The Vendor Children

It is unfortunate that children everywhere do not always enjoy the opportunities of a good education and a secure environment where they can simply be children.

In Guatemala, public schools are sub-par, and Mayan Indian families often rely on the labor of children to help them get by.  Rather than sending them to the classroom, it is not unusual to see children, often very young, selling handmade goods and souvenirs on the street, especially in locations that cater to tourists.  Girls will usually be in their finest traditional Indian clothing.  They will approach whoever passes by and hone their sales skills on the street.

Young girls in Antigua, Guatemala become vendors at an early age.  You can click on photographs for a larger view.

Mayan children at a rural school in Chimaltenango.

A vendor on the steps of the Cathedral in Chichicastenango.

You can view my photography website at: www.tombellart.com.

6th EDITION POLLUX PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

I was surprised last night to learn that one of my images, Dog in Castrillo de los Polvazares (Spain), won first place in the Street Photography and Cityscapes category of the 6th Pollux Awards, an international photography competition that draws thousands of photographs from dozens of countries.  Winning works of the Pollux Awards will be exhibited at the 3^rd Biennial of Documentary and Fine Art Photography at the Municipal Museum in Malaga, Spain, opening on September 18^th, 2014.

Dog in Castrillo de los Polvazares (Spain).  First Place in Street Photography and Cityscapes.

Three other images were finalists:

Gondolas was a finalist in the Fine Art Photography category.

Cartwheel was a finalist in the Children category.

Bubble Man was a finalist in the People category.

You can view all of the winning images in the 6th Pollux Awards at:  http://www.call4artists.com/Gallery_6th_Pollux_Award.php.  Congratulations to all the winners.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

Children are the Missing Element...

Often, I'm at a photogenic spot -- a historic building or scenic location.  I point the camera and get a stunning photograph -- but upon further inspection, something is missing.  Maybe the missing element is children.  Below are some examples of the child or children making the photograph.

This is a very scenic location in the central plaza of Salamanca.  It needed children to make it interesting.

This dramatic photo of the Arch of Santa Catalina in Antigua, Guatemala works because of the young soccer player in the foreground.

Children were jumping like crazy for the bubbles from this street performer in Bologna, Italy.

These active children were perfect subjects for a photo in a León, Spain park.

The accordion playing street performer was a good subject for a photography, but the little girl makes it a human interest story.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.