Kids of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia 2008)

Laos is one of the poorest countries in it's region with the majority of it's inhabitants still working in agriculture, placing a large percentage of the population in remote villages where few tourists venture.

These villages are overflowing with children, who often were the first to greet you when entering a new village. Their curiosity and playfulness was contagious, and despite the language barrier we always found a way to communicate. The playing extended into getting the right shots, sometimes even hide-and-seek became the game of choice. :)

I wanted to find a way to show my appreciation for the warm welcomes and photographic opportunities but I didn't think giving money would leave the right impression. I started buying a lot of stationary products; pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, you name it! To my satisfaction these simple products brought a lot of joy to their little lives, giving me enduring memories of looking back as I left a village, seeing the beaming smiles of the children playing with their new belongings.

For portrait shots please see Little Looks.