Chin Schoolroom
We often complain about the sad situation of our school systems here in the United States. Recently, because of the deteriorating economic conditions, the schools in Oklahoma have taken a beating in the funding needed to provide adequate education for our children. I personally think it is a travesty what we pay teachers, especially [...]
Chin Refugees in Malaysia
I’ve been back from Malaysia about a month now and still sorting through my pictures. I went with a group from my church to work with Chin refugees from Myanmar (Burma) who are residing in the slums of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Their situation is quite difficult, and their story is heart-wrenching. [...]
Man in Red
This distinguished man was one of several we saw at the clinic we set up at New Horizon, Guatemala.
[Notice that I've done some post-processing of the this photo by desaturating the background which was too "busy" and distracted from the main subject. Get rid of distractions when possible.]
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Crayon Holder
This young budding Kekchi artist from the village of El Aquacate in the Petén region of Guatemala first showed off his artistic work, then he wanted me to see the tools of his new found pleasure.
[Typically, you want to focus on the face of a subject, but occasionally you might want to highlight something [...]
Milling Corn
It’s time to mill the corn so that mother can make fresh tortillas. This Kekchi family stands in front of the mill. Inside a machine grinds the corn for them.
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Girl in a Field
This little Kekchi girl watched me from afar across a field. Behind her a bluff rises to a few thatched-roof huts where she lives.
[The eyes are drawn to color. Grabbing color in an otherwise colorless background makes for an interesting shot.]
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Girl in Doorway
I caught this beautiful Kekchi girl sauntering past the side door of the village church.
[Combining elements gives photographs more interest. A photo of this girl by herself, though very cute, would not be nearly as interesting as this one of her in front of a door with great character. Similarly, a photo of this [...]
Man with a Floppy Hat
This Kekchi man from the Peten region of Guatemala waited patiently for his turn to see the doctor. I love the hat and the ruggedness of his face.
[Always look for the light when taking photographs. I had spotted this man earlier but waited until he turned his face toward the light.]
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Taking a Shower Guatemala Style
I take my warm morning showers for granted. Cold water from a barrel doesn’t sound like much fun. This boy, however, seems to find great delight in it.
[Always have your camera ready to catch fleeting moments. Also, I took this in burst mode where I was able to take several shots simultaneously. This was [...]
Sacks of Grain
This little girl stood watch over the sacks of grain stacked in front of a shed while her father and others worked inside.
[More often than not, the subject should not be in the center of the photograph.]
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Young Entrepreneur
This young entrepreneur was trying to make a living selling pre-peeled oranges outside a restaurant. I didn’t buy one of his oranges, but payed him a little to pose for me.
[I don't make a practice of paying people to take their photographs. I would go broke quickly. However, I think all photographers need to [...]
Full of Joy
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all recapture the joy of childhood?
[When you point a camera at most people they feel the need to pose. Some great shots can be taken that way, but look for candid opportunities as well. Candid shots capture emotion in ways posed shots can never do.]
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Girls on a Stoop
Boredom is a universal condition. These girls watched with what appears to be little interest as the foreigners talked to the elders in their village.
[I would have missed this great shot if my attention had been solely on the village meeting that was taking place with the adults and elders. Photographers must continually scan [...]
Pregnant Women in Waiting
These beautiful women sat waiting their turn in the birthing room of a Ghanaian hospital. The one in the back was extremely uncomfortable and in constant motion looking for a comfortable position. The light from a nearby window caught the one in the front finding her personal serene place as she waited.
[Still photography captures [...]
Man in Door
This man was proud to pose before his home in a remote Ghana village. I took this shot when we first arrived. As we were leaving I noticed he had changed clothes into his best garment and was posing again for another picture. I took another shot but liked this one better.
[I like the [...]
Boy in Window
Windows are traditionally used for looking out of the building. In this case, this young Ghanaian boy peered into the small block church building at me.
[Unique windows make great natural frames for photographs. Capture the opportunities when they present themselves.]
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Siblings in a Window
These siblings watched the strange Americans through the open window of their home while we walked past. We were in a small village in the mountains of Guatemala. It’s possible we were among the first Americans they had ever seen. Each of us view the passing world with curiosity from the windows of our [...]
Peeking Girl
[The eyes! Always focus on the eyes, especially when you can catch the sparkle of reflection!]
I caught this girl spying on me while I was roaming outside a gathering of Ghanaian villagers. You may not be able to see it in this posted version, but when the images is viewed at 10 mega-pixels I [...]
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