Fun amidst Hardship, a photo from Siem Reab, West

Photographer's Note

Taken on the bridge/walkway that leads to the main entrance of Angkor Wat.

There were three of these wee kids, jumping happily into the water to the delight of the watching tourists - and, I'm glad to say, many of them would give these kids a donation as they clambered up to repeat their antics.

This was my first trip to Cambodia and there were many heartbreaking scenes. However, for a period of time at least, these kids seemed to be having fun and were rewarded in the process.

I cannot imagine ever living a life as tough as these kids, but at the same time when I saw the unadulterated joy on their faces, even if only for a few minutes, I wished I was a child again.

arnabchat, Telo, vincz, stevep, axiotea, sothy81, robertosalguero, JonteW, sarahnatalie, MLINES, Flavia, plimrn, designsoul has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

vincz (19113) 2006-09-04 10:33

the shadow on the wall is a gem giving so much depth to your picture. I am also just back from cambodia where i've seen many heartbraking scenes as well. Also lots of hope within this very young population. Thanks for sharing!

prumod (8300) 2006-09-04 10:36

hi james
wonddeful timing... nice colors and good compo... you could control the shutter speed well...
take care
pramod

arnabchat (7233) 2006-09-04 10:37

Hi James, love your composition. well timed to get the kid in mid air. i like the shadow which is a special touch in the frame. quality take.
TFS,
Arnab

Telo (307) 2006-09-04 10:52

Hi. great shot! :D

the shadow of the "crazy" kid is amazing. the composition is very suitable. I just don't like so much the green framing you chose, find it very distracting.

I find your note very touching. It's a question I've asking myself every time I see a post like this: happy, unadulterated (as you put it) faces in a contrasting ambient which we feel that so many basic needs are out of their reach.

Those interested should visit this nice post from thanh nguyen: http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Vietnam/photo452843.htm which is called "Happiness and Ignorance"

(I'm sorry but don't have time to edit html)

Regards,
D嶰io

[2] +

muscovado (1572) 2006-09-04 10:55

Hi James,
A well captured moment and the shadow looks very interesting. Generally, Southeast Asians are a happy lot and probably the friendliest.
Czaldy

stevep (556) 2006-09-04 10:58

That really is a great shadow. I agree with Telo on the border, I think white might have been better.. Thanks for the thoughtful note, it really adds to the photo.

steve.

Carma (2440) 2006-09-04 11:21

Fantastic moment with this silouete like decoration for photo.
Bravo!

danby1 (3697) 2006-09-04 11:42

nice shotjames, above all in this shot i think the shadow in the wall is great, good lighting, thank you for showing us this shot.

axiotea (21651) 2006-09-04 11:54

Hi James,
You have caught well the jump of the kid with its shadow on the rock. A nice daily life shot...
All the best,
Marilyn

sothy81 (9646) 2006-09-04 12:29

Hi James:

This is an amazing picture of childhood play in Cambodia. It reminds me a lot about my childhood. Yes, I used to jump into the water like this and have a lot of fun with my other playmates. No fear of getting sickness and punishment from parents. Freedom Play Ever! Thanks for sharing.

cissou (375) 2006-09-04 13:09

Hi James,
Really nice picture with good colors. The shadow on the wall is excellent! And like D嶰io said, your note is very touching...
C嶰ile

e30mike (312) 2006-09-05 0:49

Great timing, love how you captured the timing as well, very nice.

Lynette (1615) 2006-09-05 3:58

Hi James, a wonderfully composed shot with emphasis on daily life. I like how you captured the child in mid air with emphasis on the shadow as well. I would not have chosen a green frame and would opt for a lighter colour to give more depth to overall image. Well done.
Lynette

everlasting (19680) 2006-09-05 6:18

Great timing of this action shot, but its the shadow on the wall the is the gem here.

lacroux (4562) 2006-09-05 15:01

Bonjour James

I don't speak a very good english, but good timing, and shadow on the wall very interesting.
Add to my favorites...

Pierre

robertosalguero (292) 2006-09-14 0:51

Look at the shadow on the wall! Great picture James. These children are definitely having a blast jumping on the water :-)
hard sometimes to believe than in the midst of hardship there is also time to enjoy life :-) Nice job James!

Roberto

JonteW (190) 2006-09-15 11:24

What makes this image work for me is the shadow on the wall. The boy is for a short time free from the hardship of daily life.

It makes me sad to see and read about the unfairness of life on earth. I would so much like to, through TrekEarth, see the earth becoming a better place.

yesterday (9833) 2006-09-16 3:57

Good daily life photo, full of life. Simple but good composition with good contrast, and fine with the shadow on the wall.

Wanda1 (15142) 2006-09-17 7:47

Hi James,
A lovely shot, well composed and caught at exactly the right moment! Nice and sharp. A touching note too.
Regards
Wanda

Brendon (289) 2006-09-17 8:05

Stellar moment - Cannon Ball - Weeeeeeeeeeee!
Sharp capture (your mindset in seeing this moment and physically sharp throughout) and timed to perfection.
Great storytelling image you have shown us. Did the little gaffer land on the other child; yikes!
Kudos for the shadowed wall, looks like the image of a ghost.
TFS
Brendon

rafid76 (0) 2006-09-24 0:46 [Comment]

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Furachan (0) 2006-09-28 21:17 [Comment]

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MLINES (12516) 2006-10-03 4:15

Hi James, Very good timing. The boy's shadow is just perfect for this capture. Wonderful to see their enjoyment in what is likely a tough life for them later on. Congratulations. Murray.

benpeake (33) 2006-10-06 22:07

cool shot, love the shadow on the wall!

Flavia (10352) 2006-10-07 12:28

Hi James,

You have many beautifull images on your gallery, but I could not resist this one. It's pure beauty, inocence and joy! I can imagine why you were so taken by this scene and I'm glad you manage to capture this wonderfull momment and pass this feeling to others. Bravo!

Cheers,

Flavia

ckuhn55 (2670) 2006-10-09 1:35

Remarkable photo,,,I have to visit Cambodia in the next 2 yrs...tks

wolf38 (30) 2006-10-15 9:43

Hello of james. A beautiful and worth seeing photo. A child jumps from the wall into the water. His body is shown as shade on the wall. One has fear that he jumps on the boy in the water. The photo is good composed and well framed. Many greetings, Wolfgang.

Manamo (3710) 2006-10-21 22:32

Hello James,
mmm, this is sooo good! There a some very cool features in this picture: the clean shadow on the wall, the perfect circle in the water, a main subject full of dynamism.mmm, kids having fun, what better subject?
HAve a nice day,
Marc

djsmack (64) 2006-12-09 13:07

Fun picture. I like that you were able to stop the action with only slight blur. The shadow is what makes it special to me. I like the composition of the wall and the rings in the water. Can't get enough of the kids in Cambodia.

SCidER (388) 2006-12-18 10:32

great clear shot..
nice composition and POV
i really like the clear shadow of the boy jumping..
nice :D

plimrn (21344) 2007-01-15 0:08

Hi Richard,
What an amazing action shot!! The child mid-air with a perfect shadow behind and the waiting rings in the water from the previous jumper!!

The photo does really have a joyous feel; I really enjoyed your note, Wishing you health, love & joy (HLJ) in new year,
Pat

Emiel_Skyfreak (3002) 2007-01-16 19:44

Hi Richard,

Lovely photo, you've nicely catched daily life..although not to daily here..but probably it is there! Fine colours, sharpness and very well timed. Well composed too.
I'm doubting on the border however, don't like it's colour and it's quite broad...If it was white, it wasn't..because then the colour wouldn't hurt me..but now it's to broad in my opinion. Anyhow, I'm not gonna blame you for the border..so full points

designsoul (17843) 2007-01-16 20:04

Marvellous shot, Richard, what I particularly love is how you captured the little child and his reflection on the wall with such a control in this very moving, playful, lovely scene.
Beautiful composition and excellent note...
good night from bonechilling Ottawa
sasa

tonyp (217) 2007-01-21 14:31

Great catch of this beautiful moment, good composition. I like the kid's shadow on the wall. I visited Cambodia a year ago and I agree life is extremely tough there but as you say for a while kids are kids and they find fun and a bit of happiness in moments like this one. Good job! TFS
Cheers,
Tony

MeAT (1174) 2007-01-29 10:13

Spectacular emotion in the picture. I really like it. Congratulations!

MeAT :)

H2OKOT (180) 2007-09-28 10:48

Hey Richard,

Kids are always fearless, great shot, well captured. The shadow makes so much more impressive.
Take care

Mark

sevda (230) 2007-10-28 11:10

since I became a TE member I always wonder why there is not photos of happy kids like this coming form USA or europe. they have too many toys?
Woderful photograph, very nice composition and subject.