Echo's Pond | L'étang d'Echo
They are safe now
Posted by Sidonie (Sydney, Australia) on 22 February 2007 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
These children escaped war-ravaged Sudan and found a safe refuge in Australia.
At the Canberra Food and Dance Festival, February 10th, 2007.
Dimitrios from ATHENS, Greece
God bless them ,they are the lucky ones, millions are sufering in Africa, men is at its worst there.
22 Feb 2007 8:18am
@Dimitrios: If you choked back the tears on seeing this photo, so did I when I posted it today. Many thanks for your kind comments, Dimitrios.
Manuela Photography from Hainburg (near Frankfurt/Main), Germany
They are lucky! There is so much going wrong in the world but moments like, no matter how small, makes you realize how wonderful your own life actually is...
Very powerful face expressions!
22 Feb 2007 9:04am
@Manuela Photography: Yes, Manuela, I am thankful we can share it, too.
Jerry from Tampa, United States
Sidonie - a spectacular image - the tones are so rich! The colors so vibrant - SUPER!!!! What a great story too....
22 Feb 2007 9:47am
@Jerry: Thank you Jerry, that's a wonderful compliment.
Yvon from Meerkerk, Netherlands
Very strong image. Thanks for sharing. Wish we could undo all the horrors in the world.
22 Feb 2007 12:06pm
@Yvon: Thank you Yvon for your visit.
Josh from Taichung, Taiwan
4 pairs of eyes are all expressing different emotions.
Very powerful image and great portrait!!
22 Feb 2007 1:27pm
@Josh: Great comment, thanks Josh!
purelysnow from Chengdu, China
What a diverse mix of emotions! I like Mama's expression best as it seems to echo the title you gave their portrait, which is very heart-stirring.
22 Feb 2007 2:17pm
@purelysnow: Thanks, purelysnow. This one taught me to take more time composing the shot, and making sure the subjects were not objecting to my intention to take it.
Clement from Sg., Singapore
love the still shots you take. and thank you for echoing the irony in the continuity of survival of these people into my life. verytouching.
22 Feb 2007 4:04pm
@Clement: Glad it touched you Clement.
Dawn Sutherland from Phoenix, United States
Sidonie, thank you for sharing this photo, many people in our country do not understand how bad it is over there. What is truly heartbreaking is that a lot people do know and still choose to look away. These are people who are trying to raise their children just like us, who want a safe place to rest their head, a warm meal and to feel like a human being just like we do. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the people of Africa and just last year I started sponsoring a woman in Nigeria through Women for Women Intl. I know in the grand scheme of things my contribution is very small but my hope is that the one woman I correspond with will feel just a little more empowered knowing that someone out there truly cares for her. God bless you for sharing and capturing the humanity that we should all show to each other.
22 Feb 2007 7:32pm
@Dawn Sutherland: What a moving response, Dawn! Your involvement is exemplary. I can see from your current series that you care deeply for humanity. Many thanks for this visit.
ice from Texas, United States
Wow, so powerful... the mixed expressions say so much. Phenomenal image! I'm thankful that the Australian people have provided a safe haven for them.
22 Feb 2007 9:43pm
@ice: Lovely comment, ice, many thanks.
genevieve from Victoria, Canada
beautiful and gentle capture. i love the expressions.
23 Feb 2007 5:43pm
@genevieve: Thank you Genevieve.
Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada
Superb work both in the composition and processing, and obviously in the emotional impact it conveys. I can't imagine how hard it must be to start up a new life in such circumstances. Be nice if you were able to give them a copy of this beautiful image.
24 Feb 2007 11:03pm
@Damon Schreiber: Thank you for a great comment Damon!
shutterfirefly from Singapore
powerful picture....speaks volumes. and they should be lucky...they are as entiltled to their human rights as any others yellow, white or otherwise. poignant capture!
9 Mar 2007 10:52am
@shutterfirefly: Thank you shutterfirefly - I am greatly indebted to their patience and generosity in letting me take the shot.
@Dimitrios: Greatly appreciated, D.
Canon PowerShot A530
1/160 second
F/2.6
6 mm