At The Well
Mali 2001: In the Sahara North of Timbuktu
A Touareg man hauls water for his camels who wait peacefully. His son stands nearby waiting to assist.
The Apprentice
The boy knew his contribution was important. The only thing he did that was “boyish” was to have his camel nearby at all times. He held the lead rope and the camel followed him where ever he went. The white camel in the photo is his “pet”.
These were shot with Tri-X 400, my favorite film because I could push it to 1200 ASA or sometimes to 1600 if I were desperate. I had no complaints about my exposure as I scanned these despite it being in the middle of the day. The bright sun reflecting off the sand worked as a reflector and filled the shadows. You might say that the eyes have dark shadows, but I can see the whites of the man’s eyes when I enlarge the image. I call it good.