The Image: I took over 4000 images on this trip to the Philippines, my forth in 2 years. This slum leaves me in both despair and hope. We are making a difference here as a church, and though it's slow, it's one life at a time.
The image has its flaws. I don't like the cropping as I have trimmed feet and legs, but I do like the moment that has been captured.
The depravity and stench these kids live in everyday changes you.
I CAME WITH HOPE.
I handed 400 printed images to the children of the slums from my last trip. The smiles on their faces were unforgetable.
I CAME WITH FRIENDSHIP AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
The families now know me and are so open to have me come in and sit with them, pray with them and encourage them.
The Edit: I worked with layer/multiply/masking to work a Joey Lawrence look, but I did it on my Tablet PC and that's never a good thing! But I had nothing else here in Tacloban, Philippines. I did one in colour originally, but the B and W conversion worked better, in my opinion anyway.
The Prediction: Can't predict this one - either 6 or high 6's. Depends on how people view the edit and crop and how it meets the challenge. I 'HOPE' it does well, because I need to get my MOJO back!
POST: This ribbon means a great deal to me as the place and the children of this slum had their spirits lifted when I arrived with 400 prints of images I took last year. They are the poorest of the poor and we are doing great things there.
Thanks everyone for your votes and comments. Enzo
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 128 Avg (all users): 7.0604 Avg (commenters): 8.6667 Avg (participants): 6.6957 Avg (non-participants): 7.2233 Views since voting: 9613 Views during voting: 297 Votes: 149 Comments: 77 Favorites: 14 (view)
Tremendous image...haunting and yet hopeful.
Keep fighting the good fight - all for His glory!
Oh yeah, congratulations on the little virtual splash of blue too. : )
I must confess I didn't pay much attention to this one during the voting, on all that frenzy to get through all images...
One needs to quiet the heart to really appreciate it...
I now can't stop gazing at this image as a whole and, specifically, on the children's expressions.
Beautifully composed (I don't think the crop is an issue at all) and mastered post-processed.
Congratulations!!!
Lovely photo - I can imagine the children's reactions - the parents must have loved them too. What church is it? Are you a Latter-Day Saint? What do you do with all the photos you take - I wondered if it for the Church's humanitarian efforts. I know the Gospel changes people - I suppose it is true that the World's way is to take people out of the slums, but the Gospel takes the slums out of the people, who then take themselves out of the slums. My concern is always a worry that the nice expensive camera with which I photograph a bad situation might have been better used to improve the situation of the person photographed, but then, who would know about the bad situation? I come down on the side of photographing the situation, and then the response of the viewer can bring in more than the cost of the camera, and more people can help. If you let me know what church, I would be interested to help. You can send a private email for contact details if needed, of course. Anyway, beautiful shot, lovely exposure, good spirit on the day, I can see.
SOMETIMES A PHOTO APPEARS THAT MAKE ONE STOP AND THINK....
This is one of those photos..... love from shez
I have not commented on a photo that has moved me as much as this one. The emotion and the story it tells us speaks volumes to the viewer. As a thumb nail, I could not wait to see it enlarged. It deserved the 'BLUE' as it tells a story of 'HOPE' in an emotional picture form, without any words.
I love everything about this one Enzo, and I personally THANK YOU for sharing it with us..... love from shez
What a special image. I really like the mood and tones in the image. Congrats on your blue, but more importantly, making a difference in the children's lives.
This is a phenomenal photograph. I can only imagine what it would be like to do this sort of missionary work, but I bet it would be life-changing, to say the least. I read your comments on the image, and this is one of those images where your crop and technical factors don't really matter so much. What's in the image speaks much louder than its presentation. Excellent work :)
Awesome, Enzo! It is a beautiful photo. The kind that stirs my heart and the kind of photography that I am passionate about. But it is even a more beautiful story of what you are doing in the Philippines. I sponsor an "adopted" little girl in the Philippines that I've been supporting since she was 3, and she's almost old enough to be graduated from the program now, so I always have had a special interest in the Philippines, and wish someday I could go there myself. I'm glad you won first place with this wonderful photography!
Congratulations on the ribbon Enzo, its a very powerful shot - made even better by the story behind the scene. Keep up the great work you're doing out there, you're invaluable!
HI Enzo, nice to see you back on form. this is without doubt the best work you have done recently. So much emotional and great back-story - addding to faves.
Beautiful story to go with this fabulous photo (I love the processing.) Congrats on doing such a fine job of capturing your life's mission and passion. And congrats on the ribbon too!
Very good editorial capture. There is definitely a story here. I don't know that it says that hope has arrived, but I do think it leaves room for hope to come. Nice capture.
HOPE HAS ARRIVED : Saghakan Slum, Tacloban, Philippines
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
