Samson by Andrew Makowiecki
This is a photo taken at the Aboriginal protest against building on a sacred site. The protest was near Kings Park Perth Western Australia.
In the background is the Swan River where Samson and a whole bunch of other kids were playing and fishing.
Samson is the kids real name and he saw me taking photos of some of the others and insisted that I take his photo.
For all his bravado Samson was not that healthy. In the photo he has a runny nose and skin rashes, especially on his legs.
The health of the Indigenous peoples in Australia is very bad. I think aboriginal life expectancy is about thirty years less than the rest of Australia.
The death rate for children is about the same as for very poor third world countries.
I am not sure how the problem can be fixed as it is a complex one. But it is certainly not a good situation for these people.
I had posted this pic before but I found the negatives for this shoot the other day and the image is so much better than the original scan from a print.
Pic was taken on a Pentacon Six Medium Format camera.
Film was the brand new technology at the time Ilford XP1. I used this film because of its great latitude for exposure.
Tags
australian, perth, kid, aboriginal, swan brewery, aboriginal activist, aboriginal protest
Comments
Andy this is just so powerful…. go little Samson..he is just such a cutie…. the contrast between his optimistic look and gesture and the reality of his situation is so powerful… just love the humanity of this shot
Thanks Juilee he is such a cutie. I know what became of a lot the protesters but I don’t know how Samson finished up. He was a really nice kid.
– Andrew Makowiecki
Andy this is a tremendously powerful photo. Yje water ripples add turmoil the cracked concrete tells of destruction and the interaction with the subject is great. And then I read the cutline Wow you used photography to bring to light the terrible plight of these proud people, a very well done Mate.
Thanks Larry this picture has a soft spot for me as it was one of the first photos I took that had some purpose. I was so proud that it was used in a magazine story about the protest.
– Andrew Makowiecki
indigenous health is one of Australias great shames … touching photo!
Thanks Helen this is one of my favourite pics and one of the first photos taken by me that served a useful purpose.
All the best Helen.
– Andrew Makowiecki
Samson is a little fighter isn’t he? Hope he gets the health-care he needs. Lovely photo.
Thanks Judith he was such a gorgeous kid. I am not sure what happened to him but a couple of his friends didn’t fare too well.
I hope you are enjoying Berlin, when my youngest can do without me for a while I will be moving there myself In a couple of years.
Best wishes from Andrew
– Andrew Makowiecki
Love this Andy! Great Portrait!
Thanks Graham, Aboriginal kids are such great subjects to photograph.
– Andrew Makowiecki
just wonderful, Andy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Maria this was one of my first useful pics and pointed me in a direction for my photography.
Good to see you back was the birth pic you posted recently yours.
All the best your friend, Andrew
– Andrew Makowiecki
Wow, wonderful to be able to give dignity to the subject when taking these difficult photos. And great to let him demand from you. I salute your personal and photographic qualities here. :-)
Thanks Andrew, for street photos one thing that still scares me is asking people if I can take their photo.
When taking the photo of him it was so much easier because he insisted I take his pic.heheheh.I am also thinking it is probably not a good idea these days to approach a child and ask to take a photo.
All the best from Andrew
– Andrew Makowiecki
wonderful photo and thx so much for educating us with this info
Brilliant shot Andrew, very well framed, I especially like the way you’ve managed to capture the etxture of the sea in the background. Well done!
Thanks Mathew. This pic is a favorite of mine, like yourself I especially like the water texture.
From memory I think the shutter speed was fairly slow ( 1/15 or 1/30) so the water was slightly softened.
All the best mate Andrew
– Andrew Makowiecki