Cambodia: The dinner is ready Photo

Photographer’s Note

"Copyright © – Attila Szili.
The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved."

The shot was taken during the boat trip in the late afternoon on the lake Tonle Sap, commonly translated as Great Lake. On the shot you can see one of the typical floating houses anchored on this lake. The main activity of the inhabitants of these houses is of course fishing. Three hundred species of freshwater fish in the lake ensure a livelihood for the many thousands of fishermen, who throw their nets from small wooden boats in centuries-old traditional way. Here you can see a mother serving dinner to her child waiting for it, in a really comfortable position.

The left side of the hut seems to be more enlightened than the opposite one, but it's only because of the white smoke coming from the lady's "kitchen". There was a smell of fried fish in the air...

Some infos about the lake: the Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997. The area of the lake depends of the seasons and varies from 2,500-3,000 square kilometers in the dry season to 10,000-16,000 square kilometers in the rainy season.
In the flood season, water covers surrounding forests, regulating agricultural production by ensuring that the countryside is provided with fresh, fertile silt for rice cultivation.
The Tonle Sap ecosystem is the main source of animal protein for more than 1 million people living on and around the lake.

Seiei, vincz, sothy81, KevRyan, broglia, cunejo200, axiotea, Albrecht, teutza, partha, siolaw, danyy, prezntime, branley, Serendipity, turkamerikali, lacroux, paura, maximage, leiju, parbo, Gerrit, ksvijayb, AiresSantos, tjanze, papagolf21, Paolo, HOBO, sufi, andante, syd1946, Rosa_d_MonteLua, hitesh, leo61, Photo65Net, Cricri, dorte_s_t, Buin, alekpet, jaja1970, Vato_Law, ahmetgedikli, sam224, TeresaT, MLINES, Rev, Graal, kermit350, imrek, riclopes, flory, edytungkal, danos, giorgimer, meb, apucci ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

Seiei (424) 2006-11-05 9:53

wow floating house !! Really not common
Dont espect that so an house exist

Really a nice shot, thx

Regards

vincz (19043) 2006-11-05 9:59

This is an extremely strong shot, likely one of the strongest I have seen from this place, showing a serious humanitarian issue with Cambodia's ethnic Vietnamese population. When I was there, I was not really prepared to discover such floating misery as Thanh N'guyen (ngythanh) calls it in his theme Chong Kneas — the floating misery.

sothy81 (8536) 2006-11-05 10:02

Hi Attila:

This is an amazing picture you got. A postcard picture indeed showing a typical floating house. Very well done. Sothy

KevRyan (22418) 2006-11-05 10:06

A remarkable image Attila and such a fascinating note - really great TE combination - this is what makes this site so special alongside getting to know people and their work - great colour quality too - it has the feel of an old National geographic image.

Great work. Best wishes Kev

cunejo200 (7193) 2006-11-05 10:27

Hi Attila,
This type of daily life scene photo reminds us how lucky some of us are. A well captured image showing the mother preparing dinner and the boy looking at his mom in an improvised plastic boat. Well done. Best regards. Danilo

jasmis (50673) 2006-11-05 10:28

Really exotic photo. Superb sharpnes and extraordinary colours. Interesting note, too. Regards.

axiotea (16171) 2006-11-05 10:39

Hi Attila,
A strong daily life photo with the mother feeding her kid in her floating house in the middle of Tonle Sap lake. An informative and beautiful note as well...
Cheers,
Marilyn

Albrecht (11155) 2006-11-05 10:52

Hi Atilla
Absolutely unbelievable conditions;what a sad picture, but interesting to see and make you think of how lucky we are here....Thanks for sharing.
greetings from Holland
ALBRECHT

teutza (10564) 2006-11-05 11:02

Hy Attila,
this a really stunning view.....it is sad to see this...
it'a a tough lesson ..for us..who maybe want to buy a better camera...and have no money...but thinking of them..those who have no monney at all...it really makes you think twices of what to wish for...
TFS!
teo

partha (13657) 2006-11-05 11:17

May be it is not technically so correct, a little bit oversharpened, the colour balance and tonality is not the best one BUT the subject u have chosen has so strong that we can neglect those.
A valuable note as well.
Partha

danyy (69147) 2006-11-05 11:53

Hello Attila,
dire qu'il y a des gens qui vivent dans de telles conditions. Un photo qui trahit ces conditions et qui nous choquent, nous toujours confortablement installés et dans un certain luxe.
Sur le plan technique, rien à redire.
Regards.
Daniel.

prezntime (3945) 2006-11-05 12:01

Hello Attila.
Marvellous. it is a wonder to see the different homes that people inhabit around the world. Certainly this is one of the most unique. It is also a great moment captured; the child looks up at the mother from its floating tub...incredible. Again, the color is very interesting. Parts look almost B&W, with nice color showing elsewhere. This combination gives a very timeless feeling to this photograph.
Great shot.
Regards,
Chris.

branley (3681) 2006-11-05 14:05

Hi Attila,

this is a strong image showing a way of life unknown to the vast majority of us. Forget the technical aspect of the shot, just the subject matter gets my vote. A sad image but a great one.

Regards

Stephen

albertopiubello (2591) 2006-11-05 14:09

Ciao Attila,
qui la stagione delle piogge non vuol saperne di finire cosí sto navigando un po' in TE.
La tua foto è un capolavoro tecnicamente parlando ma mi fa pensare molto... per quanta gente ancora oggi la vita è un combattimento quotidiano molto duro. Sono stato in Cambogia quest'anno ed ho trovato un paese magnifico con gente molto ospitale nonostante la durezza delle condizioni di vita.
Ciao!
Alberto

Serendipity (1045) 2006-11-05 14:34

Wow ! une photo vraiment excellente, composée comme un tableau, et qui donne une bonne idée de la vie sur l'eau au Cambodge.

turkamerikali (4772) 2006-11-05 15:16

Hi Attila,
Excellent Daily Life shot from Cambodia.
Awesome pp work,great pov,colors,pov,dof,frame,note,focus,sharpness and timing.Bravo!
Tolga

paura (38742) 2006-11-05 16:07

Incredible shot, Attila. Nice subject and fine details on this photo. Amazing the precarious conditions of this construction.

Abraços do Brasil

Paulo

Fis2 (46057) 2006-11-05 16:16

Witaj Attila!
Interesting photo. Good idea, curious effect. I like the frame and colors. Very curious "object". Well done.
Pozdrawiam
Krzysztof

maximage (13490) 2006-11-05 16:35

Bonjour Attila,
Une image complètement allucinante!!
Une misère pareille, comment est-ce possible?
Amitiés.
max

gilou530 (35422) 2006-11-05 17:01

salut attila
remarquable cette photo, technique au point a voir ces conditions de vie ca fait réfléchir, bravo
amitiés
gilbert

leiju (1683) 2006-11-05 17:15

What a powerful shot! I'd never known the floating houses really looked like... floating houses... *ignorant little girl* :D Amazing shot, really. I don't quite know what to say. It's quite perfect.
The quality of the shot is also quite interesting with the shadows that have been "brought to light". It adds a whole range of textures to the scene that wouldn't look like that otherwise. Excellent shot!
TFS! Julia

parbo (11000) 2006-11-05 17:54

Hello Attila,

I didn’t see all photos here but your photo is one of heavy photo in TrekEarth. I’m still thinking what I can write for your photo but I couldn’t find anything till from morning. This is what a poor life at middle of water only for few pieces of fish. How this boy will grow up and how he will become en educated person? Very sad, very shame. How we lucky some of us are here. Many thanks for sharing your photo with us my friend. Congratulations.

Friendly Regards,

Parbo

Giorgio (8730) 2006-11-06 2:08

- Very curious composition but this picture speak to me, I like also the color traitment! well done!
giorgio

brevbrev14 (372) 2006-11-06 3:36

ciao Attila, mi piace molto la scena che hai inquadrato , davvero molto interessante!una realtà così lontana da noi!
Bel lavoro davvero!
Ciao!
Valeria

AiresSantos (42440) 2006-11-06 3:43

Really, very nice shot of this flating house, dear Szili !
Very good sharpness and colours. Excellent Daily Life shot from Cambodia.
Thanks and have a nice week,
Aires

John_F_Kennedy (31671) 2006-11-06 3:58

Excellent capture ! Very well composed, and the details, sharpness and lighting are superb.
Achim

papagolf21 (56483) 2006-11-06 4:06

Bonjour, mon ami Attila,
Une photo reportage excellente. Tout est dans la photo, la note aide à mieux comprendre la vie de ces pêcheurs.
Félicitations, mon ami Attila.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Angshu (33877) 2006-11-06 4:55

Hello Attila
Extremely strong photo..in fact remarkable. I like the exellent PP (partial desaturation?) you've done here highlighting the house & the baby. Very strong impact. Excellent my friend!
Regards
Angshu

Paolo (40731) 2006-11-06 5:05

Ciao Attila, bella foto, veramente insolita come soggetto per chi non è stato al Tonle Sap.
ottimo anche il lavoro di PP, con quei toni molto desaturati e con quel catino blu che brilla su tutta l'immagine.
ottima foto, buoan giornata.
ciao

HOBO (5244) 2006-11-06 5:27

Szia Attila,
impressing daily life view at this lake; off the beaten track...
Thank you for the perfect note!
Servus
Knut

sufi (9568) 2006-11-06 7:09

Merhaba Attila...
It's a impressive composition... It's incredible... It's like a part of the science-fiction movie... So dramatic and afflictive...
I can't find anything to say...
TFS...
Stay well..
Salim.

jhm (82879) 2006-11-06 7:39

Hi Attila,

What a very good shot, excellent capture, what a life for this people, this type of daily life scene photo reminds us how lucky some of us are, as I see this than I'm rich also when I here are poor, thanks for this wonderful shot. Thanks for sharing.

Have a nice day,
John

vinicio (22416) 2006-11-06 8:17

Foto e posto interessanti Attila, questa gente vive in una situazione particolare, bella la nota e bella la foto anche se avrei da commentare sul risultato del processo con cui l'hai preparata, ma mi sembra di abituarmi nel vederle a questo tipo di produzione, inizio ad apprezzare la loro diversità dalle foto che escono dalla mia fotocamera, complimenti.
Ciao
Vinicio

andante (7092) 2006-11-06 8:42

Not only a great photo in every aspect. It is a great piece of photojournalism. Love the treatment you've given the image. Just can't stop looking at it.

Cheers,
Enrique

syd1946 (17931) 2006-11-06 8:50

Hi Attila,
I am impresed from this composition.Indeed a very dramatic scene with these more dramatic and saturated colors.Like a scene from a novel you made a great work here.A favorite!

My compliments,

Thomas

Rosa_d_MonteLua (1504) 2006-11-06 8:55

Hi Attila!
Very well captured moment of daily life!
Impressive colors that reinforces the social context. Good light and sharpness, which contributes to general transmitted idea of misery.
Very well done!
TFS and have a nice day,
Rosa

hitesh (594) 2006-11-06 10:29

Hi Attila,
This is the first time I have seen a floating house.The shot is impressive and the tone effect is superb.You are a great artist my friend.Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Hitesh

zizzer77 (721) 2006-11-06 10:29

Fantastic shoot!

coco (27948) 2006-11-06 11:26

Hi Attila.
Really a capture very important because of the scene that we can see.
Anyway I am not any sure about the postprocessing.

Regards.

leo61 (43438) 2006-11-06 13:07

Hi Attila!
A good documentary shot and interesting color technique.I like it.It ia a sad view and hard to understand how people have to manage their live under these conditions.
I had no tour on the lake ,only the lift from the village to the ferry to Phnom Penh and I saw many of these floating houses,but in better condition.
Regards,Leo

Photo65Net (43096) 2006-11-06 13:29

Hi,
Very impressive "reporter-like" pic !
I like the PP and your play with the colours.
Good job,
JB.

toto (18731) 2006-11-06 14:42

Très belle photo,quelle richesse ils ont dans leur pauvreté. Thomas

Cricri (43304) 2006-11-06 16:25

Bonsoir Attila,
La note nous permet mieux de comprendre la vie quotidienne de ses personnes "flôtant" sur l'eau,
triste réaliter
belles couleurs, lumiére, POV
amitiés
cricri

lacroux (3166) 2006-11-07 1:32

One of the most intense pictures on this subject, though they are numerous.
Technically perfect. The black and white of the sea gives the picture a stronger accent of sadness.
And yet, the lake's people eat their fill, the area being a source of proteins.
But, what living condition !

dorte_s_t (2285) 2006-11-07 2:02

Hello . Attila .
Amazing photo !!
With this splendid photo and your excellent note you show us the meaning of TE !
I am a bit wiser after having seen this photo and read your note .
A photo which really shows and makes one think about the different conditions of life in the world .
Thank you so much for sharing !!
My sincere compliments !
Greetings
Dorte.

Buin (37952) 2006-11-07 14:40

Hallo Attila!
In combination with the note a most interesting, impressive and a t the same time incredible photo in the best sense of TrekEarth!
Greetings from still sunny and warm Germany!
Frank!

alekpet (4659) 2006-11-08 4:47

Hi Attila.

Really nice documentary photo, colours are a bit degrade, but I like the tone to them. I think I can see a boat through the "window". :))

take care, Aleks

jaja1970 (1286) 2006-11-08 5:12

Hi Attila,

This is a wonderful boat! Great shot.
Beautiful to see.

Congratulatyions & TFS,

Jay.

siolaw (25794) 2006-11-08 10:30

Hi Attila,
Strange and unusual daily life scene! The partial desaturation works well!
TFS
Laurent

Vato_Law (11682) 2006-11-08 16:51

Hello Attila,
This a 100% TE shot! this one really shows us and gives us some more about how life is lived on other countries and civilizations rather than ours.
Love the the details of this photo as the treatment you gave to it. This try in HDR is IMO much better than your previous one with the photo light and exposure much more uniform,
Great shot my friend!
Cheers.
Paulo

ahmetgedikli (21968) 2006-11-09 1:16

Merhaba Attila,
Very interesting and amazing scenery. Very good daily life shot! Superb colors and details... Well done!
Have a nice day.
Ahmet

sam224 (5851) 2006-11-09 3:35

Interesting and at the same time dramatic composition: the conditions of life here must really be hard. I like the kid swimming in front of the house.
Good job. Thanks for sharing.

john_c (24635) 2006-11-09 10:29

Hi Attila,
I agree with Vincz that this is a really strong photo, displaying all of the colour and yet poverty of the situation. It also demonstrates how tied the poor are to water habitations of various kinds. Your perspective is most effective and the clarity of detail amazing....later.
John

tjanze (5674) 2006-11-09 12:12

Hi Attila!
A little funny photo,but I like it.Never see something like this.Kid in big plastic bucket..very unusual.I like it.Great composition and note.
Regards!

TeresaT (10733) 2006-11-09 18:05

Hello Atilla,
Certainly it's not a common house, but you capture this scene very well.
I really like the cild on the water.
Great PP with nice desaturated colours and a good light.
Regards
teresa

MLINES (10906) 2006-11-10 7:07

Hi Attila. Most interesting capture, something quite unlike so much of the other worlds most of us live in. Remarkable to see. TFS. Murray.

berek (28937) 2006-11-10 9:19

Hi Attila,
this is hard life composition. I like it very much. meaningful picture my friend. thanks for remembered . have a nice weekend.
Burak
my overall evaluation -> ****

Rev (1782) 2006-11-11 1:42

Hi Attila
Thank you for a very beautiful photo depicting life vastly different from many of us.
You have captured this wonderfully and, with many of your other photos, present us all with the opportunity to evaluate what we have and to appreciate the way of life of others.
Regards
Peter

efigesta (12181) 2006-11-11 7:16

Hi Attila
great shot here, your pov is fantastic and the light so nice
regards
manuel

Graal (58267) 2006-11-11 12:40

Jó napot Attila,
unusual view, an interesting reportage, good captured theme. I like the colours also. Well done photo.
Gr., Aleksander

kermit350 (8988) 2006-11-11 20:51

Hello Attila, the hut like principal subject and under a sky tormented and gray in the medium of no share still reinforces the description of this area and especially of poverty, and with this impression of the most total dilapidation which l`entoure still reinforces the impression of insulation by making of this pov a wild and isolated place, I is surprised by the promptness of the image, I find that this morbid environment that you wanted to show us is succeeded and impacts it pictorial with perfectly reached are goal, it is a quite sad truth of the life of tous.les.jours which you with captured, sincerely ................Hello Attila, la cabane comme sujet principal et sous un ciel tourmenté et gris au milieu de nul part renforce encore la description de cette région et surtout de la pauvreté, et avec cette impression de délabrement le plus total qui l‘entoure renforce encore l’impression d’isolement en faisant de ce pov un endroit sauvage et isolé, je suis surpris par la vivacité de l’image, je trouve que cette ambiance morbide que tu as voulu nous montrer est réussie et l’impacte picturale à parfaitement atteint sont but, c’est une bien triste réalité de la vie de tous les jours que tu à capturé la, bien amicalement

imrek (4) 2006-11-12 3:31

HI Attila,
an interesting house on the sea, good point of view and good PP work...well done!!!
regards,
imre

Budapestman (42328) 2006-11-13 17:17

Szia Attila!
Elképesztő fotó! Igazság szerint annyira elképesztett, amikor először megláttam, hogy mostanáig kellett emésztenem. De most sem tudok mit mondani, legfeljebb azt, hogy hihetetlen, milyen körülmények között élnek emberek! Ez a kép hetekre munkát adna egy vérbeli szociológusnak! Micsoda részletek! Egy sodródó élet egy sodródó házban. A gyermeket és a szegényes vagyonkáját meg vonszolja maga után. Igazából nincs mit mondani, mert a látvány nem igényel semmiféle kommentárt. Az ilyenfajta képek előtt szoktak döbbenten és némán állni a fotókiállításokon a látogatók. Meg én is. Olyan, mint egy hatalmas pofon: nincs mit hozzátenni, mert sokkol és megtörtént. Igazából az lett volna a legjobb, ha nem írok semmit, csak annyit: Köszönöm. A vizuális meg az érzelmi katarzis nem igényel kommentárt.

izmirli (3223) 2006-11-13 19:44

merhaba my friend attila
wonderful composition and very good note.beautiful interesting picture.
well done.best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

riclopes (33043) 2006-12-07 3:33

Olá Attila, what an increadible photo of the Cambodian daily life in this lake. This makes a big impact on my ordinary european daily life and that's what I like in your gallery. The look of this floating hut that seems to be fall apart at any moment and the place where the kid is standing make this a wonderful image. Really interesting! Tfs,
Ricardo

MichaelTrezzi (3170) 2007-03-05 16:03

Hi Attila, this is incredible to see and photograph such an extraordinary house. It is like form a fairy tale. Nice composition and very interesting note. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Michael

flory (4804) 2007-03-06 0:56

szia Attila,
found this one,was impressed by this scene..a life on the sea...suppose...touching image with the mother feeding her child in such conditions..how lucky we are,indeed..
nice day,
flory

edytungkal (4519) 2007-06-24 22:58

Hello Attila
It's amazing view from The lake of Tonle Sap, i just imagine how can they live on a such simple floating boat like that and the boy just playing with his small boat waiting for his dinner. This kind of picture always make me sad and how lucky we are in the other better place. Excellent done Attila,
Thanks for shown us a different daily life from unusual place.

best regards
daniel

danos (32812) 2007-06-26 1:42

Hello Attila,
a really impressive shot of this corner of the earth.These persons live in a really sordid conditions that for our own data are something terrible.This type of daily life scene reminds us the way of our luxurius living compare for their living conditions.A well report photo.
Regards,Danos

giorgimer (21322) 2007-08-17 4:07

Ciao Attila,

visione incredibile, scene per noi molto lontane, l'inquadratura stretta permette di leggere tutti i particolari.

Bellissima!

Gio

meb (744) 2007-10-25 8:59

Hi Attila,
this amazing photo looks like an old postcard to me, the ones in black and white which were colored by hands. How did you get this result?
Of course this is a strong, moving picture, terrible in its reality and in my warm and well furnished home I wonder how can they survive? Will they? Floating misery is just the right definition.
Nevertheless, I must say, it is a wonderful shot.
Bravo, good for you.
Ciao
Marica