The Sand Mask, a photo from Batangas, Southern Tagalog

Photographer's Note

These are the same kids who posed for me for that watermelon smile. Like the first one, this was not a set-up shot. About 3 hours later, I went around again to look for some interesting scenes and I saw these two wrestling and rolling in the sand. I came near them again and their parents talked to them in their dialect (which I could not understand) and before I knew it, they were signalling to me to take their picture. It was with great pleasure that I took this shot along with many other candid and not so-candid poses. This was in a resort close to Punta Fuego in Batangas. Once again, after I took this shot, I was mobbed by many kids posing in various poses.

This shot is one of my personal favorites. The sand mask didn't hide their innocence and exuberance, their spontaneity and free-spirit. We can learn a lesson or two from them.

(Auto-adjustments, unsharp mask, lighting filter)

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Critiques | Translate

zto (268) 2004-01-06 6:55

I thought i recognized those children. They must have had a great time. I think i know what there parents were saying. "Children, look at your clodes, your not getting in the car like that" :).

I can understand it is one of your favorites. As you sy, their innocense show through the sand mask. You caught i nice moment.

joseelias (0) 2004-01-06 7:22

Funny shot! The light on this one is excelent! It enhances all the textures and colors very well.

Also your post-processing is very nice especially the darken efect in the photo edges. I must try this sometime...

AdiAdar (2500) 2004-01-06 7:27

you shuld take tose two with you and use them again. They are doing a grait job.

nwoehnl (122) 2004-01-06 7:28

We can definitely learn from them, Manny - if only we would. I had recognized them as the watermelon guys. The light is very nice on this one, I particularly like how it emphasizes the texture of the sand on the left boy's face. Another wonderful capture.

clodreno (0) 2004-01-06 7:28

very nice photo Manuel..I like it a lot. So you are talking to people now?

avigur_11 (22553) 2004-01-06 9:11

That's what happen if you eat watermellons and put your face in the sand afterwards. They are great actors, those kids, and you didn't lose the opportunity to take an excellent shot. good job.

BTW - did you use a flash?

Ebbe (9625) 2004-01-06 10:38

This is a funny pair! And your picture is as usual, perfect. I like to comment on their clean lips and eyelids, they seam to have done some experiments so they know how to close hard to avoid sand where it hurts.

Mireille (2604) 2004-01-06 10:47

Is it a new asiatic beauty mask ? Very nice shot Manny !

dsidwell (9783) 2004-01-06 11:04

IN this image, I really enjoy how the boy looking at us is more lit than the other child. It makes the shot a bit more dynamic and visually interesting. NIce, fun work!

ninadev (5377) 2004-01-06 12:16

Nice shot of kids playing in the sand, not worried by the problems of othe world. I like the shy look on the one to the right. I might have been tempted in making a tighter framing.

wtolyz (20) 2004-01-06 12:42

Beautiful and touching picture. Excellent!

flip89 (3418) 2004-01-06 12:59

The joys of childhood preserved. That's all I could say.

femkevdh (2633) 2004-01-06 13:04

How universal! (and local, because of their faces. Too bad that one kid is posing, but still great capture.

jrj (34843) 2004-01-07 6:28

The sand makes an interesting and kind of "different" portrait, but the total is as so often on your pictures, of this kind, in the line of the good composition Manuel

eleparc (24063) 2004-03-07 8:28

you make my day manny. discovering all these older shots from you...I wish everyday was a sunday to have more time going thru all those pics;-)