Two Faces

[Kelly Ann Thomas]

My camera is a great ice breaker. Rarely have I met a kid who doesn't like to pose for the camera and then squeal with glee when their image is revealed on the viewfinder. I am about as important as the Virgin Mary in some communities, having taken hundreds of photos and getting them printed for people who have never seen themselves in a photo, let alone owned a copy. I feel guilty about this, that dozens of little kids know my name and I will never, ever remember the majority of theirs, and they are so grateful for an act of kindness that cost me less than $20 to have 200 photos printed in the States. It stirs up many emotions.

Anyhow, I was trying to get a good shot of this girl sharing her breakfast with the chickens when she turned her head and saw me. I changed it to black and white because it looks better that way.

http://www.picassodreams.com/.a/6a00d83455ad0369e20134809d3cac970c-800wi
Then she sees me. She sees my camera. She screams, "No! No! No! and runs to her mother, crying hysterically.

http://www.picassodreams.com/.a/6a00d83455ad0369e20134809d3eb7970c-pi

I haven't had a child react that bad to me since I dressed up as Medusa for the Haunted Hay Ride in Phoenix.

After a few frightening minutes, the mother said that a few months ago, doctors had come for a free child wildness program. The doctors befriended the kids, took pictures of them on their digital cameras, had a good time - and then gave the kids vaccinations. This little girl thought because I was white with a camera that I was a doctor and would give her a shot. She didn't calm down. I had to leave.

I returned a few months ago and reminded the woman of the vaccination story when all of a sudden the girl saw me and started screaming, "No! No! No!" I had my camera.

I returned a couple of weeks ago to pass out pictures to the community. I stopped at this house, but left the camera in the car. The girl loved her picture, even the crying one. "Recuerda me," I whispered. We tried to explain the camera story to her and the vaccination scare. When she heard the word, "Vaccination," her head jerked around, but I was unarmed. We left on friendly terms for the first time.

[Just Plain John Wayne]

Wow Kelly Great post.....;)

[tresfrijoles]

The other thing I have done on several occassions is scanned and repaired photos using Photoshop. So many people live in poor conditions, that most of their pictures are deteriorating. Fun to do, and the people that I have done it for are amazed.

[Kelly Ann Thomas]

The other thing I have done on several occassions is scanned and repaired photos using Photoshop. So many people live in poor conditions, that most of their pictures are deteriorating. Fun to do, and the people that I have done it for are amazed.

Thanks, 3F, this is a great idea. I think I will make that my June project.

[Danpolley]

Wow Kelly Great post.....;)

For sure :cheers:

[Daddy-YO]

I haven't had a child react that bad to me since I dressed up as Medusa for the Haunted Hay Ride in Phoenix.
What did you think of the Medussa in the movie 'Clash of the Titans', a totally awesome re-creation of the Gorgon monster, who's head was used to terminate the Kraken, a mega-worm with shark's teeth, while in the process of eating the classic Greek city Argos. We saw it at the theatre in León; it left my kids reeling with excitment.


a few months ago, doctors had come for a free child wildness program.
On first reading this, it made sense to me in a peculiar way. Kids can be kinda wild. Later it dawned (not the Alba kind) on me that it was probably a typo, for 'child wellness program'. Duh.

[bill_bly_ca]

having taken hundreds of photos and getting them printed for people who have never seen themselves in a photo, let alone owned a copy.
.

Chilo and I were discussing this recently.. It is priority one for the next trip...

IIRC you are a Canon shooter right??? Do the labs read CF cards OK or do you have to transfer to SD to have anything printed??

[Jonh]

On first reading this, it made sense to me in a peculiar way. Kids can be kinda wild. Later it dawned (not the Alba kind) on me that it was probably a typo, for 'child wellness program'. Duh.:doh: I didn't even notice the first time I read it! My mind saw "wellness."

[Dr. Demento]

:doh: I didn't even notice the first time I read it! My mind saw "wellness."
i read wildness and thought those same bastards had given that shot to my kids. they really are wild!

great post, kelly!

[StickMan]

...having taken hundreds of photos and getting them printed for people who have never seen themselves in a photo, let alone owned a copy. I feel guilty about this, that dozens of little kids know my name and I will never, ever remember the majority of theirs, and they are so grateful for an act of kindness that cost me less than $20 to have 200 photos printed in the States. It stirs up many emotions.

Good stuff. We take a Polaroid camera with us when we visit new mothers at Hospital Velez Paiz or Berta Calderon and take pictures of the newborns, and then leave them with the moms. This is getting tougher to do now that Polaroid 600 film is being discontinued though.

I have taken an inexpensive digital camera with me and walked neighborhoods many times taking pix of kids, and when I come back the following year I try to seek them out to give them prints. One neighborhood has become so accustomed to me doing this that when I show up, the first thing they ask is if I have photos for them. I try to remember as many names as I can, but it gets tougher every year.

Sometimes, the kids want to pose with me for their next year's photo and have someone else take the pic. I have also handed the camera to a local kid, had them take pictures of their friends, families, etc. and when they are done give it back to me. The bad part about this is that I don't know who they are pictures of as I didn't meet them. (Knock wood, I have never lost a camera this way.) I just have to find the photographer the following year and let them pass out the photos, or do like the attached photo and sit down while it seems the whole town crowds around to see if I have a photo of them.