Growing up I’ve always had a camera and never thought of having pictures as a privilege. Yet in all reality, it’s a pretty big privilege. Not only that I have a camera, but that I also have the time to go around and take pictures.
There’s times when I’m taking pictures of random people, I feel like the biggest creep ever. But always at the end of the day I’m glad I pulled up my pants and got over myself and took pictures. From my wonderful translation of the Khmer language and people’s body language, I can tell that they are grateful and happy with the pictures I took pictures of them, but mostly their children’s pictures. There have been numerous times a parent (I’m assuming) has brought a child up to me for me to take a picture. Or my favorite is when the adults rearrange children that are standing around when they see my camera.
One day taking pictures for OREADA, a mother came up to me shaking my hand proclaiming what I’m assuming words of thanks for taking pictures of her/the children. Her gratitude stands out to me, because honestly before that hand shake and smile I didn’t see all of the greatness of what I was doing. And to some degrees I won’t ever fully know. I know photography is important and can be used for Gods glory, no doubt. So don’t come and beat me up on that point. I just never really thought that the individuals would appreciate the act of simply taking a picture, a task most Americans do on a weekly basis. How touching a simple point and click of a camera can be to somebody in a developing country. It amazes me how such a tiny little action of my finger can make someone’s day.
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