It almost looks as if someone cut and pasted the little girl into the scenery... What a sweet photo!!
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I think this picture speaks clearly about the strength of the human soul. Her smile just radiates hope. I wish in many stories posted on the web anywhere there is destruction there were direct links to these people in need. That way anyone in the world can send help directly. We could all make a difference.
No child should have to see this destruction. It breaks my heart. Would you want this for your child?
I think this photo is wonderful, and it definately deserved to be in the year's best.
Definately stops me dead in y tracks.. makes me humble!! With out a doubt should be in the years best. To see a little girl who has gone through so much, find a glimpse of hope just because she gets to have her picture taken!!
This little girl is an icon for the resilliancy found in children; if only we could hold onto that going into adulthood.
This one reminds me of the National Geographic photo of the little Afghan-Pashtun refugee girl that made the cover. In them, we see what we want to see...hope, despair, resiliency, strength, humility...a Rorschach test of our souls using a photograph. It would be interesting to go back and find this girl 20 years from now...just as NG did...to complete the story.
It's amazing that no one of us would have that same smile if, perhaps, we receive a pair os socks for Christmas instead of the new mobile phone we expected. Definely, we are not ready to deal with te small things in life. cumpliments from Portugal
I've seen similar strength of character in Vietnam, Cambodia, all over Africa, and Serbia. It's unbelievable what the children of other nations go through daily yet they take it in stride. Our children take it for granted what they have and it's truly sad at times. It fuels the flames for emotions from other countries that our children and citizens are spoiled and selfish. I think this photograph paints that canvas extremely well. Wonderful, wonderful photograph. Well done.
This child has incredible courage. Here she stands in the rubbe of major catastrophy, her dress dirty, and hard to tell when she last had a hot meal, but yet she has a smile that projects a calming effect, like everything is going to be alright.
Were are her parents? does she need a family? She can join ours. What strength in character to smile in the face of such adversity.
This really makes me appreciate our fine Country. This picture should be a mandatory discussion in all schools across the nation. This poor girl has virtually nothing left and yet she finds the happiness from within to smile. So when your child does not get a new X BOX for Christmas, show them this picture so they can understand how good they really have it.
This Picture Should Have Been in The Year in Pictures!!!! What a beautiful little girl, and what an incredible message in this photo and it's stark simplicity. This picture is so representative of what we in America are not...humble, content, and appreciative of what we do have. I am encouraged to see the other comments expressing appreciation of this girl's strength and sweetness. I can't imagine what her entire story is, and I'm sad that I'll probably never know. I agree with Julio that being able to make contact in situations like this would be a wonderful opportunity to provide direct assistance. The photog is the only person who could provide that information, I guess.
beauty from ashes. hope from despair. life held in the balance. amazing.
rebirth. an amazing picture to see on the solstice.
This is proof that we Americans don't need all the crap that we hoard over and slave everyday to obtain as much as we think we do. Happiness comes from within and from friends and family. This is all this little girl has probably ever known. Yes David... I appreciate what we have too but....maybe if we didn't have as much we could really have what this little girl has, that our money can not buy.
Children are so amazing so full of love, forgivness, hope . It warms my very soul. And dang if it doesnt make me wanna go there & scoop her up and take her home with me.... Such a beautiful spirit !
wow wow wow. i don't know how to feel about this picture. i love her smile but at the same time, i see a child who looks older than she should. as a mom it breaks my heart but it is touching to still be able to see her smile.
This photo is such an eye opener to me. Wills you couldn't have nailed it any better. Children are so optimistic.
Maybe there is hope for the human race after all.
She is a perfect example of how home is in the heart, and she personifies that truism.
Stunning photo - This little girl should humble all of us sitting in our homes, warm and well fed. I don't think I'll ever grumble about burnt toast again. God bless her!
See, she (munches on a mcburger)is happy (talking with mouth full) just because she has a tree. (wiping BBQ sauce from lips) We 'mericans are so...ooo frech fries!
you guys, i don't think she's humbling, or resiliant--i mean she IS, BUT that's not what this picture or what she is saying. she's just happy. there's no destruction or thought of destruction involved. sure that happens to be the background, but all this picture is is an adorable smiling girl. or at least that's what it looks like to me...
She is such a beautiful little girl. Sad to see that the earthquake ruined her home.
The child's smile is so beautiful and innocent.
We could all learn something from the resilence of a child. Children love life itself and what is yet to come, with their eyes wide open on how to get there.
ANYBODY THAT HAS DONE A TINY BIT OF PHOTOGRAPHY WILL SEE THAT THIS IS A PASTE PHOTO, HOW COME THE EDITOR DIDN'T BLOCK IT. IT SHOULDN'T BE PART OF THE VERY VERY GOOD PHOTOS SUMMITED SO FAR. DISAPOINTED!!
God Bless you little girl let your smile live on.. makes my heart melt..if only we could feel that way with so little... nikki
Speechless. Other posters have said what I feel about this image.
Great photo! Follows are the clasical rule of photography. Lighting, 1/3rds, except... ...they should have picked up all the garbage or better yet hire the unemployed to clean up the area before they took the photo...that would have been a welcome change to all the prop shots.
In the midst of such destruction and devastation, this child smiles. There is hope, there is security. May we all be blessed with the serenity of knowing we CAN make a difference. Be the difference!
What sick person would take a picture of this poor little girl...she has no reason to smile....makes me wonder if the photographer asked her to smile.
Oh. This picture just makes me smile. I almost cried of happiness that someone maybe as young as her still keeps a smile for all of us to see. It just wows me that anyone could do that. I have seen a picture simialr, with a young boy as a survivor of Katrina still keeping hopes that life is definently going to get better. And Cathy, people can still smile, despite of their conditions. My dream is to be a journalist and a humanitarian. Go to kids who can still stick to happiness. It may be heart-wrenching but kids are the future and we don't want them to have withered souls and think that everything is always going to be disaster. I'm not agreeing with Saddam any way here, but did you know he was abused by his step-father? He probably grew up in such a bad condition that he thought it was the only way to go. My thanks to this young girl. And I know that forever my life is changed. I wanted to make this my wallpaper to remind me, but its impossible. But my respect to that girl. I will now think of her as "Hope".
Children seem to be what is keeping the world going. Their hope is astonishing!
This little girl surely knows Jesus Christ.
Resiliency and adapatability. I wish her the best. Impressive photo!
dear god in heaven Why?? why cant the human race get it and stop all this foolishness as a child so un to blame as to un adult to know better ????? G O D ?????
What a wonderful spirit this child has against a backdrop of terrible destruction. Excellent Picture
This was probably one of only a few pictures this little girl has ever had taken of her. No home, no things, but a family and a precious smile is all she needs!! Beautiful little girl!
What a tear jerker. This child has more courage than I do. I feel ashamed of myself. What a powerful wake up call. I wish I could use this as my wallpaper to remind me of how shallow I am.
Why is it that you assume the photographer said something to make her smile? Children - in all of their innocence, know nothing more than what they see. She knows nothing more than what she has experienced. She sees an American man who is clean and kind, with a large camera in his hand. She smiles, hams it up for the camera. Why is that so shocking? She's adorable, and it goes to show that it takes SO little to please a child - yet Americans spoil ours to their hearts content...
She smiles because she can't comprehend the magnitude of the destruction and lives shattered by the earthquake. I hope her parents are alive.
I just want to take her in to my home, make her some soup and read her a book. Then, I want a blood transfusion with her, because whatever's in her, I wish was in me. What a darling angel. What an important picture.
Look at her! What a beautiful little girl. Hope, strength and spirit. Amazing picture.
Her eyes are so sad....
I love this photo. I wonder what happens to us when we become adults. As children our first response is hope even in devastation; as adults we see devastation with no hope.
