Bringing it home

Before talking about this photo, I'll give you a brief history about myself. In 2004 or something (I'm NOT one for dates) I went on an 18 month LDS mission to Belo Horizonte, Brazil. I learned the language (Portuguese -  NOT Spanish, you crazy Americans), lived with the people, ate their homemade food, and more importantly, got to serve them, often alongside. I have a deep love and respect for the people I met and got to know. I saw and experienced things my innocent suburbian mind hadn't before considered. It forever changed the way I think. Roughly a year or so after I returned (dates again...ugh.) I went to Ghana, Africa to do humanitarian aid. We spent just one month living with a host family and working for and often with the humble people of Tamale. Again, I saw and experienced things my mind hadn't before considered. It forever changed the way I think. It's been about three years since I returned from my trip to Africa, but those images from my two experiences are deeply ingrained. It's part of who I am.

With that said, the photo above is a photo of my daughter. I named it "Alta's third world photo." I can't help but think if this picture were in a National Geographic there would be lines of people wanting to adopt this poor little orphan. I took the photo because she looked SO cute playing in the mud, getting completely covered. When she stepped into this light, I knew I had the photo! But I couldn't for the life of me make the girl smile! So even though she's a really smiley kid and was actually having a great time in the mud, she was not about to play it up to my camera. And I love what I got as a result. LOVE it. So, with no disrespect, I post this "third world" photo of my little girl!