Math Lesson, Ketou, a photo from Plateau, South

Photographer's Note

I don't have much else to say about the photo, but...

Just to add that in a country where the literacy rate is 33.6% (CIA World Factbook, 2002 estimate), education is obviously very important and highly valued in Beninese society.

Aliine ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

Aliine (2669) 2007-03-21 15:41

Hi Caleb,
I like your shot, very simple but very representative.
The contrast between the child and the blackboard is very good.
Regards
Aline

king (4242) 2007-03-21 17:56

Hello Caleb

Story telling picture. Like the composition and the colours of the boy's/girl's clothes versus the gray blackboard.
Regards,
Huub de K.

antho (412) 2007-03-21 22:26

Hi Caleb

Like your picture a lot, reminds me when I was teaching in Benin... The blackboard looks very "African" and shows a little bit of the conditions of education there.

Was thinking about how could someone take a picture including both the blackboard and the child's face... It's tricky and your picture is a good choice.

Anyway, thanks for sharing, it's great!

Antho

jjcordier (79299) 2007-03-22 4:05

Une image simple mais très "parlante". J'aime la touche colorée apportée par les habits de l'enfant devant ce (triste) tableau noir (plutôt gris, d'ailleurs!)
Amicalement
JJ

faubry (35447) 2007-03-22 6:10

hello Caleb, j aime beaucoup cette simple scene en classe, merci
frncine

Jgirl (31) 2007-06-08 9:46

Good work, I love the contrast of the bright clothing colours and deep warm skin colour of the teacher against the faded blackboard. Well captured.

marietom (34611) 2007-11-01 9:04

Hi Caleb,

Une bien belle image, avec ce vieux tableau, sur lequel contrastent les très belles couleurs des vêtements.
Marie

venslens (448) 2007-11-12 1:11

Well...as you rightly said this photo tells the story.simple yet so strong a message.the black board,the simple math,the subject holding the chalk,typically dressed subjet!!!think the government can use it for thier campaigning... :-)

Greetings from india.
venkat

chriswhitley (2027) 2007-12-02 3:38

Hello Caleb,
Nice shot. Very simple but very powerful with your notes. As others say, good contrast between the chalk board and the bright clothes. Chris

macjake (98454) 2012-06-04 16:12

Hi Caleb
we don't see too many photos from Benin!
great to see you posting photos from here.
its amazingly sad that the literacy rate is 33%!
this is a true cultural scene, especially in seeing how they form their number 9's and 1's.

Just curious....how was your time here? did you find it at all to be unsafe? unclean? any troubles traveling?
let me know :)
Cheers
Craig

mayjayne (7204) 2012-06-16 23:04

Dear Caleb,

A case of 'less is more' - you simple composition tells us a lot in the contrary aout the situation there. The classroom atmosphere is contrasted with the vibrant colours of her dress - interesting !

TFS,
May

kasianowak (17676) 2012-12-06 13:23

Hi Caleb
Great image that tells a story. What I really like about it is a set of contrasting elements - colourful clothes versus grey board, traditional elements versus modern science...
Best wishes
Kasia

holmertz (102672) 2014-03-25 2:47

Hello Caleb,
This is a lovely photo, I really like it. It's fine as a composition with its natural partial desaturation but most of all I like it for the message it sends of progress and hopes for a better future. I have posted similar photos from Burkina Faso that are among my own personal favourites for the same reason. I checked up on the literacy rate for Benin, which since 2002 has risen to over 40 %. Although far from good enough it's at least going in the right direction.
Kind regards,
Gert

Photo Information

Copyright: Caleb Ficner (kwekwekan) (1078)
Genre: Persone
Medium: Colore
Date Taken: 2007-02-20
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FX-01
Esposizione: f/5.6, 1/15 secondi
More Photo Info: view
Versione Foto: Versione Originale
Diario di viaggio: Benin, Un-forgotten
Tema(i): Classrooms worldwide, My Photography, Children at school, mes favorites (1) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-03-21 13:08