Shelter

Steung Meanchey Municipal Waste Dump is located in southern Phnom

Penh, in a district of the city of the same name, Steung Meanchey.

It is nicknamed ?Smoky Mountain? because of the miasma of smoke that

the dump constantly gives off. It is literally on fire; the waste

creates methane as it rots and the methane burns.

Powerful and disturbing, yet, ironically, quite a beautiful photo.

Has a bit of a Mary Ellen Mark feel to it. I love the under-exposure which brings a rich oily quality to the colours. The danger in any kind of documentary photography depicting third world poverty, is focussing on the squalor. It is the photographers duty to capture the dignity with which people handle their plight. I sense a simple nobility here and that is good.

Finally I can see a real fine art picture in PN with a great mood too!

 

Guido