A Girl I Met.

This is Namfon (Rain Water in Lao), not her real name but the nick name she has adopted from the Lao language. She's of the Lanten ethnic group in far northern Laos near the Chinese border. She doesn't speak Lao but is teaching herself to read, write and speak Lao at night under a kerosene lamp.. Her English language is zero..

At 15 years of age she has never been to school and works in her mother's noodle shop in her remote village.. From the little money she earns, she is saving up to go to school, 30 kilometers away in Luang Namtha... Namfon wants to become a teacher to help the kids in her village to read and write but first she has to learn Lao language, which is the language of instruction..

She is often at loggerheads with her mother because she won't follow traditions, she won't pluck her eyebrows as all Lanten girls do once reaching womanhood..

I spent about 30 minutes with her, through a translator listening to her story.. She is one driven and optimistic young lady..

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No comments??

The first shot is done well. A very warm complimentary portrait.

mrgooch wrote in post #11945697
The first shot is done well. A very warm complimentary portrait.

Agree.

There is hope in her eyes... Nice Pictures, fantastic story. Congrats.

i like them both , very real

yogestee wrote in post #11888745
This is Namfon (Rain Water in Lao), not her real name but the nick name she has adopted from the Lao language. She's of the Lanten ethnic group in far northern Laos near the Chinese border. She doesn't speak Lao but is teaching herself to read, write and speak Lao at night under a kerosene lamp.. Her English language is zero..

At 15 years of age she has never been to school and works in her mother's noodle shop in her remote village.. From the little money she earns, she is saving up to go to school, 30 kilometers away in Luang Namtha... Namfon wants to become a teacher to help the kids in her village to read and write but first she has to learn Lao language, which is the language of instruction..

She is often at loggerheads with her mother because she won't follow traditions, she won't pluck her eyebrows as all Lanten girls do once reaching womanhood..

I spent about 30 minutes with her, through a translator listening to her story.. She is one driven and optimistic young lady..

Thanks guys

In both shots there is a shadow under the eye closest to the main light source which should not be there. The cure is too simply turn the head toward the main light until that shadow vanishes.

Benji

Benji,, these were not shot as a formal portrait.. I shot these as she was talking to me and to give instructions how she posed would have been impossible due to language difficulties..

Two great photos, I alway enjoy your work and the stories you add to with them when you do.

Jim

dynamite!

Thanks for your comments everyone