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Jun, 2021Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in Bosthlan Village in Cambodia as part of my photography project UN-SEEN, living in a warzone for 30 years. I took this photo of the old mother, at that time almost 90 years old and her youngest son, sharing their tragic story of the bombing raid by US Airfare in 1970. They recall losing five young children, leaving one scarred for life. The bombing raid is one of the 115.374 bombing raid on Cambodian territory between 1965 and August 1973, during the Vietnam War. For the family it was only the beginning a a long period of warfare and living in the middle of it trying to survive Khmer Rouge, Vietnamese occupation, political fighting in the streets and relentless attacks by Khmer Rouge after they had been chased from power in 1979. The book UN-SEEN was meant for the Cambodian communities, schools and market. Covid prevented that. Now the book is on the market in The Netherlands. www.valkphotography.com/en/un-seen/Time
Most terrible time of the day, mid day sun is glaring unrelentlessly. Lunch had been prepared.Lighting
Lighting was horrible, the sun was glaring and I had to shoot against the light. Trying all kind of angles to get a better shot. Interfering in the seating arrangements would be an insult to these to people engaged in sharing their trauma of loosing five young children.Equipment
I shoot with my Nikon D750, lens 24-120 and that's it.Inspiration
It's a story I stumbled into years ago. Together with Vann we unearthed his family's history of the bombing raid in 1970. At that time he was a ten days old baby. He has no memories but experienced this trauma. He is the one that start the talking in the family. The mother wanted to tell me about it. Vann interpreted for me to understand. It was up close and personal, not holding back. They let me in.Editing
I hardly ever do a lot of post processing. But in this case I did to diminish the harsh lights, the high lights and the shadows to bring about the two people.In my camera bag
My Niikon D750, Lumix-TZ100, 50 mm lens, 35mm lens, 24-120mm lens and a 70-300 mm lens. Tripod off and on, small lightFeedback
To get close to the people and their stories, you need to connect, be patient, wait for them to be ready to let you in. Be there without a camera, be interested in what moves them, take care of them. And for all, you have to take NO for an answer if they don't want a photo taken. I always wait and watch, make at least eye contact, ask for permission.
