Monday, August 01, 2005


This is one of my most favorite pictures taken! The picture is of a girl who lives in a Dehaat (Village) in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. The people have little to no education, very little economic strength - and no knowledge of what they can do; in summary, because of their status in the socio-economic strata, they are never able to fully realize their potential and contribute to the world. I wish I took a hair or two from her - I could have done a DNA sampling of her. I can speculate on her background, but I'm not sure. I think this is the best picture I've taken in years!

12 comments:

Just Jane said...

Wonderful color, adorable child, perfect focus. It is a fantastic photo.

Ali said...

Thanks Jane! I really appreciate it.

AA said...

very nice. sometimes a photo just catches your attention and you cant stop looking at it. the little girl's face tells a story.

Huda Ba'haroon said...

I love your pics. They're sooo natural !

Rihla 2006 said...

She looks beautiful mashaAllah though I really wish you'd caught the baby in her arms *feels like giving them a chubb*!

PS Is your name really Shahjahan?

Aisha said...

love the picture... its cute to see such a little child with a nose ring. In the USA it's considered a sign of rebellion, in Pakistan its a symbol of age old culture :)

Anostica said...

Great pic....the girl looks interesting.

Ali said...

poppie - do you have a blog? I have a picture of the other child as well, I'll post it soon. My real name is not Shah Jehan, but I do study Mughal history from time to time, so I thought it would be an appropriate name.

The Duke said...

It reminds me of that picture on that National Geographic of the young woman with green eyes. I think it was taken in Afgahanistan. It's pretty famous, so I hope you have an idea of what I am talking about!

InĂªs Ribeiro said...

hello!! this photo make me remember the movie " born into brodels"....do you know it?

Ali said...

No, I've never heard of the movie. I'll have to look it up and see how the movie connects to the image. Thanks for the insight.

Anonymous said...

nothing can beat innocence

very beautiful :)