A Grateful Smile, by Ryszard Wierzbicki

Another of my pictures from the session “Cookie for a Smile” (http://instanttravelling.ning.com/photo/albums/girl-with-cookies) taken in Ajmer, India in July 2011. The story behind this photo is extraordinary and simple at the same time. When we were leaving the small hotel the following morning, my friend Larry and I noticed a woman with two girls bagging for food. They were very poor with messy, sticky hair, and it was totally visible that they were really hungry. So we bought 2 packs of cookies for the girls from a street booth, and in exchange the older girl gave me the chance to make a photo session of 10 photos. I will remember her sincere grateful smile till the end of my days.

Nikon D5000 with 18-200mm | Exposure f/5 @ 1/250sec | ISO 500 | Focal Length 135m
A Grateful Smile, by Ryszard Wierzbicki

Award Winner: Photo of the Day | April 03
Award Score: 65.5 (Value 12, Clarity 12, Composition 18, Style 11, Skill 12.5)
Photo of the Day Award Category: Portraiture Photography
Photograph Location: Ajmer, Rajasthan | India

Photographer: Ryszard Wierzbicki (Swindon, United Kingdom) Registered
Born in 1963, Ryszard Wierzbicki is a graduate of University of Gdańsk in Poland, and completed his master degree of Social Sciences in Children Care Education in 1992. He worked in an orphanage and four other companies, where he served the positions of Educator, Marketing Specialist, and Sales & Marketing Manager in various branches including child care, dentistry, orthodontics, and IT. Apart from his regular jobs he continued developing his Scuba Diving qualification resulted as an instructor level in PADI. After emigrating to UK in 2006, he began his real travel and photography experience. He loves to explore South-East Asia, where he volunteers occasionally with Stu and the Kids charity organization of Thai and Burmese Orphans (stuandthekids.org). He established two forums for active travelers and photographers named Instant Travelling (instanttravelling.ning.com) and World Around (worldaround.co.uk) in 2010. Changed to an ironed suit and laptop for cargo trousers, hoodie jacket, and knapsack, Ryszard have been managing freely the passion of photography, traveling, and scuba diving. He is now self-employed as Marketing Advisor and Tour Organizer, happily divorced, and has no kids.

Website: http://instanttravelling.ning.com
Website: http://worldaround.co.uk
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/worldaround.info
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryszard.wierzbicki
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryszard1963