'Family Matters'

wow.. somewhat disturbing photo, it really hits you emotionally looking at it.

Very dramatic!!

Biliana

This is disturbing, but has great impact. I feel like I am looking at someone's raw pain and feel helpless. I'm looking forward to the story behind this one, Hugh.

Very emotional photo. I think a good piece of photojournalism. It appears oversharpened however

Powerful. Bravo

Hugh, It's unusual you don't leave a comment/story concerning one of your pictures... Maybe for respect... or maybe are you simply speechless, like I am, face with a so much suffering... Another great photo.

this image has me very distressed! Please at least tell me that her baby is OK, and is just sleeping...

Something tells me different tho...

Strong photo!! Great impact and message. To critique the comp, one could wish all of the woman's head was within the frame.... but its not, big deal.... you captured the essence, and thats the important thing in a documentary type of photo like this. Well done!!

Beautiful photograph...Covey's a sense of strong emotion. Unfortunately, it also shows realities of life.

a very emotional and heartbreaking photo...

it breaks my heart

Glad to see this is getting the ratings it deserves, Hugh. Strong image.

Worthy of photojournalism. One must be careful in places like Thailand as they have professional beggars who know how to play on the farang, i.e., foreigners and can make more in one day begging than if they worked a legitimate job. The child looks well fed, clean, not malnourished or dirty. Next time listen to the deaf.

Riveting. Very emotive. Yet Owl's comments are insightful despite the great sufferring in this world. Particularly for those who must depend on the mercy of strangers for ligitimate or ilegitimate gain. Despite the caveate, I still remain troublec by this image and moved with compassion.

Yes, one has to be careful these days. On the border in El Paso Texas, old women from Mexico come across to beg. They often rent young children or babies to use as props in order to elicit more sympathy and get more money. A good beggar can make more in one day than a factory worker does in a week in Mexico. I used to see 7 or 8 old women a day on street corners begging for money with a baby or toddler in their arms, the kid passed out, wrapped in a blanket in 100 degree heat. If that isn't child abuse then I don't know what qualifies. A border patrol agent told me there are organized gangs of beggars and it's common practice for them to give the kids a rag soaked in Tequila to suck on to keep the child passed out so they are easier to handle. Fortunately after 911 and tightening the borders on illegal immigration this practice isn't as common as it used to be. Still you should be careful wherever you go as Duane pointed out. Even in "civilized" countries your camera is often worth more to some people than your life. Caveat emptor still applies.

Very strong and emotional shot!

Very emotional capture. I am particularly impressed how you managed to capture this incredible expression. You continue to add these emotional pictures in your portfolio. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

Kind regards.

Just so much emotions and sentiments exploding inside her. A very moving capture of the misfortunate indeed.

She looks in real pain. The child looks treated ,but it can be her goal as a mother,in her life of misery.

 

One of your strongest,Hugh, depicting what many people are indifferent to. Thank you. Pnina

This is the world unfortunately.

 

Bram

One of the most dramatic captures of your portfolio, Hugh.

Very distressing photo~ provokes so much emotion. Well captured. Kind regards, Iren

Highly emotional Hugh but I have seen more "worst case scenerio" - the ill strickened with all their warts, scabs and worm infested wounds showing. It's bad when they purposely don't treat their wounds to get more money from the sincere passerbys.

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is everyone here going to going to trust their first instinct? forget about the woman's face for a second... look at the child... look at his skin - clean ... look at his arms - chubby ( he looks well fed)... look at his face - calm, serene, peacefully sleeping, not the face of a child suffering through hunger or illness... now... go back to the woman... look at her clothes - not perfect and new but certainly not rags, by no means rags, button up, embroidered, clean but the mark next to the child's head... look at her hair - managed, combed, put up in a bun and held in place by some hair doo-dad... she has the time and pride to take care of her hair... finding food no longer become the sole concern of her existence... look at her skin - aged, as she is, but clean... now finally look at her face.... you've seen this face, or, rather you've made this face before... she's yawning... ... ahhh the power of photography, what was is no longer and want we have now can be anything we want it to be... you should have listened to the trader