Susan Albert
May 2021 - Maasai Boys
About the Image(s)
August 2011 Canon SD890 f 3.5. 1/160 sec. ISO 80
In Maasai society, young boys are sent out to take care of calves and lambs and to mostly play. Once the boys are between the ages of twelve and fifteen they are chosen to take the rite of passage to become a warrior.
This is a photo of a blind boy milking a goat, while others either watch or wait their turn. After he finished milking, he offered the cup to me. I politely declined.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted
Susan, what a story in your image. It is admirable how people, specially kids adjust to their limitations and life goes on. The smile on the blind kid is beautiful, and the way the other kid is kneeling and looking directly at you is also great. It is unfortunate that you had to amputate the other two kids in the frame and some of the lambs. The colors are very vivid and the image is sharp. Posted: 05/05/2021 13:24:14
Susan, this is a great image!! The color and the interaction with the kids and goats. I can almost feel the giggling from your photo. Apparently, the kids were having fun and the smiles and colors are the most interesting thing in the composition.
My only suggestion to change your camera angle, especially when we shoot kids, it will be great to shoot from the kids' eye level. This will help to sacrifice the kids from the back. For this case, I would even use a wide-angle lens to emphasize the smiles and their facial expressions.
I laughed out loud when you refused the milk, is it fun for the travel? I wish I had the camera to capture your face.
Posted: 05/16/2021 22:28:03
My only suggestion to change your camera angle, especially when we shoot kids, it will be great to shoot from the kids' eye level. This will help to sacrifice the kids from the back. For this case, I would even use a wide-angle lens to emphasize the smiles and their facial expressions.
I laughed out loud when you refused the milk, is it fun for the travel? I wish I had the camera to capture your face.
Posted: 05/16/2021 22:28:03
Posted: 05/17/2021 07:44:23
I think you probably captured the best posible angle on this shot as you wanted to focus on the two children plus the milking adventure. The action, facial exressions of the children and bright color - all bring the focus to this area. As Pamela expressed - maybe lowering the viewpoint might have eliminated some of the surrounding images, but the child's expression nd posture of excitement sell this shot and create the story! Beautiful! Posted: 05/18/2021 06:46:37
Susan, what lens did you use? You couldn't have been too far away, judging from the angle. I was wondering why the depth of field is so great with f/3.5. That would point to a wide angle lens. Cropped? The expression on the little kid's face is priceless. Posted: 05/20/2021 13:57:06
Tom, The Canon SD890 is a small point and shoot. I did not crop the photo- I purposely composed the shot (excluding the heads of the two boys) to focus on the boy on the left and the blind boy milking the goat. Agree- his expression is wonderful. Brings a smile to my face. Posted: 05/20/2021 14:27:08
(Group 3)
Susan that boy`s expression is compelling, it looks very much like you had established a rapport with these villagers? Posted: 05/26/2021 05:00:06
David- We spent some time in this village before I started photographing the people. Our guide was familiar to them, so that was helpful to build trust relatively quickly. There was only one woman who refused to have her face photographed- she's the subject in the photo I submitted in April 2021. Posted: 05/26/2021 09:06:13
(Group 3)
You had a challenge there, she obviously would not be photographed, I have just gone back to April! Posted: 05/26/2021 14:15:55