Preschool in Viet Nam

[Comanche]

I thought I would take a different direction for this post. To get to this assignment, I had to motorbike a long way down a dirt road - and my equipment got very dusty.

Thanx for the kudos so far - and please, folks - post some critiques of the pictures - things you think I did wrong or could improve on.

The little preschool is on a dirt road, set in a field of rice near the Perfume River. This is rural Vi?t Nam – out where almost everyone is a farmer. Preschools are not run by the Ministry of Education and Training – they are run by the villagers who get together (with some help from the provincial government) to provide the same kind of experience as kindergarten. There is a small kitchen for preparing a light meal for the kids, but there is only one classroom.




She is not a regular teacher trained at a su pham (teacher’s college), but rather a local lady who likes kids and has some background in early childhood pedagogy. Her job is to bring some social skills to the kids and introduce them to the basic stuff like colors and the alphabet. Gentle Readers may notice the poster behind the students and see there are three different triplets of Os and As and other vowels. The Vietnamese alphabet is similar to ours in that it uses Roman characters, but many vowels have special markings on them which change the pronunciation of the letter.



As soon as the big westerner and his camera showed up, total chaos reigned. The kids went wild trying to show off for the camera – in spite of my desires to get some shots of them in the classroom. Nor did the teacher seem inclined to channel the madness, though she did put them into a nice class pose – the kind of shot I did not want.



I had to learn how to be sneaky in order to get the shots I wanted. I noticed these three girls sharing a bag of snacks, but each time I aimed the lens at them, the pack quickly surrounded the three and I got nothing but multiple faces mugging for the camera and putting fingers on the lens. Therefore, I devised a miss-direction play. I pretended to be setting up a shot in one place, but really had my eye on the girls. When I saw a good shot, I quickly swung around to get them – and the pack couldn’t respond quickly enough.



Gap-toothed smiles were everywhere. The tooth fairy must have been very busy in this village recently.



But I also acquired a new photography assistant. I had set my belt pack down so it would be easier for me to get up off the floor, but a few minutes later I noticed a very young lady slinging my lenses and other do-dads over her shoulder.



She was cute, but not a very good assistant – she disappeared when the time came to clean the fingerprints and dust off the camera and lenses.

[Teddington]

Doug, looks like I get to go first. I'm loving your series and your story telling. Just a few quick reactions:

I really like the content of the first photo but I miss the top of the peak. Maybe a portrait cutting off the right side where there's not much interest. I like the grass leading to the porch.

Second one is a bit dark but access to more PP can probably fix that.

Your biggest asset. You always get down to the kids level instead of shooting down at them. I love the 3rd one where you are actually shooting UP at them.

I know a good photographer can do lots of styles but I'm new enough to the forum to think about you as a sports shooter. Not anymore.

[AndrewCCM]

Not much in the way of critique, but I'd recommend you send that pic to Think Tank.. I bet they'd use it on their site with the story behind it... They are always highlighting their customers various uses of the TT equipment.

Interesting assignment you have there Doug...

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by Teddington

I really like the content of the first photo but I miss the top of the peak. Maybe a portrait cutting off the right side where there's not much interest. I like the grass leading to the porch.

Second one is a bit dark but access to more PP can probably fix that.

Your biggest asset. You always get down to the kids level instead of shooting down at them. I love the 3rd one where you are actually shooting UP at them.

I know a good photographer can do lots of styles but I'm new enough to the forum to think about you as a sports shooter. Not anymore.

Wow! Thanx, Terry - I never thought of myself as a good sports shooter - not around the likes of Greg and Bob and others. I appreciate that comment.

I agree with you on the top photo. I just couldn't get a shot I liked without a plain ol' cliche straight on shot. But, I failed anyway - that's rice in the foreground, not grass.

I really try hard not to do the "six foot shot" thing - photos are better from a different perspective than the usual six feet. But, that's also why I put my gear down - this old man has a hard enojugh time getting off the floor without a belt full of gear.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

Not much in the way of critique, but I'd recommend you send that pic to Think Tank.. I bet they'd use it on their site with the story behind it... They are always highlighting their customers various uses of the TT equipment.

Interesting assignment you have there Doug...

What a kewl idea! I never thought about that.

And - even kewler - Think Tank gear is made in Viet Nam!

The "assignment" is a volunteer job. I am shooting for a non-profit called MEDRIX (www.medrix.org) based in Seattle. My wife is a Registered Nurse and is teaching an English medical terminology class at the Hue hospital. I shoot what they need for documentation and fund-raising purposes. Not all the shooting is fun stuff - today was a meeting of senior government officials and the MEDRIX Executive Director. It was just like shooting a political grip 'n grin meeting at home for the newspaper, but MEDRIX wanted prints to give to the officials afterwards.

[lhdvies]

Continuous good work Doug-I envy you your assignment. Your respect for their culture shows and makes your journalizing a very authentic expeerience. The last 3 shots are priceless.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by lhdvies

I envy you your assignment. Your respect for their culture shows and makes your journalizing a very authentic expeerience. The last 3 shots are priceless.

Thanx, Leon.

Its a self-made assignment. Want to come with me on a future trip? We're about the same age, so you won't have to worry about me wearing you out.