Eyes of children around the world
Matam, Senegal
At the moment there are exhibitions displaying their photos in Liëge and Nuremberg. Photographers such as Robert Doisneau (1912-1994) or Ruth Orkin (1921-1985) were famous for the compassionate and vivid shots of children in the streets. In countries like India, Mali or the Cabo Verdian islands children are sometimes almost a nuisance – as soon as they see somebody with a camera they jump in front of the lens and pose, attracting their mates with loud howls to draw attention.
Lake Tana, Ethiopia
When I took the metro in Nuremberg recently, a big group of little school kids were herded into the station by their teachers. All were glad to escape the annoying torment at school and full of great expectations of what this day excursion would bring up. It was a lovely picture to watch them line up neatly in lines of two, wearing their little backpacks, Zipfelmütze and warm padded jackets like a group of smurfs.
Nürnberg, Germany
When I took the picture a heard a voice from behind my ear:
“Why do you take pictures of these children?”
“Are they your children?”
“Some parents do not like pictures to be taken from their children”.
Then the owner of the voice disappeared. He was no teacher, as I had suspected, but just an ordinary passer-by.
Outdoor lesson, Udaipur, India
Apparently we live in times where the pictures of happy children like taken by Orkin or Doisneau will disappear. In exhibitions, people will see pictures of streets full of cars but void of children. And parents will be longing for good pictures of their children....
Salento, Colombia
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