One of the best pictures I didn't take

[Mike Smith]

I wouldn't trust most kids in Iraq with my camera, or anything else that I own. But in one special village, the kids are completely trustworthy. And while I won't let my camera out of my sight, I did let some of the kids practice their photography skills with it.

One of them captured this shot of me and a new friend.

I cropped it, sharpened it, and lightened her face. The kid did the rest.

1/400 seconds
f/3.5
ISO 100
22mm focal length

http://tinypic.com/dqt9jc.jpg

[Curtis N]

What a great shot, and the image tells a great story.

I hope we can convince the children of Iraq that we are their friends. We're not having such good luck with their parents.

Thanks for sharing, Mike. Keep up the good work!

[davidfig]

Neat shot Mike, and with the kit lens - no less.

She looks like she is really trying to tell you something important.

[storeman]

I get the impression that she is trying to teach you some of the local language. The hand gesture is reminiscent of my school language teacher trying to visualise the sound of the words.

The kid taking the photo certainly captured what must be a special moment for you.

[malla1962]

Another super shot.:D:D:D

[Airedale1]

Great capture Mike. Thanks for sharing it.

[Wildewinds]

awesome. Keep up the good work.

[JaertX]

great picture...something I'm sure you'll enjoy for a long time.

And thank you sir, BTW.

[Pinknee]

I love this shot. The story makes it special.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I love this shot too.. no better way to say it :)

Keep them coming Mike.. your an "official" hero in my book!

[dazzlebea]

Very touching, both the picture and the story. Thank you so much!

You mentioned that the kids in this village are completely trustworthy. What makes them so different from the others?

[Richard51]

I wouldn't trust most kids in Iraq with my camera, or anything else that I own. But in one special village, the kids are completely trustworthy. And while I won't let my camera out of my sight, I did let some of the kids practice their photography skills with it.

One of them captured this shot of me and a new friend.

I cropped it, sharpened it, and lightened her face. The kid did the rest.

1/400 seconds
f/3.5
ISO 100
22mm focal length

http://tinypic.com/dqt9jc.jpg That would make them just like kids everywhere else wouldn't it? Some are taught rightly, some are taught wrongly, but all are taught by example!! Great picture and great job you guys and gals are doing over there. Hope you can come home soon!! We are greatful to all of you.

[defordphoto]

Excellent. I love photos like these. Good work Mike. We appreciate you risking your life for that little girl's future.

[dgcorner]

Mike,

Thanks for sharing -- your picture conveys more than a thousand words could. Keep safe & keep well.

John

[Ineedhelp]

Superb picture, hope you tell the kid she's famous now too :)

Stay safe.

[DSMITH131]

Again great work LT

[jaypie77]

Wow, I really like the capture very much - it says so much, it really does speak volumes.

So, would I be out of line asking what exactly it is that you do over in Iraq where they let you bring your camera along?

[PhotosGuy]

That's a keeper!

[Desertraptor]

That one shot blows away all the crap we hear about the place.

[antiart]

Is this the same girl from the Abu Hassan village in the blue denim dress? I very much like this shot. The gesture of her mouth and hand just kills me. Shoulder and waist position is quite classic. However, unless it is your intention to convey a cramped space, I think you cropped it too tightly from the sides. What's the circular blemish on her cheek? Is it a real blemish or a shadow cast or photoshop blur..? I think if you're going to lighten her face, you should lighten her right arm and hand as well --especially since there is a highlight on her ring and pinky finger creating a huge contrast.

Anyway, she would make a great model. You should take some more pics of her. If you do, please share.

[Andy_T]

Mike,

that's a great shot and a great story to go with it :D

Thanks for sharing and good luck with your assignment!

Best regards,
Andy

[Darryl Baptista]

It's a prize winning photo,Mike keep on clicking ,keep on posting Darryl

Canon EOS 350D, EF S18-55mm f / 3.5-5.6, EF 55-200mm f / 4.5-5.6 USM, Speedlite 480EX

[Rob612]

I'll second everyone else. It's a great shot, keep them coming. And thanks for the great job you and your buddies are doing over there.

[ghettoFOBulous]

it tells a wonderful story

[Mike Smith]

Thanks to everyone for the comments. One of the problems with being "the" photographer is that I can't get any good shots of myself. I was surprised to find this one on my camera, and feel really lucky that I handed that kid my camera at that moment (unfortunately I can't even remember which kid took it).

You mentioned that the kids in this village are completely trustworthy. What makes them so different from the others?

I'm not really sure. The kids seem to be a little different in every village I go to. They're all good kids, but most of them have decided that the best way to get stuff from us is to beg. They ask for candy, food, money, shampoo, soap, anything we have. And they ask over and over and over. Occasionally I run into a kid that doesn't ask for anything, and those are the ones that I give stuff to.

In Abu Hassan, the kids really don't beg much. They occasionally ask for something, but they take no for an answer if I don't have anything. And they seem to enjoy just hanging out with us, regardless of what we give them. The also understand the difference between being allowed to play with something (my sunglasses or my camera) and being given those things. Some of the guys let the kids run around for hours with their P&S cameras, not really knowing where the camera was. But everyone got their cameras back before we left. I didn't let my camera go too far, but I did allow several kids to try it. A couple of them are surprisingly good photographers.

So, would I be out of line asking what exactly it is that you do over in Iraq where they let you bring your camera along?

I'm kind of a spare Lieutenant within my Troop, so I don't have a specific job. During the days, when I can, I go out on missions with the platoons. Lately I've been a driver for one platoon because they've been shorthanded. I always have my camera with me, and I'm really not restricted in what I can shoot. I just have to use common sense in how I use the pictures.

At night, I work in an office with internet access, which gives me a good opportunity to edit and post the pictures I've taken.

Is this the same girl from the Abu Hassan village in the blue denim dress? ...I think you cropped it too tightly from the sides. What's the circular blemish on her cheek? Is it a real blemish or a shadow cast or photoshop blur..?

This picture was taken in Abu Hassan on the same day as the other. It looks like the same girl to me, too, but I can't tell for sure. The blue dress and white sleeves is the typical school uniform, and many of the kids changed clothes during the day. It's possible that she changed into this dress and came back.

The left side of the picture is the actual edge of the frame. The kid didn't frame it quite correctly in the camera. So I cropped the right side tight as well to balance it. The shadow on her face is just that. The lighting is tough there because the sunlight is filtered through trees. I lightened her entire head, including the hair (not the braid), but other than that I didn't do much editing.

[mdenigris]

God Speed. Return home safe.

[ctymom]

That certainly is a great shot! The kid could have a career ;)

Pamela

[Jon Foster]

That shot is really good. No it's awesome.

Jon.

[Titus213]

Neat shot! And thanks for showing us a side of this that we don't get to see anywhere else. I'm enjoying your images. And thanks for the job you are doing there. Stay safe, we are praying for all you folks.

[Isshinharu]

^^ Yeah that. :D

A friend of mine is on his way over there in a couple months. He's training in NJ at Fort Dix right now. Before he left a couple of us chipped in and got him a P&S Nikon, so hopefully he'll be able to send back some pics like this, and hopefully we can send him some because his wife is due in two months. You're all in my prayers.

[JMHPhotography]

This is a GREAT photo. the kid is a natural.

[lmelendez]

That's an awesome picture. I like it a lot.