You tell me...

[Elfin Yeti]

Over Christmas we participated in an annual toy drive orchestrated by a pastor in a poor, mostly rural area,Perris, CA. This church collects toys and bikes, feeds the families, does face painting, and creates a joyous atmosphere. It was rainy most of the day. I offered to take pictures for the pastor and was aware while I was shooting that I wasn't getting the kinds of photos I'd expected, i.e., happy kids receiving toys. When I was editing the photos it was even more evident -- the sadness in the eyes of these kids (and their parents), the hollowness, is heartbreaking to me. They have a certain beauty but a fatigued look, a look far beyond their years. Do you see it too?

[JeffR]

1. Absolutely. It's there.

Scrolling down, it was a joy to get to the girl twirling the umbrella, because it seems like a moment of unalloyed pleasure. But the other shots say something important and profound and awful, and they're completely and nakedly beautiful photos.

[Elfin Yeti]

2. Thank you JeffR

I know what you mean about the girl with the umbrella -- she provides some much needed respite from the rest of the photos. The bikes were raffled off and I was struck by the three kids who were selecting a bike for a sibling instead of for themselves -- they were rewarded with gifts of their own, like a skateboard. One boy in particular, was inconsolable when the bike he had been eyeing was chosen by another child and to make matters worse, his number was not called so he didn't receive a bike at all (we hope to have many more bikes next year so that won't happen again). Here he is:

[JeffR]

5. I can't look at these photos without getting teary-eyed.

Please let me know if there's anything I can do to get that kid a bike.

[Elfin Yeti]

15. I don't think I can get an ID

I'll keep you posted on fund raising efforts though.Thank you for thinking that way, it means a lot.

[ohheckyeah]

3. The best photographs

are the ones that cause the viewer to have a visceral reaction in my opinion and these photos do just that. The little imp with the umbrella is a surprise in the context of the other photos. There is a look of deep weariness and wariness in the eyes of all of the other children.

I'm not a particularly emotional person but the little boy with the decoration on his cheek especially does something to me....he's a beautiful child with a rather haunted look in his eyes.

The photos are just beautifully done.

[Elfin Yeti]

16. Thank you!

I love that little boy's face too. Here are some smiling faces...

[postatomic]

4. You go in very tight on these people

I like that. You're very gifted.

I see a wide spectrum of emotions. Fatigue has its genesis from despair, fear. You've captured the emotional exhaustion. Call it fatigue-whatever.

Have to ask. Did you find yourself gravitating toward this particular emotion? It's difficult for many people to do this. Everyone 'wants' to find the smiling - the happy - the feel good image.

Thanks for taking the time to share these.

[Elfin Yeti]

17. And thank you for taking the time to view and comment

No, I wasn't gravitating toward it, it just was. I was trying to get as many of the kids' photos as possible for the pastor so he could promote the event for this year. I even encouraged the one young teenager to smile by looking at him and taking my hand to the corner of my mouth and lifting up -- he looked at me and shook his head slowly in response... no. What I didn't show you is how he looked when he picked a bike for his sister and got a skateboard:

[Celebration]

6. really wonderful photos

But, they are difficult to look at.

[Callalily]

7. These photos show such inner

sadness . . . and they make me sad too.

[KC]

8. It is so hard

to look at these without tearing up. They are all such beautiful children but they have so much
sadness in their eyes and expressions. It just breaks my heart.

[handmade34]

9. I will tell you... IMHO

your photographs are wonderful (and emotional)! The children ARE beautiful as children usually are, but what you have is significant social commentary.

"...This church collects...and creates a joyous atmosphere..." :shrug:

What your pictures tell me is that we (society) are not "getting it"...

[Elfin Yeti]

18. Thank you handmade!

Well, the church creates the atmosphere -- the volunteers run the BBQ, the face painter entertains, and the pastor imparts words of wisdom along with the energy of dispersing the gifts. But yes, you are correct, just like we treat the soldiers and their families who fight the wars on our behalf while losing their homes to foreclosure and burying their loved ones, we choose to ignore the plight of those who harvest our food to ensure it stays cheap while we harangue about the "immigration problem" as though the fault lies with these families. I abhor the sound bite mentality of those of us who refuse to think for themselves but are more than happy to spout the trash they hear from the pundits. Maybe they should spend Christmas at Pastor Pete's or invite a military family over for dinner...

[Mira]

10. The beauty of the children, matched by your expertise with the camera

creates an in your face portrait of a section of America that I only know too well. I participate in a toys for guns event every Christmas, where the children bring a toy gun or a similar item that suggests violence, and exchange it for a donated toy of their choice.

I have seen just what you are showing so pointedly, the sadness permeating your photos.
It's a visual journey that "poverty sucks".
And these were the children lucky enough to be able to be there.

And ElfinYeti: Please show up a little more often, we need both you and the gifts you bring.

[Elfin Yeti]

19. Thanks Mira!

Yes, I've missed you all! I promise to visit more often!!

[Solly Mack]

11. Powerful

Indeed...heartbreaking.

[Mz Pip]

12. Touching

tender and tough, all at the same time. So much sadness, so little hope or joy in what should be a joyous time for a child.

I agree with what everyone else has said about these portraits. They are just amazing.

[Alameda]

13. what beautiful faces....but true they look very very profoundly sad.

and it looks like the type of sorrow that has been going on a long time, the type where no end is in sight.

[Blue_In_AK]

14. Wonderful photos, EY

[Elfin Yeti]

20. Thank you!