digital Musings . . . . .
Myanmar series - Portrait #12
Posted by Helen (Melbourne, Australia) on 22 February 2007 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Although she agreed to the photo and she smiled, she could not look at the camera. I think the following poem by Chinese poet Po Chü-i (772-846) explains . . .
The Charcoal-Seller
An old charcoal seller
Cutting wood and burning charcoal in the forest of the Southern Mountain.
His face, stained with dust and ashes, has turned to the color of smoke.
The hair on his temples is streaked with gray: his ten fingers are black.
The money he gets by selling charcoal, how far does it go?
It is just enough to clothe his limbs and put food in his mouth.
Although, alas, the coat on his back is a coat without lining,
He hopes for the coming of cold weather, to send up the price of coal!
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Helen's photography in print - Kicking the Dirt: Myanmar
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Dimitrios from ATHENS, Greece
I am wondering, after such an experience there how can you live in a modern industrialized country?
22 Feb 2007 8:34am
@Dimitrios: Ah, Dimitrios, you have nailed it .... the raw nerve, the Myanmar dilemma !
You can easily visit this country and be a 'tourist'. Believe me, I /we saw loads of them.
Or ... .... you can visit this country, live with and connect with these people and come to understand them and their Buddhist dilemma. If you do this you become the change agent. Myanmar is not over for me, my time there was a paradigm shift in my life. I hope my portraits have captured some of the trust and faith people bestowed on me.
Manuela Photography from Hainburg (near Frankfurt/Main), Germany
Such wonderful genuine face! Excellent.
22 Feb 2007 8:54am
Sidonie from Sydney, Australia
The whole post - photo, framing, and commentary - is so thoughtful, delicate, and intelligent. This is a beautiful series. (I'm wondering about the tartan headcloth ... a colonial relic?)
22 Feb 2007 9:28am
Jerry from Tampa, United States
Wonderful Helen! The image is a keepsake and a GREAT presentation! SUPER!!!!
22 Feb 2007 9:45am
Yvon from Meerkerk, Netherlands
Your portraits definitely show the trust and faith people gave you. That’s what makes your series extraordinary! I can imagine being back it's not over. I wonder in what way this trip is changing your life.
22 Feb 2007 12:02pm
ginger from Melbourne, Australia
I feel that this portrait allows us to be in touch with this womans world - the grim reality of her daily grind, that of all her family, yet the strength, the inner beauty that emanates from her ... A beaufitful shot, but very thought provoking.
22 Feb 2007 7:12pm
Bronnie from Christchurch, New Zealand
Your words above to Dimitrios shone through your photo's long before you typed them. I can see how profound this experience has been to you - and what a powerful series of images you've shared with us.
22 Feb 2007 9:08pm
seventhray from Wayland, United States
I look at her and see a beautiful woman that I admire. This photo stirs deep empathy with in me. Wonderful photo Helen! Thank you for posting this picture and thank you to the woman for posing for it!
22 Feb 2007 9:52pm
Evie Sears from Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Beautiful portrait. She has a lovely face and an engaging smile.
23 Feb 2007 1:56pm
Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada
Excellent - I love this about aminus3: bringing images from around the world home, wherever that may be. Thanks for the image, for your narrative, and for the poem - amazing how 1000 years ago seems like today.
25 Feb 2007 9:57pm
C!arch from Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam
How can u take portrait so well, Helen? I always have problem with my models. They can not be relax their body...; in some case, they run away! what a difficult work! :-)
18 Mar 2007 1:31am
@C!arch: Thanks for your comment. My models do not really pose. I seek spontaneity and naturalness when they are busy doing something. That is my challenge. I always ask, smile then shoot one or two shots after we talk. It is sort of natural coversation. I shoot quickly and from a distance using my zoom. It is over before it starts. Sometimes the best shot is the one I take after I show them the first one on the screen.
For you interest. You might like to look at the picture my friend Ginger took of the same person while I was talking to her here.
