The Minister and his house Photo

Photographer’s Note

A photo of a minister I interviewed during an environmental survey while in Liberia. He was living on very little, just a small plot of food and what he got from preaching.

The town he lives in is Camp 4, a former company town housing people working for Lamco, a mining company before the war. Lampco stopped mining when the war started, and non Liberians left the country. As with every town in Liberia this town was destroyed by either rebel or government forces, perhaps several times as various rebel groups came through.

The people in this site do not have farms and had the worst living standards I saw while traveling in the country. There is no mining or other major occupations in the area so people get by living in these vacated houses.

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leo61 (43100) 2009-10-08 10:02

HI Michael!
I should show this Geramy`s ministers who waste a lot of the tax I pay.........
Good shot of him and his house.
A pitty that the palmtree is cut.
Interesting note,too.
Regards,leo

Miha2ou7 (4889) 2009-10-08 12:36

Hey Michael,

Certainly it isn`t every day that one sees pictures from Liberia. I wanted to say that I`m a bit sceptical about minister living in such standards, but then ascertained we`re talking about a "preacher minister" not a government official (minister).
In any case, a nice picture, perhaps just a bit too highlighted in the background. Certainly a good motive, and a great backstory.
I`m thinking of getting a 18-200mm lens, I`m guessing it works nicely for you?

Best regards.

jhm (82017) 2009-10-11 3:00

Hello Michael,

Perhaps have to our ministers one look at to this image, and give 10% of them salary.
F/7 and 1/160 is a good exposure for this type of picture.
A pity for the people that always get back the war situations.
Compostion and colours are very well.

Greetings from Belgium,
John