"One for One Dollar....." Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is not so much of a sunrise shot, as my intention is to paint a picture that will depict the life of the Cambodian children who live near to the World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat.

It was just after day break before sunrise, but the local kids were up long before we arrived. They were ready for business selling breakfast, guide books, scarf, hats, T-shirts and other handicrafts. You will hear the familiar call everywhere, "Buy something...", "One for one dollar, two for one dollar, three for one dollar and so on", depending on how long you can resist. All transaction in US Dollar. Many of these children are bright, they can discern your nationality and speak in your mother tongue accordingly as they approach you. I met a young kid about 5 years old talking to me in Mandarin before I opened my mouth! They seldom beg but certainly work hard to earn extra dollars for the family. Hard life indeed.

Here you can see the silhouette of a boy promoting his handicraft to visitors who await the sunrise, as the colour of the sky changes. Hope you don't mind another silhouette shot.

shevchenko, mvdisco, gracious, leo61, saanjh, pauloog, patdeph, cherryripe, jusninasirun, Kielia, phwall, adores, hispic, everlasting, avene, axiotea, Bruno40 trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

shevchenko (10016) 2009-03-19 19:10

Hi Alfred,
Interesting composition and good discover to the life style of Cambodian children at the early morning, impressive colorful sky in early morning against silhouettes, good exposure and lighting to show the dim environment, distinct image, good shoot.
Ally

skippy007 (7273) 2009-03-19 19:33

Hello Alfred, Similar in many ways to your previous post but also very different & with a different motive, I like both this scene, especially the boy showing his wares & your motive, well framed with excellent colour and a magnificent silhouette. How long did it take you to set this one up ;-),
Well done Alfred a very beautiful image & well realised.
Regards
Santo

mvdisco (11593) 2009-03-19 20:29

Hi,Alfred,
Very nice sunrise nicely composed and presented with great colours and sharpness, Excellent POV. and lovely details , good silhouettes and beautiful light and reflection on water..
All my compliments.
Michel

tomescuc (2837) 2009-03-19 20:36

Superb photo. The colors of the sunset, their reflection in the still lake, the silhouettes of the kids landscape.
my compliments,
Cristian

gracious (20017) 2009-03-19 21:30

Hello Alfred,
This is truly a beautiful daily and sunrise shot that comes in both!
the children and tree branch silhouette makes a great impact against the beautiful colour of the sunrise!
thanks for the notes as well
take care my dear friend!
Tony

leo61 (43562) 2009-03-19 21:35

Hi Alfred!
Very nice silhouettes and wonderful sunsettones.A great shot,I like it a lot.
I have a simillar one one from Angkor(with monks) in my gallery.
Good composition with these branches on top and wow,what a sky.
Regards,leo

wolf38 (13055) 2009-03-19 23:05

Hello Alfred. One for one dollar. Me this saying is good in memory. You realized this scene in masterful way. Exemplary note too. 100 points! Regards, Wolfgang.

vincz (19043) 2009-03-20 0:56

Great atmosphere. I love the silhouettes in front of the lake and the tree silhoettes in the back. Fantastic colours. A greatshot!

pauloog (6789) 2009-03-20 1:19

Hello Alfred,
A very good scene that is both interesting and beautiful. Fantastic profiles of the children and the landscape against a beautiful sky and its reflection.
Well done.
Regards,
Paul

patdeph (18208) 2009-03-20 4:26

hello Alfred
one more time,you have obtained a splendid photo!In the other photo,I liked to see the whole tree,but on this one,I thing the sky is still more wonderful!Anyway,both are really nice,I love them!
Cheers
Pascale

Jeppo (12018) 2009-03-20 4:38

Ciao Alfred,

I love this shot twice.
first for this romantic sunset, the orange tones, the perfect simmetry and sharpness of counterlight figures

second: for the title. "one dollar" is the first sentence kids over there learn....and it's the cost of every kind of stuff you can find there sold by them

I can see that kid...trying to sell his stuff...for one dollar.

ciao
Silvio

PS: see my Angkor shots in my gallery if you like....

dkeus31 (26320) 2009-03-20 4:52

Hi Alfred
nice moody picture, the soft tones, also the two diagonales make the picture here!
regards
didier

Flavia (10202) 2009-03-20 6:15

Hi Alfred,

This is perfect! Lovelly picture. The sunset colours are so beautiful and the playing kid silhouette is just great! Lovelly composition and perfect light management. Bravo

Regards,

Flavia

TAEvents (4754) 2009-03-20 7:32

Hello,

Nice pov for this picture, i like the sky color and the black of the people. Well done !
Have a nice day,

Thierry

cherryripe (19097) 2009-03-20 12:05

Hi Alf
This scene is so striking thanks to the shapes of the silhouettes, especially that of the boy on the right. The branches fill the corner up nicely. The light is really beautiful and the way the long clouds converge on the background add depth.
Regards
Nikki

chawax (6142) 2009-03-20 12:30

Hi Alfred,
Great picture ! I desperately try to find something wrong in this picture, but all is perfectly done ! I love the way you use silhouette of the people and of the tree. The contrast between the three people looking at the sea (river ? lake ?) and the boy looking for them catches our attention to the main scene of your composition. The light and the colours are fantastic. Sharpness is excellent too. Excellent work !
Regards,
Olivier

jusninasirun (10211) 2009-03-20 21:28

Hi Alfred,

You are very good in making excellent picture with the sky and the people in it. This is just brilliant silhouette captured in the ambiance and glow that are so gorgeous. TFS and have a great weekend.

Thanks for you kind hospitality and looking forward to seeing you in Kedah :-)

Regards,
Jusni

Kielia (8659) 2009-03-22 8:36

Hi Alfred,
if we did not know better than this might be the illustration of a fairytale. Excellent capture with a great atmosphere. The light and the colors are fantastic. And your note is also very interesting. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

sacimar (7592) 2009-03-22 20:05

Hi Alfred,

Superb! great picture, the colours and tones are amazing and the silhouettes are really beautiful, congratulations!

Regards

Sergio

phwall (5695) 2009-03-23 0:00

Hello Alfred,
Nothing to add other than.......perfect.
Cheers
Peter

adores (15701) 2009-03-23 17:28

Hi Alfred!
Seems the day starts really early there:)! The moment is perfect and you captured the silhouettes really well, especially with those colours of the sunrise in background. But seems the tourists were too busy enjoying the sunrise and taking photos :)!
Very good capture!

hispic (7399) 2009-03-23 19:54

Hi Alfred,
You have shot a superb image again, wonderful silhouette in the attractive sunset has been rendered with beautiful black. The outline of the boy is especially excellent, and applying white fringe around silhouette is also exquisite.
Regards, Hisashi

everlasting (10938) 2009-03-26 5:20

This is not just another sunrise shot, its a perfect daily life shot at the beginning of the day. Great colours and silhouettes. The added detail of the little boy with his wares is very nice.

avene (11080) 2009-03-29 21:10

hi Alfred,
certainly no the typical sunrise photo, I like a lot how you have chosen to use the distinct silhouettes of the kids against the gorgeous sky to tell the story of early-hour business. quality is impeccable, excellent work.

best,
Kristine

axiotea (16227) 2009-04-02 19:16

Salamat datang Alfred ;)
Those silhouettes are very attractive, especially the one of the little seller showing his handicraft. The sunrise colors are simply beautiful and with the silhouetted elements, it provided a great contrast.
You were lucky the boy talked to you in Mandarin...it reminds me the day we went together for dinner, the waiter did not speak English but Mandarin too!
I'm going back home, end of the afternoon, but Laurent will stay some more time in Bangkok.
Cheers
Marilyn
BTW, your picture of the painting has been remove? it is a pity because I think it was very interesting, especially with the informative note....I wish, I had copy it...

devimeuxbe (56188) 2009-04-23 23:27

Hello Alfred
Veru beautifull shadow close to the Tonle Sap. I like this colors. Well done
Bertrand

Bruno40 (6442) 2009-04-25 22:54

Hi ALfred,
Many years ago I took a photo in this place as well, but yours is far nicer. very nice composition and colors of teh sky. Goodnote too.
Well done
Jorge

sacavem (8421) 2009-05-08 7:37

Olá Alfred,

Very good hot colours. Good backlighting and contrast. This photo is really a postcard.
Well done.
Regards.
Filipe

fabianoleite (1477) 2009-11-19 18:12

The sillouetes of these folks contrasted with the great shades of red and orange were just amazing. Congratulations on the work of art. Cambodja must be a place full of beauties. Regards from Brazil.