Photo Essay

Photo #1 'I always kept 'em together and kept 'em fed..."

Standing by the door is a woman, hands clasped, almost as if she is hopeful that something will take her out of the life she is living. Her journey through life has been etched on her skin. Grey wiry strands of hair dangle loosely covering the back of her neck, brown from the sun. The eyes have seen much suffering. The lack of food, the absence of a job, and the difficulty of raising kids have made her once optimistic mind cold. Life has no mercy when it sees a struggle. Almost like vultures luring around a dying gazelle in the desert heat. Years of labor have taken their toll on her faded clothes. Her nails are broken with grim under their surfaces. The flowers on her dress pattern all the way down to the bottom; the flowers not as colorful as they used to be. The good life seems vague, and still she keeps her hands clasped... hoping that there will be a change in the years to come. Once the light of a better day chooses to settle upon them, there will be time to change the maggot infested door that has open and closed the days of tussle. If only a door opens to let in the splendor of a new beginning.

Photo #2
"We got to have a house when the rains come..." (Boy's point of view)

Ever since my sister was born, this was the only life she was accustomed to. No toys, no beds. Just dirt and broken car axles like the one I found next to the tent. She loves to play with sand. Every mornin' I'll find her crouched over and twiddling her fingers in the dust. Dreaming of princesses and angles keep her play full of fantasy. No such thing have I ever dreamt of. I know the hard times. I know the easy times. My parents work in the fields for thirteen hours a day. In the evenin' we make some supper out of the small share we get from the boss. Nothin' else to eat. It's terrible.... but still my sis keeps playin' in the sand. Cups and bottles are a common thing to find on the ground close to our dwelling. Hut rather. The pillows lie out in the sun every morning to evaporate the sweat from the night before. The heat never goes. Our table and pans are on the other side, can't you see? They don't work very well, but it's better than nothin'! My clothes have been botherin' me too. They're from ma daddy, and they're torn at the knees. I wonder when we'll ever be able to buy new clothes for our family. They get itchy and sweaty. No matter how much we complain, we won't be seeing much new stuff because we just can't afford it. About the tent. Well we made it out of the bed sheets Boss gave to us. They're torn now because of some thieves comin' along with knives. Sometimes the wind will blow them against the branches behind back there. Nasty. Ma momma and daddy always say though, "We'll see better days. All we need to do is keep a smile on our faces and keep a'workin'. Next thing you know it the world will be a better place." Well, I hope their right because I can't take all this ragged lifestyle no more. Besides, I want my sister be able to play with real toys instead of dirt. (She wipes her dirty hands on my back all the time.) No worries. Nothing can get any dirtier when you live in the middle of nowhere.


Photo #3 "The whole thing's nuts. There's work to do and people to do it."

Despite the the endless wood he needs to cut, the middle aged man always bears a smile on his face. Holding his axe for a little rest, he stares off into the distance looking at the beautiful landscape beyond the little lumber village. His muscles itch, and he boots and scuffed. His gloves no doubt have holes from the hours of timeless labor. "The wood's for the Boss!" he exclaims. "Whatever the Boss needs, we get 'im. That's the way things go." The confidence the man's body language displays is unmatched. A natural leader, and well-built man, and a human who accepts the inhumane working conditions. The sun has his skin browned. There's not escaping it. For him, there's no escaping the lasso that his boss has him caught in; a lasso of control. Dealing with hard times is the best thing to do when there's just no way out.