Smile

New locations

2009-01-19T22:56:00.000-08:00

The children's pictures had a successful showing at Gasolina and are now on display in 2 more locations in Phnom Penh!

The upstairs large meeting room in The Living Room in BKK and also at the delightful K'nyay restaurant located just by the Independence Monument on Sihanouk Bvd.

The children and teachers have had an audience with The King of Cambodia! (click on the link http://www.norodomsihamoni.org/news.php?lan=E&year=2008&month=10&day=30&seq=1 and click on the title: Cambodian (sic) Center for Happiness to see the photographs)

Coverage of the project by the Phnom Penh Post is here: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2008102322274/Life-Style/Photo-project-gives-kids-chance-for-expression.html

Should you wish to purchase a print please contact us - proceeds of sale go to the child who took the picture and to the Centre for Children's Happiness.

Finally - 2009 calenders now available showcasing the children's work for only $6!!! Contact us to get yours sent to you immediately! - Smilecambodia@gmail.com

Week 10 - The Markets: Kandal and Chas

2008-10-05T03:29:00.000-07:00

Here is the first set of pictures from our Saturday trip to the Markets - 2 further groups of pictures will follow.

Ratha's best images

Raksmey's best images

Naran's best images

Week 9 - Udong

2008-10-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

On week 9 we went to Udong.

Here is what the LP has to say: Udong, 40km (25mi) north of Phnom Penh, was the capital of Cambodia between 1618 and 1866. It's generally very quiet here, and you'll often have the town's stupas to yourself (along with picnickers at weekends). You'll find the ruins sprinkled across two ridges..... We went at the weekend so there was plenty of action including the National ballet performing for a Governement Minister.

Week 9 - Udong - Group 1

2008-10-03T03:48:00.000-07:00

Sambath's best images

Sokunthea's best images

Sambo's best images

Piset's best images

Week 9 - Udong - Group 2

2008-09-22T04:03:00.000-07:00

Ratha's best images

Srey Neang's best images

Thavery's best images

Raksmey's best images

Naran's best images

Over Monivong Bridge and turn left

2008-09-16T04:42:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we went to the other side of the river and visited a Vietnamese area based on the banks of the Tonle Bassac. Here are some of the best pictures...

Lesson 8: Over Monivong Bridge

2008-09-14T02:49:00.000-07:00

Thea's best images

Piset's best images

Sambath's best images

Srey Neang's best images

Thavery's best images

Raksmey's best images

Ratha's best images

Sambo's best images

Naran's best images

One more from week 7...

2008-09-08T04:07:00.000-07:00

Sugar Cane - By Piset

Lesson 7: Markets and the riverside

2008-09-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

With 9 students this week we reached a record breaking 11 people in a tuk tuk and headed off to the market by the Theatre - Near the Hotel Intercontinental.

This market will apparently be moving to the dump site, where the children worked before moving to CCH, after the dump is closed. We also made a trip to the Riverside.

Piset's best images

Sambath's best images

Sokunthea's best images

Thavery's best images

Srey Neang's best images

Ratha's best images

Raksmey's best images

Sambo's best images

Naran's best images

Everyone's best images - Lesson 6

2008-09-04T02:45:00.001-07:00

During lesson 7 we had Thea and 4 of the newer students. The students were keen to visit S21. The former school where the Khmer Rouge tourtured and murdered thousands of people. Photographic opportunities were therefore mininal but a rich cultural experience as the students had never been there before. We also visited a riverside slum area.

Sambo's best pictures:

Thea's best pictures:

Srey Neang's best pictures:

Naran's best pictures:

Raksmey's best pictures:

Lesson 6 - A journey back to the dump

2008-08-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 23 August 4 adult assistants and 7 children headed out to the infamous landfill in Phnom Penh - Stung Meanchey.

The children from CCH and CDCC (its sister orphanage) have all been rescued from the dump. The children may have arrived with parents who have since died or even abandoned them. Some came alone - being as young as 8 and armed with only their plastic sack. There are clearly numerous health risks (physical and mental) associated with working in a place as hideous as this. From the risks of AIDS/HIV from the disposal of medical waste to the toxic methane constantly released from the rubbish it is harder to imagine spending longer than the two and a half hours we spent there - Some of the children lived and worked there for over 10 years. The pictures they produced help tell their stunning tale. 5 of the students were new to the photography project. After looking at the pictures below I'm sure you will agree that they did an excellent job - In total the students took 1,256 photographs! More of their best photos can be seen by following the links below.

NOTE: Not all the pictures of all the students will fit on one page - There are so many of them! Please use the links at the side of the page to see the images by Srey Neang and any other posting that falls off the bottom of the page!

Lesson 6 - A journey back to the dump - Piset's best images

2008-08-23T18:36:00.005-07:00

These are just some of Pisets's best - see more of his best work at the dump on the following link: http://s411.photobucket.com/albums/pp191/smilecambodia/Piset/

Lesson 6 - A journey back to the dump - Sambath's best images

2008-08-23T18:36:00.003-07:00

These are some of Sambath's best pictures. More of his best can be seen by clicking on: http://s411.photobucket.com/albums/pp191/smilecambodia/Sambath/

Lesson 6 - A journey back to the dump - Naran's best images

2008-08-23T18:36:00.001-07:00

This is a selection of Naran's best pictures from Saturday - More of her best can be seen at: http://s411.photobucket.com/albums/pp191/smilecambodia/Naran/

Lesson 6 - A journey back to the dump - Raksmey's best images

2008-08-23T18:35:00.004-07:00

Here are some of the best from Raksmey. More of her best pictures can be seen at http://s411.photobucket.com/albums/pp191/smilecambodia/Raksmey/

Lesson 6 - A journey back to the dump - Sambo's best images

2008-08-23T18:35:00.003-07:00

Here are some of the best from Sambo. More of her best pictures can be seen at http://s411.photobucket.com/albums/pp191/smilecambodia/Sambo/

Lesson 6 - A journey back to the dump - Ratha's best images

2008-08-23T18:35:00.001-07:00

Here are some of the best from Ratha. More of his best pictures can be seen at http://s411.photobucket.com/albums/pp191/smilecambodia/Ratha/

Lesson 6 - A journey back to the dump - Srey Neang's best images

2008-08-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the best images from Srey Neang. More of her best pictures can be seen at: http://s411.photobucket.com/albums/pp191/smilecambodia/Srey%20Neang/

Lesson 5 - Koh Dait

2008-08-16T04:13:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures from Saturday 16th August 2008 from Koh Dait

Lesson 5: Koh Dait - Thavery's best images

2008-08-16T04:06:00.001-07:00

Lesson 5: Koh Dait - Piset's best images

2008-08-16T04:00:00.001-07:00

Lesson 5: Koh Dait - Thea's best images

2008-08-16T03:55:00.000-07:00

Lesson 5: Koh Dait - Mekong Island: Sambath's best images

2008-08-16T02:51:00.001-07:00

Week 5

2008-08-14T16:59:00.001-07:00

This week the students will be taking a trip down the Mekong to a silk producing island - Koh Dait.

Week 4 - Olympics

2008-08-11T03:16:00.000-07:00

With the Olympics starting this week the students went to the Olympic market and the Olympic stadium in the West of Phnom Penh. Here are some of their photographs....

Lesson 4: Olympics - Sambath's best images

2008-08-11T02:57:00.001-07:00

Lesson 4: Olympics - Thea's best images

2008-08-11T02:39:00.000-07:00

Lesson 4: Olympics - Thavery's best images

2008-08-10T22:25:00.000-07:00

Lesson 4: Olympics - Piset's best images

2008-08-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

Week 3 - Pagodas and art: Introduction

2008-08-02T03:44:00.001-07:00

In today's lesson four of the students continued to learn about the way in which an automatic camera functions and how to think about simple rules of composition (sadly, Raruth was not well). We reviewed last week's best pictures and headed off to take some more...

The lesson ended with well deserved drinks in the FCC before the students returned to CCH and CDCC. Locations visited include:

The surrounds of the Wat South of the Independence Monument on Norodom Bvld - Including the Pagoda "factory"

Street 172- - To observe the sculptures being carved

Street 178 to the University of Fine Art

Wat Sarawan (featured in the movie the City of Ghosts)

Wat Phnom

Week 3 - Pagodas and art: Piset's best images

2008-08-02T03:43:00.003-07:00

Week 3 - Pagodas and art: Thavery's best images

2008-08-02T03:43:00.001-07:00

Week 3 - Pagodas and art: Thea's best images

2008-08-02T03:42:00.001-07:00

Week 3 - Pagodas and art: Sambath's best images

2008-08-02T03:33:00.001-07:00

Lesson 2 - The Central Market:Sambath's best images

2008-07-26T18:22:00.001-07:00

On Saturday the CCH students visited the Central Market with their instructors. For some of the children, despite living in Phnom Penh, they had never been to the central market before. This is not all that surprising given how far away from the centre of the city they live. The visit provided for some good photo opportunities for all students - They were only just getting used to the cameras given to them some 20 minutes prior to taking some of these shots.

Lesson 2 - The Central Market: Piset's best images

2008-07-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

Lesson 2 - The Central Market: Thavery's best images

2008-07-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

Lesson 2 - The Central Market: Thea's best images

2008-07-26T17:26:00.001-07:00

Lesson 2 - The Central Market: Raruth's best images

2008-07-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

First lesson

2008-07-20T00:36:00.000-07:00

The first lesson took place on 19 July 2008.

We considered other amateur photographers work that was probably done with a point and shoot camera. - It is not the make of camera but the person operating it who is responsible for a good or a not so good photo. The purpose was to inspire thought for the student's photography that will start next week.

The students learnt what "street" or documentary photography is - Wikipedia's commentary on the subject as well as some general photographs (famous and not) are below.

The students received instruction on the need to hold the camera correctly and to think about angle and positioning. We also discussed whether the students would feel awkward asking Khmers if they could have their photo taken and the benefits of taking candid photos without first obtaining permission.

Samples of street photography...

2008-07-19T20:19:00.000-07:00