Steve McCurry,a famous photographer, especially known for his photograph of the green-eyed Afghan girl, depicts child labour in various countries of the world (particularity in Asia and Africa). He includes several images of child labourers in his blog,bringing awareness to the exploitive work and the difficult working conditions.
One of his images illustrates an eleven-year-old Philippine boy working in gold mine. The photograph ( taken in 1985) shows us the hazardous conditions in which children of developing countries are forced to work. The viewer's eye is drawn to the eyes of the boy which are located in the top area of the image. His gaze evokes sympathy. The torch on his head and the dark background describe the poor light conditions of the workplace and the danger to which he is exposed.
The boy who is the central subject of the image appears distressed. He is not too emotional. He is holding a shovel and seems to be confident in his pose. This only proves that he must have been working as a miner for quite a long time. The scene is disturbing and makes us reflect on the conditions of child labour in developing counties and the consequences of such situation.
An eleven-year-old boy working in gold mine, Mindinao, Philippines, 1985
McCurry has an uncanny ability to make his subjects forget about the camera. This helps him capture the real human condition.
'I try to convey what it is like to be that person, a person caught in a broader landscape that you could call the human condition.” (Steve McCurry)
Patience is the key. McCurry says:
“If you wait,people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view' . (Steve McCurry)
External links:
Steve McCurry blog: http://stevemccurry.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/children-at-work/
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