Karen boy smoking cheroot by John Spies
Before schools and development projects, Karen children smoked homegrown tobacco and chewed betel, just as their parents had for centuries. This boy was the son of the village headman in a remote village in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. This image was on the cover of Australian Geo, part of an article, ‘The Opium Growers’ I wrote in 1982.
Comments
This is an amazing shot – the light coming through the boy’s ears and shining on his head – and the agelessness of his posture – he could as easily be an old man as a young one. Welcome to Red Bubble!
thanks The Scouts, I share your sentiments on how he has the look of someone much older. I met him again about a year later and he had upgraded to a pipe, which again made him look older. He still had a young boys filthy hands though.
Beautiful photo. I agree, something about this boy reminds me of an older wise man. Great capture
Maybe it is the look in his eyes or the casual pose,….and the cheroot probably helps distort our perception
another Perfect Portrait that it is filled with a story and LIFE! just LOVE YOUR VISION and WORK!
and I love your comments, always nice to get such positive feedback
– John Spies
hee hee
Amazing ..gosh.. very young to be smoking tobacco but that’s the culture I guess..and do they have good health as adults I wonder..?
fabulous photo!