Stung Meanchey - Flowers in the dump Photo Gallery by Maciej Dakowicz at pbase.com

Stung Meanchey - Flowers in the dump

Please visit my newer Cambodian galleries from 2005 - Cambodia 2005 - The Garbage Dump in Phnom Penh and Cambodia 2005 - a second visit.

Stung Meanchey - the biggest garbage dump in the capital city of Cambodia - Phnom Penh.... and people who have to live and work there. I hope one day their life will be easier. I don't know much about this place, I just went there three times - two days in Phnom Penh and three visits in the landfill.

Please visit Tales of Asia for more information about that place. You can find there some links to organizations helping children working in that landfill.

more pictures from my trip to Cambodia are in CAMBODIA 2004 gallery.

Some of your questions about me and my photography are answered here in my personal message

and I know that most pictures here are not so good - I took them when I was only starting photography and I spent only few hours at that place. Now I'd take better photos there. hopefully one day I will have a chance to go to Cambodia again.

thank you for all your comments and votes

Stung Mean Chey Reality	She is maybe 12 years old	Kids in hats	A ray of hope - Phnom Penh
In the smoke	Flowers in the dump	Left hand	A boy in two hats
Three of them	Happiness	A boy at work	Smiling boy at the back
Hard life	A boy with a car toy	A girl with a hook	Children at work
One face and so many emotions...	Two girls at work	Friends	A cigarette after work
Diagonal line	On the top	Close up	One minute rest
Boy on the truck	Keeping the order	Boys in the smoke	Busy moment
atmosphere	Caught smile	Busy evening	A road in the dump
A boy with a "silver" chain	Basket in the corner	Two girls	A boy with sack
a boy looking at me	People	A boy in hat with a sack	Coming down
Jumpa	Tired, resigned...	Shy smile	I am in the camera?
Girl in pink	Smiling boy	Silhouettes	Loading the cart
A girl with a glove	A boy with a hook	Laughter	Girl in a hat
Naked boy	Look what I have found	in blue	Flower girl
Going to work	Work in the garbage	Stinky Mountains	Bulldozer
the same boy	Sunset time	The mountain of colors	work in the smoke
Boys in the smoke	Four friends	DREAMING	Picking valuables
Smoking Buldozer	Three friends	young and working	In the garbage valley
Childhood at the garbage dump	all that smoke	two boys	smoke from the waste
look	trucks	people on the pile

post a comment

Yen Baet		29-Dec-2008 22:26
Bittersweet images; very touching. Thanks for sharing.

Louise Ellings		15-Feb-2008 08:27
I love the people of Stung Meanchey and have spent time over the past 3 years working hands on with these people and supplying them with basic needs. I also work closley with friends of mine who live in PP who work along side a Pastor in a Stung Meanchey slum village where rubbish pickers work. We are involved in a feeding program, doctors and dentist trips (3 people for fillings and extractions for $17) but too expensive for them. It is so. awesome to see the look of pain vanish into smiles of joy They are such a greatful and loving people. I raise funds each year in Australia and return and spend 100% of donations on the people in desperate situations. I have some good friends who work at the dump. Your photos are great Maciej and have created alot of interest.

Rob		26-Dec-2007 23:33
Great pics. Myself and several friends(expats) make regular trips to the tip. We load up a truck with food items from the local market and distribute to the tip people. Recently I noticed how many children were without any footwear, very dangerous, to say the least , in this environment. We clubbed together, with some support from additional volunteers and bought a heap of gumboots(galoshes) as well. We are an inspired group(non NGO)who are looking for further avenues to explore to improve the lives of those in this desparate locale. We are also trying to raise the profile to enable some more funding in this area. Any thoughts?

Michael Adams		02-Oct-2007 13:33
Amazing gallery.

Guest		19-Sep-2007 17:56
Thank you for your photos, I am leaving with a medical team to this same area. I will work with the children, do some arts and crafts, and bring some type of joy and fun to their love along with the Love of Jesus. Thank Kim

Thyda		10-Aug-2007 21:27
Amazing photos you have here... please don't be modest... your photos are great. Thanks for sharing them with everyone. I just spent some time going through each one... and I must admit... your work had affected me somehow. Thanks for helping me realize that there's much more out there than just ME ME ME and slapping me with a reality check. If anyone reading this knows more information about how and where funds can be donated to these causes without going to a mainstream or better established charity, please contact me at thyda.lim@gmail.com. Other charities and organizations are awesome... but I just want to make sure that people who aren't touched or linked to the mainstream charities are being helped as well... little is better than none. Thank you!

Eric Herbelin		21-Jun-2007 16:14
Too Sad for me, Thank you from the bottom of my hart for sharing.

Bijan.Asmai		27-Apr-2007 21:49
your photos are very live and interesting www.Bijan-asmai.8m.com

Michel Lammerse		24-Apr-2007 22:31
Fantastic captures. The hardness and sadness of poverty captured in a beautiful way.

Nick De Marco		22-Apr-2007 17:55
I recall seeing this gallery some time ago. It was one of the reasons I wanted to visit Cambodia. A truly imspiring piece of work. Great photojournalism. Thank you again for this work. I visited Cambodia for the first time this March. I have some galleries on my site if you are interested (www.pbase.com/nickdemarco). I am drawn back to the place and will return end of May. I must visit this rubbish dump and take some photos. Voted

Joy		11-Apr-2007 15:16
True real life. What do the viewers with computer at home do about it? any donations to help the poor? You captured the real meaning so what is any one going to do about it?

thechebb		10-Mar-2007 09:05
Very powerful gallery! Voted!

jan madsen		01-Feb-2007 16:04
Absolutly amazing gallerie

khoerger		14-Jan-2007 05:47
good photos. i went to stung meanchey this summer, and it was probably one of the most powerful and eye-opening experience i've ever had. fortunately for us too, it had rained hard the day prior, so the flies were "low" that afternoon.... as in i've never been covered by so many flies in my life. did you notice the actress/singer's house on the edge of the dump? i thought that was somewhat interesting. those children are so beautiful and your pictures portray them well.

Daniele Zappavigna		03-Jan-2007 11:18
great work. some of these shots are outstanding!

Todd Curry		29-Dec-2006 18:18
Outstanding eye

Seychelles		21-Oct-2006 13:23
Great work!

Jazo		13-Sep-2006 02:23
Solo apreciar la poes�a de la vida en los rostros de estas personas. Una forma de ver el elevado esp�ritu humano http://www.serigrafia4t.com.ar

Adam Gray		01-Sep-2006 13:17
Amazing gallery. Your cambodia work is fantastic.

Bruce		20-Aug-2006 02:59
Superb gallery! Its amazing....the human spirit. You have captured that so well here. Excellent work Maciej.

Andrew Hunt		17-Aug-2006 21:16
Superb gallery. Fascinating subject matter, and very expertly handled. Congratulations.

Bunsengsovat Kao		17-Aug-2006 01:22
Truly, these smiling kids are flowers in the dump. Your work is impressive. It left me with mixed emotions, bringing a tear to my eye and a smile on my face. Thanks a million.

dan		01-Aug-2006 19:06
stunning pictures of a realer then real place. I think sometimes these pictures are so disturbing that only people who have been around such impoverished areas can believe what is in front of them. I know that when i went to india i had seen pictures of the trash and untouchables but until i arrived it was in no way a reality to me coming from a middle class upbringing, an american middle class upbringing at that was just totally unimaginable. The few have so much while the majority has so little.

Elizabeth Burns		26-Jul-2006 00:33
amazing gallery, what a hard life for a child. These pictures really are worth more than words. amazing that some of the kids actually smiled

Jean-Marc MICHEL		30-Jun-2006 10:17
Very nice and touching gallery.These children try to live in this garbage...bad world.. Best regards.JMarc

Angela		22-Jun-2006 08:15
Great picture of a horrible place.....the pictures make me feel sadness for the way these children are forced to live, yet the smiles on their faces bring a smile to mine.

ruth emily hanson		07-May-2006 13:19
i miss Cambodia. i can't wait to be back there. Stung Meanchey will be first on my list when i do return. the strength and resilience of the Khmer people is inspirational.

Maciej Dakowicz		05-May-2006 14:08
thanks Phillippe for your comment. I have changed that text now

philippe carpentier		05-May-2006 13:46
SUPERB WORK....... I'm surprised to see this kind of "supplication " from an "Artist" like you !........................................................"Please VOTE HERE for the gallery if you think other people should see those photos too" Or maybe just business, and artist out of necessity. I'm disappointed.... philippe

zigor		29-Apr-2006 15:06
it seems that children simply cant be unhapy

David Sok		17-Apr-2006 17:00
These are very great pictures and they show the reall image of Cambodia while the gab between the poor and rich are extremly big.

Dan		11-Mar-2006 21:21
Touchant !!! ce qu'il faut pas faire pour vivre !!! Superbe qualit� photo. Bravo Continuez

Jo-Anne		04-Mar-2006 14:14
I could smell the garbage.

Cathie		30-Jan-2006 09:07
These pictures are powerful because you got INSIDE of the subject. Such a beautiful light in their faces; they are in the moments that you captured happy. As has already been said in a few other posts, sort of makes you wonder what life is..... Cathie

danny era		25-Jan-2006 14:33
powerful shit

ratmoni		03-Jan-2006 15:43
These pictures are very sad and at the same time very beautiful. It just makes me realize not to take things for granted. It's very heart breaking to see where my parents are originally from and how it was like growing up there. The time they lived there was much worst, but I'm just thankful for being able to live the way I do and to have what I have. I hope one day I will be able to visit the country I'm from and see the family I have never met. Thank you for these great pictures.

Bob Story		19-Dec-2005 06:27
WOW!

David Lawrance		03-Dec-2005 21:45
We live in a "taken for granted" society, always complaining. While there are people like these in Cambodia that live in hell, but has a pricesless smile in their durty faces.

Guest		03-Dec-2005 12:39
you capture the real human emotion and what they feel. good job.

Dave Deacon		17-Nov-2005 23:13
Seems the wrong thing to be saying what good photos these are when the subjects are suffering. Anger and injustice well up inside but nothing will change. These are just a few images from a world of suffering - past, present and future. Man seems unwilling to actually DO anything about it. It is as though it is simply part of the the way we live. Variety in the form of luck rules. The successful survive. Evolution in action. That said I take something positive from this which is that the human spirit will survive no matter what. I see children smiling in this shit-hole and that humbles me. Luck is relative. We could be tits up next week - some asteroid, some supervolcano (yellowstone?)... These kids might then be lucky. Mother nature seems to want to cover all bases - from very rich to very poor, from very small to very tall, etc.

Ryan Guth		14-Nov-2005 14:41
A very Powerful body of work, good job.

Ken Hopkins		12-Nov-2005 07:42
Have I note seen some of the photos in print? Great gallery... Voted

Guest		11-Nov-2005 17:22
Powerful images giving a mere hint of the actual being there....Superb. IF THERE WAS A GOD THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN.

Valery Titievsky		09-Nov-2005 14:16
A very nice photojournalism works! My vote! Thank you

Andrew Hirst		21-Oct-2005 09:06
Nice piece of photojournalism. As lovely as landscape photos are, great photography should tell a story and inform people of the world around them. Sadly photojournalism has died a death in the mainstream press over the last 15 years, instead of being sold compassion and stories of peoples lives, we're now sold celebrity lifestyles and haircare products. Its time people used their camera to inform each other of the way the world is. A little understanding goes a long way.

Gillian		15-Oct-2005 18:19
It's so shocking. ..I'am a schoolteacher in Holland and I'll show my children their hapiness.. Thank you for sharing this reality!

Steve Osterberg		14-Oct-2005 21:30
Thank you for views. Very impressive. May God help these souls... Well done!

Ali Nakipoglu		12-Oct-2005 08:55
Its the shame of this century. : Hope god! will help them. F - L - O - W - E - R - S ## I - N ## T - H - E ## D - U - M - P But, photo's are totally ammazing,

Rapak		30-Sep-2005 13:59
Brilliant!

lovebobo1314		13-Sep-2005 02:15
What a shame !!

david123		20-Aug-2005 16:29
Well done Maciej on some very good photography. I hope that the issue presented here, as well as your photography get a lot more attention! Thank you for sharing. all the best, David

Guest		17-Aug-2005 19:00
I see all the laughter through your photographs, but somehow, I just can't help to shed tears for these unfortunate kids. Congratulation, you did great with these photos.

Marcos Garc�a		15-Aug-2005 18:57
Incredible pics Macieck! This is one of the best galleries I've seen at Pbase. Thanks for sharing (Im sorry, my english is so poor). I would like to invite you to visit my gallery "Asia" with my favorite pics from China, Thailand and India. Best regards, Marcos

CJ Max		03-Aug-2005 12:09
And to think that as I waited in line yesterday for a Coke at Costco the lady in front of me was complaining a blue streak that her day was ruined because they had run out of Diet Coke...talk about messed up priorities... Great photographs with an even greater message! Cliff.

Aamer Khan		29-Jul-2005 00:05
i wept when i viewed these images. innocent kids in a third world, in-debt-to-the-world-bank country working in a landfill. so sad. this is true photography...skillful AND (more importantly) meaningful. i hope that your work will help change the condition of these children.

zian		25-Jul-2005 09:47
One of the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen ! (yes, I bookmarked it... ;-)

The Feminine Perspective		18-Jul-2005 21:22
Great gallery, I've enjoyed my visit, there are some moving and wonderful photos here :) Thanks ~ Clare

Brian Hamill		04-Jul-2005 20:19
Fascinating insights into the misery some people endure everyday at such young ages. There is a similar tip in Manila known as "Smokey Mountain" for obvious reasons. Well worth a visit too if you're interested. Well done on such an informative and thoughtful gallery, and for the interesting links.

simon kolton		30-Jun-2005 14:50
hello maciek i really like this galerie the subject is strong sad but strong maybe a good testimonial to help or contribute to help those kids congrat i didnt seen all on TE

Yoshi Enoki Jr		28-Jun-2005 04:22
They're very good photos, I assure you - thank you for sharing your compassion for the people of the world. May I suggest, perhaps you could connect with people like Angelina Jolie and the UN and bring more awareness to the world about the plight of the people in such places as this. Well done, I have nothing but respect for you.

tom		21-Jun-2005 01:20
Very good job. These photos bring tears to my eyes and helps me carry on to fight for a world where everone has home and food in there belly. You truely show capitalism at its true form.

Cary Cleland		05-Jun-2005 20:13
Looking at these photos makes me feel so guilty for the life I have. So many young lives wasted here. Why do we as a human race still allow this type of thing to occur... Incredible photos.

zzz422		03-Jun-2005 13:56
My sincere gratitude to you for capturing more than just pictures. You have done what is required of a photographer - not just create an image, but rather create a medium to surface an emotion. Thank you for sharing your message.

robert fu		03-Jun-2005 03:20
Thankyou for sharing. When you look at the pictures they show how life for many is taken for granted. Your message is powerful. The children look content, they know no better. I wish my kids were content with there computers, games, TV, going to the movies with friends, education, health............. We worry when one of our kid's get sick, these kid's live in a health hazard, imagine what there parents go thru when they get sick. Happiness is relative. I notice no one commenting on the technical side of the photos'. hmm, wonder why!

hossein nezami		02-Jun-2005 16:08
best gallary with open mind and real oponion

DAVID		27-May-2005 00:31
I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB ON THE GALLARY......

Norm Nason		25-May-2005 23:34
Excellent, compassionate photos; wonderfully composed.

Andy Rynes		24-May-2005 15:17
very touching portraits. i really love your work. great !

kimberly borchardt		09-May-2005 22:11
A very thought-provoking photo essay. Hard to view, by western standards. Thanks for sharing.

ahmadkhatiri		30-Apr-2005 06:03
all of photo's very wonderful

Eric Last Sportfotografie		29-Apr-2005 21:46
I think you did a great job there! But what a difference between where I live and this dump. These children are so powerfull and beautiful. I have children myself and cannot imagine at all how daily life must feel for these children. Unbelievable. You have my vote.

Kathy McDevitt		26-Apr-2005 01:12
Unbelievable!

George		25-Apr-2005 12:23
Those pictures just make me feel ugly. Look at that ! those kids live in a garbage and still smiling.... While I complain sometimes about me and my stupid daily problems. Do human kind will change ? I just dont know, but must we change ? Yes... because it's just a shame to accept that.

oshun		23-Apr-2005 15:34
Hello Maciek , thank you for the work that you have done in documenting the very harsh reality of these children . It has brought tears to my eyes and has reminded me of the important things in life . The quality of your work rivals anything that Ive seen in major publications but most important you have capture the soul of these children . On a personal level your work has alerted me of the things that I CAN DO to help children around the world . best regards Jose

Ian Miller		15-Apr-2005 03:34
The pictures in this portfolio are a great record of the plight of some of the people of Cambodia. The pictures have great impact and merit. Keep up the work.

Oly 2100 users		05-Mar-2005 15:57
An achingly beautiful gallery! My heart breaks for those precious children. They're beautiful and look relatively happy. The picture of the little girl with the flower is my favorite. You do beautiful work.

jeanb		27-Feb-2005 15:21
I have commented on your gallery before as it really hits you in the gut. I just noticed that the link above does not work so you may want to correct it.

Guest		13-Feb-2005 07:23
This is A+ work. Well done.

Guest		29-Jan-2005 04:56
Excellent stuff. Really makes you realise how fortunate our lives are.

Jim Cowan		22-Jan-2005 00:32
I wonder if Dubya classes THIS as freedom. Would that he demonstrate he same fervour to free these unfortunates as he is to establish "Democracies" in other ,Oil Rich, parts of the world.

Chris Sofopoulos		21-Jan-2005 12:14
Thank you for sharing with us all this different world!! I really admire your work! Don't ever think to stop taking photos.. Congratulations again!

DM		14-Jan-2005 13:37
THE PICTURES MAKE ME WONDER IF WE COULD LIVE LIKE THEY DO. I DON'T THINK WE COULD SURVIVE IN THEIR DUMP AND STILL HAVE COURAGE! WE'RE TOO SPOILT IN THE WEST. LOOK AT THEIR FACES! THEY DON'T SHOW WHAT THEY MUST FEEL! COULD WE DO THE SAME? COULD WE SMILE IF WE HAD TO SIFT THROUGH A HEAP OF SMELLY CRAP DAY IN AND DAY OUT? THE'RE SMALL ONLY IN BODY - THEIR SPIRITS ARE HUGE. THE'RE SUFFERING IS IMMORTAL BECAUSE THEIR JOY AND STRENGTH IN THE FACE OF DESPAIR GIVES HOPE TO US ALL! THANK-YOU FOR THE PHOTOS!

Sarah Davis		12-Jan-2005 03:46
These images really remind us of how fortunate many of us are. Well done .

Robert		01-Jan-2005 17:38
Very touching gallery, thanks for sharing these .

Peter Chou		31-Dec-2004 11:02
Great work you have there! All heart rendering images of poverty. Do visit my gallery and view the gallery on nurses of Singapore.

Janet		25-Dec-2004 01:18
Wonderful gallery, thanks for sharing .

Choo Tse Chien		23-Dec-2004 10:48
I think the previous messages have said it all. Fantastic gallery. I think many (including me) like & dislike these pictures at the same time as they do stir up a lot of raw feelings. Like : because they are truly eye opening and does show resilience in the face of almost pure desperation and desolation. The juxpositioning of subject matter and environment is particularly wrenching. Dislike : Because for many of us, it becomes that much more difficult to look at ourselves in the mirror after this. We take too much for granted. Keep it up! chien

John Blake		18-Dec-2004 15:26
Very powerful images indeed. Well done. Vacuums

ron		16-Dec-2004 18:20
Hello. I liked very much your pictures and would very much like a link from your site to mine Http://www.the-children.org

Dominique A. Rothenfluh		15-Dec-2004 20:26
Thanks for sharing and inspiring me! Excellent work!

mike mcquiggan		14-Dec-2004 00:43
some my favorite childhood memories where combing the dump in my grandfathers wealthy hometown of Dover, Massachusetts. My parents would drop me off and i'd sort for hours. I would accumalate quite a selection of treasures ( motorcycles, motors, etc stuff)on every visit. My local "sanatary landfill" now threatens arrest with removing anything from a visit. Times have changed. Thanks for the memories, great photos.

Zoe		10-Dec-2004 04:39
Someone mentioned the lack of "dignity" in some of these photos. Funny, here's me comparing these smiles and back- breaking work , as contrasted with the photos of swearing, vomiting , violent neanderthals on British streets in the daily tabloids.

Anonymous		06-Dec-2004 00:03
a VERY good gallery! not something we see pictures of everyday..

Guest		03-Dec-2004 23:22
excellent reportage, but for some pics I miss sharpness, was this intended?

Keith Laycock		03-Dec-2004 15:16
A new charity Cambodia's Dump Children, based in England is raising funds to help these children, through the Centre for Children's Happiness. Please contact Jennybullen@aol.com if you would like to contribute.

Barry Murphy		27-Nov-2004 21:21
Speechless! Thank you for sharing Barry Murphy

Chris		23-Nov-2004 14:12
Truly captivating & reflective. Awesome work.

Linda McIntyre		23-Nov-2004 00:25
Incredibly powerful gallery. That they can smile in spite of their situation is incredible.

Yves		20-Nov-2004 12:32
I cry because your pictures are a reminder of our own selfishness, people of the industrialised world. Thanks for for sharing. Yves

Johan Gerrits		31-Oct-2004 14:35
What a impressive visual story your showing us, how much we can learn from then, thanks for sharing this with us.

lensman99		28-Oct-2004 02:49
I must wonder how comfortable you felt in this environment, with equipment hanging about your neck that costs in the thousands of dollars, and could well provide clothing, food and shelter for all these people. I hope these unfortunate people were not treated as mere "props" for your commercial benefit. I do not accuse; I merely wonder at the irony of it all.

bobby jones		26-Oct-2004 03:27
good little swamp rats. they clean well. keep up the good work. nice pics

Carlos .		23-Oct-2004 14:50
It is a fantastic and reflexive gallery!!!

strangely		20-Oct-2004 11:33
powerful images...and such joy in such poverty...tremendous pix :)

Rodney Som		18-Oct-2004 22:50
Dear Maciek, Thank you for sharing the most powerful images, I was once lived in a condition like this. I have a better life now in the U.S., but I never forgot my root. Rodney

Menno Alberts		17-Oct-2004 00:02
Dear Maciek! Thanks very much for sharing these fantastic images! I truly admire you for what you've done and I only hope I will be able to make something like this myself one day. It seems you communicate with people really well that they let you into their worlds... truly amazing work and I hope you will be able to share these kind of images for many many years to come! Take care & may God bless you! Menno

Johnson Langer		12-Oct-2004 04:23
It is good to see that a lot of rubbish is being re-cycled by the dump dwellers.

Guest		12-Oct-2004 04:18
merlin, what the?

Merlin		11-Oct-2004 13:33
Well done! I was also in cambodia and made a lot of pictures.... mostly from ankor wat. At the end i was at home again in switzerland.... i could not keep the pictures, they where to special to show other people and it is a part of seeing and not fixing..... i deleted all pictures.....something told me it was not right..... well i regret it now, but i think i was right to do.....

YNW		11-Oct-2004 01:48
VIEW THIS GALLERY AGAIN! REALLY LOVE YOUR PHOTOS, MACIEK!

Barri Olson		10-Oct-2004 23:46
Very powerful

Maciej Dakowicz		07-Oct-2004 17:16
poor country, but happy people... smiles on faces everywhere, wonderful country.

colorofthewind		07-Oct-2004 15:55
Yes, a powerful gallery exposing the real life of poor kids in a poor country! The dignity of being a human being is zero here.

Josy's Pics		06-Oct-2004 20:36
What a powerful gallery about a cruel reality, well done!

Calvin		06-Oct-2004 16:57
Incredible. You have captured the essence of the area and it's life. In traveling to places like this, I know how hard it is to come away with a shot that brings a sample of the feeling back home. You've done it and I'm sure that we are all appreciative of that.

Dias dos Reis		06-Oct-2004 14:04
Great work, Maciek. Best wishes from Portugal, Antonio Reis

jimmy li		05-Oct-2004 15:49
Dude, this is so heart breaking... I don't know what to say...how tragic.... Thank u for the pics IN HIM, JIM http://teampages.tripod.com

Scott Kho		05-Oct-2004 10:51
You have wonderful photographs!The colors are simply amazing and full of life. Your photographs communicate human emotion. They capture a slice of a day in the lives of these poor people. Your criticism of the negative effects of industrialism is done professionally. Keep it up! God bless! http://scottkho.deviantart.com

iNNOCENt		04-Oct-2004 06:06
Yeah, this gallery is worth seeing. I cannot say it is 'beautiful' in it's common sense, but it is full of emotions. Thanks for sharing!

S Seeram		04-Oct-2004 04:32
Excellent work, Great pictures and Heart-rendering life's.

Tong Jin Ooi		03-Oct-2004 04:04
it's amazing to see these children smiling for you despite the location, and i can only imagine the smell. great work.

Pedro Correia		02-Oct-2004 22:53
Great Shots, Strong Pictures, very good job ... Bravo.

Will Wycherley.		01-Oct-2004 14:45
Amazing gallery, I am in awe of these shots in this gallery, but all your galleries are excellent. I was wondering if you have ever seen any of the famous photo journalist James Nachtwey's work on a similar subject. he took rolls of films in a Jakarta dump and Like his yours are easilly good enough for an exhibition. you have really captured the essence of what life is like in world with no means of money and what people/children will do to make a living. And we think we are hard done by ,....!! thank you, THANK YOU for sharing these. regards Will

Mike		27-Sep-2004 05:44
Normally I browse PBase and silently express my oooh's and aaahhs, this gallery stopped me dead in my tracks. Each photo is a story in itself but the one photo that compels me to respond is 'A flower in the dump.' We who have so much could not approach the happiness shown in that little girl's face over two tattered flowers salvaged from among the trash. A terrificly graphic story for everyone to interpet for themselves.

Weston Perry		23-Sep-2004 08:21
Very nice gallery, im glad u have this posted. Maybe it will make people realize all the shit they take for granted...

Matthew		22-Sep-2004 19:27
Mahalo (thank you) for sharing these images.

Hans (J.J.) Wildschut		18-Sep-2004 19:13
Powerfull gallery. A tragic but important story to tell the world. For howlong will there be that much differences in the quality of life. Maybe your pictures can help a bit. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Wenyao Ho		08-Sep-2004 02:18
Hi Maciek, Very great work you have here! Don't be discouraged by the people who have let some negative comments in your gallery regarding not buying the postcards, or feeling bad about using a $1000 camera in a place where the people cannot afford a $5 disposable. Many of them are armchair photographers who have not done this kind of photography at all (myself included) and yet make such disparaging comments. It takes considerable gut and effort to go to these places and take photos such the ones you have here in this album. Gut, because you have attempted, and successfully interacted with the local populace and get them to smile for your camera; and effort, because you could have been sipping a nice cool beer in a posh air-conditioned hotel instead. This is what makes your photos different from the multitude of common, boring, "touristy" photos that many so-called photographers, armed with thousands of dollars of camera bodies and lenses, take when they visit another country.

Peter		31-Aug-2004 22:48
As I am going to work as a volunteer for "the centre for childrens happiness", a centre for children from the garbage dump you are describing I am writing some artickles for my local newspaper in order to spread awareness. I therefore wonder whether I am allowed to use some of your photographes for my artickle? yours sincerely Peter

Henrik Wilche		18-Aug-2004 10:29
Powerful gallery.

seymour		17-Aug-2004 11:22
Great pictures, a real nice style. The others who mention the feelings/implications of guilt over the pverty angle are missing the point. Good photo reportage should convey the story and all the emotion that goes with it, including the photographers, but should never interfere or manipulate. Sure, history is littered with examples of interference (think of American Civil War right up to the latest Iraq conflict). If the artist chooses to donate to charity, then fine, but don;t feel guiltyt for reporting on this little known sector of human life - you've done your done by highlighting it, now it's up to us viewers to react and donate to charity.

Cesar 'Herman' Carvalho		12-Aug-2004 14:34
The most amazing gallery I've seen on pbase. I'm speechless. Bravo! Cheers from Brazil.

Guest		12-Aug-2004 13:05
Powerful stuff.

Guest		12-Aug-2004 01:21
Great Gallery.

Lisa Haskins		05-Aug-2004 18:34
Great work, real depth and humanity. Wonderful!

Guest		03-Aug-2004 21:10
I have to agree with Evan Ritchie....i couldnt make such pictures. The thing that i think is also a little strange is, that you are selling those pictures now to get money for a new equipment - on the one hand this is understandable...but on the other hand: those children have nothing...they only search for things to eat. Dont u think it would make more sense to sell those pictures and to give the money to a organisation that helps such children. At least this is what you could do to "thank" those children for letting you make those pictures. The money for your equipment you will get sooner or later anyway... Think about it. Still some of the pictures are really great and touching.

Michele Rodgers		03-Aug-2004 12:51
I needed this jolt. I am very lucky not to have to live this way. Time to help see that others don't live like this. Thanks for opening my eyes once again. Michele

hugo drax		02-Aug-2004 05:09
Hell on earth. If people were sent to hell this is what I think it would be like, eternally fighting for scraps of garbage in a huge stinking pile of refuse and then dying in the same pile.

Tom		31-Jul-2004 23:26
Hello, my compliments for your nice photos! Please come see my photos sometime? Best regards, Tom from The Netherlands. http://tomjutte.fotopic.net

Evan Ritchie		31-Jul-2004 14:28
For this Gallery I like it and I dont like it. The photos are great and touching like everyone says but the thing that would bug me is walking around a dump in nice clothes with a camera that cost over $1000 taking pictures of people who couldnt afford a $5 throw away camera. The pictures are really nice looking but I dont know if I could personally go and do something like that.

Thasanay		31-Jul-2004 02:25
Oh_wow! Thankfully for your sharing of great informations.

Phyllis Stewart		26-Jul-2004 20:46
I voted for this wonderful gallery before even looking at all of it. Truly amazing! Great photos, so touching and real!

Geoff Delderfield Photography		25-Jul-2004 15:31
An amazing collection of photos that portray the place very well. Very moving series. I voted.

Ellie Johnson		25-Jul-2004 00:09
You have done a fantastic job!! these pictures have such feeling & evoke such feelings, you are very gifted in photo journalism.

hantek		22-Jul-2004 21:04
spectacular work, love the tonality. i was in cambodia recently and feel sad every time i think about their tragedy. it's a story that needs more attention, thanks for displaying your view.

yippee2000		22-Jul-2004 16:23
Amazing gallery!

Wilian C�zar Aguiar		19-Jul-2004 13:19
wonderful and amazing images. Congratulations.

blu		19-Jul-2004 10:59
very touching and well composed gallery. it's very nice to see that you can make these children smile for your photos even under these circumstances. all the best and keep your head up, urs

click on thumbnails for full image