The Spirit of Vietnam, a photo from Ha Noi, Red River Delta

Photographer's Note

This is for Maciek (and for everyone).

I went to Vietnam hoping to shoot my favorite subjects, children, but I was unsuccessful.

On the last full day of my trip, we went to the Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and there were many schoolchildren having a field trip there. I took a shot of one kid, then of the other, then another and before I knew it, everyone was all over me. It was very fun shooting them. They only got back to their queue when their teacher told them to do so. It does look chaotic in the picture but no, these children were the most cheerful, enthusiastic kids I've met in Vietnam.

bt9091, bgladman, orme, Darren, nwoehnl, ChrisJ, papagolf21, cool_s15, carper, cmartos, avigur_11, eleparc, omritoppol, sunny, Bogdan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bgladman (1153) 2004-04-26 2:39

Simply wonderful Manny. Children are my favourite photo subjects also and this photo makes it clear why this is the case. The pure joy and unadulterated enthusiasm in the children's faces can not, in my opinion, be beaten. Great clarity and colour in this. Well done!

Zanni (6108) 2004-04-26 3:05

Amazing picture. Having three little sons I make much experience in this kind of portrait but if I will continue to confront my photos with yours soon I will stop!

clodreno (0) 2004-04-26 3:28

I like it Manuel.. Nice image.. Those kids seem so happy. I wonder about the frame though, i believe it's too harsh. The pcitreu is already very contrasty, and this black frame makes it even harder to look at.

[2]

maciekda (19895) 2004-04-26 3:35

hi Manny, is this for me? thanks! ;)
very nice picture, very lively, all those kids, their hands and smiling faces, the picture radistes with joy.
some small flaws imo: the red frame, too much contrast and the head in the left bottom corner.
anyway, it is a very nice picture
and I have an idea, I'll make a new theme - "The spirit of..." ;)

orme (7219) 2004-04-26 3:57

The joy that you have captured in this shot is wonderful, Manuel. Good detail. Well done.

Midnight_sun (1941) 2004-04-26 4:22

Thats great, i really like this happy crowd of kids... its actually like one of the first shots i posted... your composition is better though. Great shot, very happy- well done.

Darren (6823) 2004-04-26 4:23

Good shot Manny. This reminds me of an experience I had in January in Manila.

Since you are from the Phils, I will mention it a little. I was at Intramurous and there was also a group of school kids on an outing. The exact same thing happened, I started taking a shot of one kid and suddenly, there was dozens, each working hard to get his (all boys school) face into the frame. they were so frantic I was affraid I was going to be pushed over the wall and land on the golf course below.

Your shot has worked out quite a bit better than any of mine did though. Nice and sharp, good expressions. There are a few hot spots, but none that do much damage to the photo. Good shot.

nwoehnl (122) 2004-04-26 4:58

So many joyful faces and expressions in one single frame, Manny. I like the apparent effort they are making to get into your shot with a good look or even grimace. Very colorful and engaging, thanks for making me smile this morning.

jhonny_blue (4956) 2004-04-26 5:16

Wonderful picture Manny !
It愀 amazing !
I like the kids and the colours, perfect expressions !
I love it !
Congratulations !

ianmcall (1213) 2004-04-26 5:39

Yes shooting children can be so much more fun than almost any other subject. As these ones clearly show, they are often filed with joy and exhuberance.

these kids are a delight and the framing is wonderful.

ChrisJ (172378) 2004-04-26 5:42

Great composition & dof. I like the contrast between the 2 kids on the left (who don't look at all happy), & the kids on the right & the center, who at least look interested in you, if not happy.

papagolf21 (152607) 2004-04-26 5:48

Cela devient de l'art Manuel cette fa蔞n de photographier ! Beaucoup de talent dans cette prise de vue. Comme il est agr嶧ble de voir des enfants heureux.
Tr鋊 bien fait.
That becomes of art Manuel this way of photographing! Much talent in this catch of sight. As it is pleasant to see happy children. Very well done.

cool_s15 (4050) 2004-04-26 6:11

Lovely shot here, Manuel! I really like his big eyes and their movement. I also like the tight framing here. Nice shot!

carper (96) 2004-04-26 6:41

the result is good Manuel,
Nice photo, with all those happy children, good note, good colours too. great job

cmartos (242) 2004-04-26 7:52

What a joy an innocence on these beautiful faces. This is great, childrens are really well captured. There's life, joy, spontaneity in this picture and we feel it. A great one Manny.

avigur_11 (22553) 2004-04-26 9:59

Wonderful shot, Manuel, and excellent very tight framing. I like the boy in the middle. DOF does a great job here. Very well done.

eleparc (24063) 2004-04-26 11:10

bravo manny! i like this shot.. Two kids emerge from the crowd on this one for me : the one in the middle obviously and the one in the right corner at the bottom...i guess sharp focus makes me this effect... They sure did look delighted to become TE celebrities...;-)
I have purchased the nikkor 50mm f1.8 lens on saturday and by internet the D70 ( hopefully received this week by post). I am gettting very excited...

gmsanchez (0) 2004-04-27 18:01

Bautiful and expressive shot. Sweet.

omritoppol (826) 2004-04-28 9:52

Manuel, this is a great shot. It really brings them alive, the colors & their faces are so vivid. I think the compo is superb, and the way that not all of them are seen adds to the dynamics of it. A great great shot!

sunny (3069) 2004-04-29 5:45

So many bright eyes and smiles - it looks wonderful! :-) I love the tight framing of their faces, Manny, as this way you increased the emanated feeling of pure child's joy. Seems you have a natural charisma to attract them..:-)) Great capture!

sengir (4956) 2004-05-27 17:31

maybe not so technically perfect as many of your others, but really full of life and energy

Bogdan (205) 2004-09-03 16:44

A wonderfull picture again, one full of life, very dinamic. Those many pairs of eyes make me feel like facing Argus.
Oh...and the framing, 'the thin red line' -- that is very Ho Chi Minh, if you intended it to be, or not.
Bogdan.

Photo Information

Copyright: Manuel Librodo (manny) (22032)
Genre: 人物
Medium: 彩色
Date Taken: 2004-04-14
Categories: 日常生活
Camera: Nikon D70
Photo Version：Original Version
Theme(s)：School Days, The Spirit of..., The Joys of Childhood [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-04-26 2:16