4: Lina

Portraits - the Motherhood series. 

Lina and Sam live in a village in Siem Reap with their two sons (aged six and four), two nieces, a nephew and are expecting their third child, a baby girl due in May. I was invited into their home after I told Sam about my portrait project. As we approached, the children came running out to greet us, clearly overjoyed to see their father/uncle. The youngest had been sick with a stomach bug the day before so he was quiet and stayed close to his mother. 

In their home, necessities simply cannot be taken for granted. Lina uses a small wood burning stove to cook for the family in a kitchen best described as basic. A kitchen that is underwater for a few months each year during the wet season. Lina explained how the cost of living was ever increasing. When someone is ill, the medicine required may very well take the place of food for the family. It's incredibly confronting to see young families faced with such pressure, living day to day.

Lina spoke tenderly to the children, her smile warm and generous. She spoke English well and seemed happy to share and connect. I took a polaroid camera and gave Lina and the kids the photos to keep. I'll never forget the look on her face when she saw the image of herself and her husband, they clearly love each other deeply. They are a team.

You can view all of my portraits from 2013/14 by clicking on the Portrait Series links on the right sidebar of this page.

Belinda x

Behind the scenes

A friend of mine took the photo above while I was chatting to last week's portrait subject, Thai Dany. It was an afternoon I'll always remember. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to visit the school, take part in the activities and meet the teachers and children so I thought I'd share a few more of my favourite pictures.

Belinda x

3: Thai Dany

Portraits - the Motherhood series. 

Thai Dany is a mother of three. She is a teacher at a school at Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Her two eldest children attend the school as students. She brings the youngest along every day because there is no-one to look after him at home while she works. I met Thai Dany thanks to a work charity event, we built bikes, a playground and planted a veggie garden for the children that attend her school. I took Thai Dany's portrait at four thirty in the afternoon - the end of the school day. The kids were lining up for final role call before heading home. Her youngest was hungry and irritable, she supervised the students in the yard whilst responding tenderly to his cries. When we spoke, her warmth and her quick smile were the things I noticed most.

You can view all of my portraits from 2013/14 by clicking on the Portrait Series button in the right sidebar of this page.

Belinda x

Reset

The Cockatoo Island free audio tour. I highly recommend it!

Happy New Year! It's a bit late, I know. Life has gone by in a bit of a blur these past few months. All of a sudden a whole new year is here.

I hope your holidays left you with wonderful memories. Lots of delicious food, great company and plenty of rest. 

Festivus for us this year was pretty special. Starting with a long anticipated airport reunion with loved ones visiting from England. Family christmas feasts, an unforgettable New Years Eve glamping on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, ferry rides, fun parks, picnics and meals shared outdoors and of course, as much time at the beach as we could fit in.

The new year brings promise of a fresh start. Soon I will go part time at work, hopefully bringing with it more balance, less stress. All in the name of giving us the best possible chances as we continue our journey to try and grow our family. I'm also aiming to carve out time to explore my creative aspirations. So many ideas have long taken a back seat. I look forward to having a little window of freedom to explore them.

I'm currently on a work trip in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It has been one of the most beautiful, confronting and rewarding experiences of my life, I cant wait to share more about this with you when I get back. Needless to say it has given me a good dose of perspective and gratitude for my many blessings.

Speaking of.... THANK YOU for coming back to visiting me here at Elsie and Joan. This little space will soon be two years old. I cannot even believe that! I look back and can see that my photography skills have improved. I'm finding and refining my writing voice. It's inspired me and pushed me out of my creative comfort zone. But most of all, it's 'meeting' you, your comments, support and friendship that have been the best part.

I'm feeling energised and ready to get into it. Come at me 2014!

Belinda x