My Christmas Gift, a photo from Uttarakhand, Nord

Photographer's Note

This was my gift to Marc Cloutier , on my participation on the Christmas - Photo trading
that Mário
put on the Forum. Thanks Mário - it was a great idea.

----------------------------

The day before the last one of my treking on the Himalayas (Curzon Trail), we passed a village (I don't remember the name - if someone knows, I'd apreciated), about 15 km from Ghat. As we passed through the village, many kids were attracted by the strange Western foreigners, and ran to us. Some of them were shy and others asked for photos.

These kids were playing on the school yard and one of them asked me for a photo. Than came another and another and in no time I had these 5 kids that were enjoying the moment as much as I was.

UPDATE
The name of the village - Ramni - Thanks to Sabyasachi.

carper, coco, pgorod, manatee, sabyasachi1212, ribeiroantonio, luisafonso, Gerrit, pablominto, Paolo, feather, Clairedelune, Vato_Law, siolaw, danos, axiotea, jhm, ChrisJ, xuaxo, john_c, bakes888, josepmarin, AiresSantos, touristdidi trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

carper (96) 2007-01-11 13:36

a pleasure Christmas gift, Ricard,
fine shot, good pov and very nice shot with a good light, very nice job.
gr. jaap

Polonaise (5802) 2007-01-11 13:41

Judging by those incredibly happy faces....Can anyone call them 'poor kids' ?
How often we, the westerners, looking upon those (seemingly) poor kids in many parts of the world...We jump to the conclusion : Oh, how less fortunate those kids are...!
And every time I want to shout:
"Live and let live".
Let them be happy in their own way...
Let them be grumpy as we, adults are...later on, in their life.
Salute, Ricardo.
Thanks for the wonderful post.
g.

all the best in 2007

gilou530 (34) 2007-01-11 15:52

salut ricardo
magnifique ce portrait de ces enfants joyeux d'etre pris en photo belle netteté et la contre plongée donne une image originale, bravo
amitiés
gilbert

coco (30439) 2007-01-11 15:55

Hola Ricardo.

It looks beautiful.
Their smiles and faces.
One of your best photos, at least for me.

Thanks for share your experiences from the India.

pgorod (1019) 2007-01-11 18:01

Excellent group portrait, Ricardo, you caught these kids right in their "natural habitat" and we can see the joy in their souls.

jmdaoudal (82) 2007-01-11 18:33

This is a very nice and friendly gang.; You have done well in having them in this pposition.
A good one with colors and the background of an interesting building;
I like it
jean Michel

manatee (4668) 2007-01-11 19:21

Very nice I like the idea about trade a a picture, I would like to do it in the future, this is interesting.
About the picture my friend, I dont know if you know but work with children and I always enjoy see them, makes me feel so happy, maybe is my paternal side, even I dont have a childen, but I like them. This kids looks so happy, even the poor of them clothes, they dont care, maybe they never has see them an ipod,videos, mp3,dvd, but they dont need it to be happy.
So when somebody cath this happiness in a pic this turn in a wonderful picture. So even if the sky is so gray and looks like soon will rain, the faces and the smiles erase this and makes all the picture shine, if you see, there is the sun in their sides, so this is wonderful.
Ricardo, have and exelent day and the thank you for let us sharing this amazing pictures.

Sincere:

Elias

Angshu (56760) 2007-01-11 22:51

Ola Ricardo
Love this shot..this exudes happinness...your low POV creates a magic as the kids look down with beaming faces. Is this one of your best photos? maybe, maybe not...but I really like this a lot. The kid on the left does not look local. Who's he?
Friendly Regards
Angshu

Graal (103040) 2007-01-12 2:39

Hi Ricardo,
fine reportage and portraits in one. I like the natural smiles of kids. Good colours. Well done.
Gr., Aleksander

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2007-01-12 3:43

Como se pode ver, não são os jogos de computador que fazem maravilhas. Eu diria mesmo o contrário. Acho que já não se consegue encontrar crianças com estes sorrisos no mundo ocidental. Estes são genuínos. Gosto muito da tua foto pelas cores, pelo ponte de vista que eleva as crianças e pela composição excelente.
António

luisafonso (862) 2007-01-12 4:56

Grande foto Ricardo. Talvez tivesse exposto um pouco mais pelas caras das crianças que estão um pouco nada escuras aqui no meu CRT do trabalho. Mas fora esse piqueno :) detalhe está muito bom. Grande carácter e como o George disse, isso de a malta chamar pobre a algumas crianças (e pessoas) do dito terceiro mundo, tem muito que se lhe diga. Pobre nunca de espírito. O teu pov é fantástico. Quando lá voltares tens de levar uma cópia impressa para lhes dares.

Gerrit (59968) 2007-01-12 5:54

Hi Ricardo,
a joyful and relaxed group portrait of these boys really having fun.
Regards, Gerrit

sabyasachi1212 (19779) 2007-01-12 7:25

Hi Ricardo,
Beautiful group portrait, the kids are such a joy to photograph for their unpretentious smile. Good low POV. Could this be the Ramni village as one is coming down towards Ghat?
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

pablominto (53746) 2007-01-12 8:50

Hello Ricardo,
As always with a group of kids this age... Interesting to study the different attention!
Here it seems like 4 out of 5 focus on the camera...
Informal poses and great expressions are captured, well done!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Paolo (41258) 2007-01-12 9:09

Fantastic portraits Ricardo!
there's a world of joy in the faces of that children, maybe with poor dress, old shoes and dust everywhere, but a smiling child is the most beautiful thing of the world.
excellent picture.
thanks, ciao and have a nice w.e.

feather (51130) 2007-01-12 9:52

A truly wonderful shot Ricardo. The children positively exude joy. They are pleased to have your attention and interest. What a shame you don't know the village as I'm sure they would love to have copies of this. Your low POV gives them prominence and importance.
Kath

Clairedelune (4923) 2007-01-12 21:38

Hello Ricardo!
Maybe you will find me strange to start my 'critique' with that, but the first thing I want to say is that I really like the subdued colors of your photo here. It's nice sometimes to have something sweet for the eyes! Something soothing. That way, I can look longer to these kids. I will not repeat what others have said better than me about children, smile, innocence, joy, and the rest. That is so obvious! A pleasure!
There is big, dark, clouds in the sky, but look at that sun on their faces! ;)
Marc is now an happy man!
Claire

Vato_Law (12732) 2007-01-13 5:03

Olá Ricardo,
excelente! os putos cheios de alegria por lhes tirares uma simples foto, são estas pequenas coisas que ajudam a criar as memorias quando se viaja, especialmente para estes paises 'ditos terceiro mundistas'. As expressões nas caras deles estão excelentes, o resto é mesmo paisagem e só ajuda a dar-lhes mais evidencia.
Um abraço.
Paulo

PixelTerror (0) 2007-01-13 5:10

Ola Ricardo,
A joyful band you met on that day, nice and equally joyful photo, looking just at them it would be difficult for me to name their country so looking at the background building with the writings is helpful to provide context, and you mastered the challenge of exposing the whites on it correctly.
Have a nice day,
JEan-Yves

siolaw (38294) 2007-01-13 8:32

Ola Ricardo,
Nice Indian chilren photo, with all their curiosity well shown, interesting low POV, good colors and textures and superb expressions of the kids
Laurent

jinju (14265) 2007-01-13 10:15

Hey Ricardo,

George is right, lit and let live. Besides, they dont look poor, they look happy. Are they poor? Maybe by our western materialistic sense Then again they are rich in that they have their childhood. A very heartwarming photo youve given us and Im sure Marc will love it.

ninaL (21348) 2007-01-13 10:54

Excellent shot with the smiling boys sitting with a unusal background. Best regards. Grazyna.

danos (110407) 2007-01-13 11:20

Hi Ricardo,
The smiles and faces of these five children are marvelous.Excellent colours with these unaffected smiles and nice lighting are the strong sign of this photo.
Friendly,Danos

axiotea (21651) 2007-01-14 1:59

Salut Ricardo,
Well chosen POV to show us the kids who seem to have a lot of fun. Is the house on left side, behind them a school? I like as well the cloudy sky and framing.
Cheers,
Marilyn

ChrisJ (159918) 2007-01-14 8:55

Ola Ricardo

Good group portrait of these happy kids. I like the mock Frankenstein grimace of the the one on the left, second from the end. Tfs!

parbo (11092) 2007-01-14 9:52

Olá Ricardo,

You received a lovely gift. I like their smiley faces and sincere poses a lot. You captured the frame very cleverly because your lower POV is adds great view of them from bottom and their background too. Congratulations.

Friendly Regards,

Ertugrul

xuaxo (6854) 2007-01-14 10:22

Olá Ricardo,
Hoje não tenho tempo para apreciar as fotos em atraso, por isso fico-me por esta.
É um magnífico retrato das crianças na sua alegria. Lá atrás parece uma escola, talvez.
Eu gosto da nota, com uma ressalva. Eu não sou pelo politicamente correcto, mas porque é que os turistas neste local são "white foreigners"? Estes meninos são tão "white" como muitos portugueses que eu conheço; o da esquerda até parece mais é do leste da Europa.
;-)
F

Manamo (3710) 2007-01-14 12:09

Bonjour Ricardo,
I had already sent you a critique of this one, but I want to add it here to the long series of praise on this nice photo. Oh, and I did not hang it on the ceiling:D
The smiles of the kids are so sincere. I like the one on the right, the one who's looking at the other. He represents the friendship and the complicity between those three. The two in the front and in the middle(the two with ropes) look like the 2 little jokers;they're the leaders in that small group. I would bet that it is one of these two who had the idea of asking you for a picture and who asked it first...The one on the left looks like a shy and good little boy. The
color of his hair contrasts with the one of the other four. Interesting! Did you notice how the 4 boys who are facing you squarely all have the same nose? The two on the right have the same black shoes and same ears and the ones on the left have the same
red shoes and also have the same ears. I know those are silly observations, but they seem so tight, like a family, a tribe, that it is hard no to make such observations.
I like how you placed them on the right and placed some space on the
left with that small building ending the picture with a perspective.
Superb photo and thanks a lot for this precious present!:D
Marc

sergio1 (12152) 2007-01-14 17:55

HOla Ricardo

Un gran retrato de grupo. Buena perspective y gran captura de sus sonrisas.

Saludos
Sergio

jhm (202871) 2007-01-15 5:46

Hi Ricardo,

A pleasure Christmas gift, this five boy see very happy, maybe are this young boys happiness in this circumstance, you took a very lovely image, very well done! TFS.

Have a nice day,
John.

silycat (611) 2007-01-15 15:09 [Comment]

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john_c (24666) 2007-01-15 18:58

Hi Ricardo,
The smiles on their faces really tell the whole story. I like the sharp detail and low angle POV, with a fine background. Enigmatic, inquisitive, joyous - these children hopefully will have a happy future. Well captured.
John

pitai (3985) 2007-01-15 20:24

Ola meu amgio Ricardo!!! Que imagem tao bonita e simpatica. Gosto muito da persectiva. Parece uma imagem 3D. A felicidade dos putos é mesmo contagiosa!!! Boa!!

banyanman (7797) 2007-01-16 3:55

Hi Ricardo. This is a lovely group photo, and I like the POV looking up to the top of the wall with the buildings in the background and the local signage/paintings helping to identify where this is. As you have no doubt found on your own travels, often the happiest kids that you come across are the poorest, and your photograph exudes these kids' happiness and fascination by your presence. Cheers . . . David

bakes888 (18499) 2007-01-16 4:00

Hi Ricardo. Great photo. Happy kids always make for great subjects. This is a well composed and timed shot. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

devimeuxbe (58557) 2007-01-16 4:48

Hi ricardo
nice and lovely scenery. A beautifull composition with an excellent POV.
Well done
BErtrand

josepmarin (59385) 2007-01-17 12:00

Olá Ricardo,
estos niños que te pidieron la foto están captados con gran detalle y calidad, y componen una imagen muy limpia y llena de simpatía y amistad, que se contagia en quien mira la foto. Me ha hecho sonreir, amigo mío.
Un abrazo,
Josep

rbcy1974 (20758) 2007-01-17 19:22

Hello Ricardo
Very nice angle capturing not just the children but the environment they live in.
Nicely done
Regards
Daniel

AiresSantos (56155) 2007-01-18 3:17

Olá Ricardo,
Um excelente captura. Magnificos os sorrisos e a expressao de alegria dos miudos.
Cores e definição muito boas.
Um abraço Amigo,
Aires

cepekdong (3676) 2007-03-25 6:56

really good poc and well place bg ( the house ) i like that you show some sky and the tree makes a natural frame ! the expressions of the boys are nice and tell stories ( like i said in ur china picture )

daniel

paura (25802) 2007-09-22 14:39

Ricardo,
Sua foto mostra porque se pode acreditar que um dia teremos um mundo com mais tolerância e mais harmonia: Crianças, em qualquer lugar do mundo, estão sempre a sorrir. Beleza de trabalho.

Paulo

touristdidi (8583) 2008-02-22 12:50 [Comment]

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jmdias (102770) 2009-10-03 3:15

ricardo

muito bonito este grupo de meninos, seus sorrisos brilham na cena. muito legal o ambiente ao redor, pov baixo muito bem escolhido, me faz lembrar as crianças de portugal nos anos 60, nas aldeias.fotografia muito bonita e bem feita, parabéns

abraços

jorge