Gone to fetch a pail of water, a photo from Mopti, South

Photographer's Note

This is a repost of a photo I first showed here in February 2008. I made a new scan recently of the Kodachrome slide to adjust the colours and light. I thought it looked so much better that I just had to show it.

You can see the original version by clicking in the box to the right.

Here is the original note:

"Some children by the riverside in Djenn� city gathered to watch the white stranger, the oldest waiting for a moment to proceed home with her very heavy load of water in a wooden bucket".

I have nothing more to add.

ikeharel, Fis2, Royaldevon, pierrefonds, jhm, johnjmoe, worldcitizen, dale54, PiotrF, PaulVDV, jean113, COSTANTINO, CLODO, macjake, adramad has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Fis2 (170717) 2020-07-21 0:16

Witaj Gert!
Next fantastic scene from daily life.
A very interesting place.
Smiling children are impressive.
Good framing and colors, I like it.
Good morning.
Krzysztof

ikeharel (113319) 2020-07-21 0:23

The new version looks much better, sure, Gert, colors are more naturally presented. Happy faces of the barefoot kids.
The subject is water, and certainly in this region it is a grand issue.
Hope the world will learn to provide fresh water everywhere.
Have a nice new day,
Ike

GyurMaster (24818) 2020-07-21 0:48

Dear Gert,

I'm glad you made the effort to scan again and re-post it! Its an excellently captured shot as always. Besides the shy smile of the kids, the the bg too offers details to be observed.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

Royaldevon (85932) 2020-07-21 1:53

Hello Gert,

This photograph was certainly worth working on, with your new scanning skills. This example is much improved, with more natural colours.

What a lovely shot!
Those children were very interested in you; their expressions could tell us something about their characters; some more confident and some just a little suspicious!

It's a very neatly composed group, declining from the top of the bucket to the stooping children. They definitely command the f/g, with fine details of place, beyond.

That looks like a very heavy bucket, especially as made of wood, for that youngster to be carrying! It looks as if they have been doing the washing, too.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

rychem (72187) 2020-07-21 2:17

Children are always a thankful subject! Now these children already have their own children, a very nice documentary photo
regards Ryszard

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-07-21 2:28

Gert, the children have just collected water in the pond and they are going back home. I see people, their donkey and huts made in braided reeds or straw on the shore in the bg. The bucket in wood draws attention. It is actually carved in a trunk. It looks a mortar. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.

pajaran (115861) 2020-07-21 2:51

Greeting.
Beautiful children and smiles on the face, well shown with beautiful colors, contrast and captured moment. Water is a gathering place and a source of life.
Beautiful photo and memory.
I wish you all the best.
Paja.

SteveH (8220) 2020-07-21 3:29

Hi Gert, a much improved scan, not only the colour, but also the amount of detail I their faces. That's a pretty heavy looking bucket. They must make 'em strong in Mali! Cheers, steve

pierrefonds (114422) 2020-07-21 4:29

Hi Gert,

You have captured well the smiling expression of the children doing a daily life useful activity. The point of view is showing the details of their clothings. The light is bringing out the colours. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211736) 2020-07-21 5:52

Hello Gert,

I am always very happy to see the people with smile.
Water getting it, is everyday a big job.
You did very well also of colours and composition.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards
John

Silvio1953 (221563) 2020-07-21 8:16

Ciao Gert, nice scene with cute children, fantastic smiles, excellent clarity, fine details, splendid light and wonderful colors very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

jmdias (115128) 2020-07-21 10:00

gert

the image is impressive with good personages and scenery but the strong girl taking this heavy load is amazing.perfect

take care

jorge

worldcitizen (16068) 2020-07-21 11:54

Hello Gert,
The looks on these children's faces make this an interesting shot. Everyone is smiling, except that one girl who seems suspicious of you. :-) That bucket looks very heavy, and that young girl probably struggled carrying it home. Her dress is very colorful, too. Take care!

dale54 (17768) 2020-07-21 12:46

good evening gert..what a lovely blast from the past...well taken and what wonderful lively happy faces! excellent work! tfs dale

lousat (139236) 2020-07-21 14:29

Hi Gert,it's nice to see the difference between the 2 versions,the old one is more sharp but the colors are too warms,this is too real but a bit unsharp. But what it's important it's to see another time this lovely scene,one of the pearl of your trip in Mali,well done! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

PiotrF (54636) 2020-07-21 14:59

Hello Gert
Another nice daily life scene from Mali.
I like good composition, nice colours and good quality.
Great photo from your archive.
Good work, fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

foxy (3461) 2020-07-21 15:19

Hello Gert,
:-) called me old-fashion...I think I slightly much prefer the original version. The clarity is softer and cleaner.
Well, this one brings out the colourful outfits the children wearing. I just adore the African fabrics ...similar like the Malaysian Batik.
They were so much fun and innocent even the hardships they've to endured with so little comforts in life. The big sister has to do the heavy worked to let her younger siblings to play around with friends. The children do have very tough feet - to walk barefoot on the hot sandy/gravel ground.
Every picture has a story to tell. I've learned to understand more about Mali. Thanks for sharing.
Loong

PaulVDV (62886) 2020-07-22 12:06

Hello Gert,
The bucket alone seems heavy enough for the little girl.
Filled with water, it becomes a tough job.
However, she doesn't seem to lose her cheerfulness.
Very funny faces of the three children left in the picture.
The girl in the middle doesn't seem to fully understand the situation.
Encounters with children are wonderful experiences in poorer countries.
Wonderful and very interesting background composed by the huts, the houses and the group of people with the donkey gathered near the waterfront.
Best regards, Paul

jean113 (27853) 2020-07-22 13:17

Hello Gert, that poor girl! The bucket full of water must have been very heavy, and yet she still has a smile on her face.
The expressions on the children's faces are delightful.
The background is very interesting.
I like your note about the white stranger.
Thanks for sharing, kind regards, Jean.

Tue (92328) 2020-07-22 14:10

Hej Gert,
Det ser ud som om pigen gerne vil vise hvor h鴍t hun kan holde spanden. Gruppen med b鴕nene ved siden af hende er ogs� meget godt fanget, de fleste smiler, bortset fra den st鴕ste pige der ser meget mere seri鴖t ud. Byen og s鴈n danner en god baggrund.
Lars

emka (158128) 2020-07-23 20:47

Hello Gert, I found it strange you wrote that I preferred the old picture. But now I see what has happened. I wrote the critique for this picture but it hadn't been saved. It happens often. When I notice such a case, I must first upload without smileys and then in edit mode to add them. Usually I check, this time I didn't.
I liked the old version already. Here we can see the faces of the boys more clearly. I find the white patch on the forehead a bit disturbing, especially in the third boy's face. I like the scene with the donkey. Interesting construction there. What is it?

Have a nice day

MAlgo

COSTANTINO (116452) 2020-07-23 22:31

Hello dear Gert and have a nice day
lovely capture from February 2008
the beauty is into the simplicity and
generally photos with small children
have their own interest...
children are always a thankful subject
welldone
regards
Costantino

CLODO (45116) 2020-07-25 4:18

Hi Gert

This image makes me remember when I visited with my wife a remote place in China, we were looked at, perfect strangers. Here the young children seem to play with you whereas the older one has some duty to complete!
Cheers
CLODO

kasianowak (17676) 2020-07-25 4:38

Hi Gert
It's one of my weekend treats to open TE and find new uploads from you.
I tried to compare the old and this version of this shot. Here at least we can properly see the four boys, that appear quite dark in the original scan. Also, the sky is blue and the colours appear more natural (I quite like the yellow cast on the architecture in the original version though). However, in both we can admire your outstanding composition (I love the colourful group of people in the background) and notice the painful expression on the main subject's face. Poor girl, overloaded with hard labour from an early age.
Best wishes
Kasia

macjake (98454) 2020-07-25 17:34

Hi Gert
i'm surprised to see no WS photos :)
these children are children no more...probably around my age now, early to mid 40's. love that you were able to add the lineup of people collecting water in the bg, not sure if that was deliberate or a stroke of luck. wonderful image and scene from another far away place I may never get to see in my lifetime. what are we seeing in the middle section of the shot, that beige/yellow section? cheers
Craig

adramad (72978) 2020-08-06 10:54

Hi Gert.
Nice photo with this group of children, with different expressions on their faces, it seems that here at least they have the water closer to their homes, although I don't know if it will be drinkable.
Sharpness, lighting and color, are very good.
Well done. I like it.
You have a good day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

Iwon (7029) 2020-08-07 10:31

Fajna scenka rodzajowa, dzieciaki naturalnie pozują - widać na twarzach radość ze spotkania z Tobą, dodatkowo ciekawa głębia.
Pozdrawiam
Iwona