression.

Motrem (2392) 2004-01-09 8:14

It is excellent, the eyes of the child express the innoncence, I like the composition in the right corner. Beautiful colours.
C'est excellent, les yeux de l'enfant expriment l'innoncence, j'aime bien la composition dans le coin droit. Belles couleurs.

Porteplume (4036) 2004-01-09 10:09

Oh, that little one already stole my heart with that look in "Christmas is For Children", an angel indeed!
Manny, I must say again that I love you pictures. First because those children are very appealling to sentiments of course, but also because you have a very honest and natural way to photograph them, I think you don't make things looking better than they are...
So thank you a lot for sharing.

martin (1242) 2004-01-10 3:31

An image with real impact, Manny. The expression and the eyes are perfect, the offset composition is powerful, and technically it is perfect.

padam (186) 2004-01-10 19:14

A masterpiece. So expressive.

marcchia (210) 2004-01-20 1:09

You captured the natural expression of this boy. This is certainly one of those great people shots i have seen of your works. You inspire me to take more of these shots as i always let them by me.

maciekda (19895) 2004-02-08 0:52

another nice one, i remember this boyfrom some other your pictures.. here he looks really... i don't know how.. captivating? I really don't know how to describe the way he looks like, I know it is special.. you are so good at capturing feelings and emotions... your pictures with kids are really special, you have a special gift ;-)

your "Innocent Charm" picture is one of my very very favorites, one of the pictures I like the most, I still remember it, and when I was in Vietnam this picture was my inspiration when I was with kids taking pictures... i must admit that my "tightly" cropped or composed pictures are inspired mostly from those two pictures of that little girl with those sparkling eyes :-)

eleparc (24063) 2004-03-07 8:24

yet another strong journalistic and impacting shot! the framing and cropping is excellent as well as the DOF. Do I keep repeating myself or what when I comment your pics? ;-) anotehr favorite

smael (2878) 2004-03-21 16:59

Great picture with a very good composition. Like said before...you manage to capture the emotion in the moment!
I think i would prefer to crop it even higher up from the bottom, about two-three cm seen on the monitor. It would increase the feeling of the boy being placed in the right part, together with a more "well-cropped" place of his body (understand that one?...) :)

Terje

CoolDan (2516) 2004-04-14 20:02