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Description
may 2005
banda aceh, indonesia

sometimes the most important things in life are the small things. the details.

these children are young. they've attended school, but have nothing to show for it. why?

it took a few minutes for their lives to be changed. 180 degrees smack in the face. a tsunami disaster.

parents. lost. house. lost. family. lost. friends. lost.

everything is gone.

BUT, they still have each other.

their friendship isn't solidified by something tangible.

it is solidified by the small things in life. small things that we take for granted and we don't even realize until they are gone.

a pat on the back.
a hug.
a smirk after you've just been cheered up.

and best of all

a smile.

a smile sees no race, religion, ethnicity. it sees no language.

Paul Ekman discovered the vast power of facial expressions. And he confirmed.

A smile is universal.

whether from LA or the jungles of the Amazon.

a smile is a smile.

cherish each one that you have. and even if something happens, don't stop smiling. at least you still have that

and if you ever complain.

take a look at this photograph. and ask yourself is it worth complaining.

the photograph is featured in the book Letters from Aceh which presents photographs by Scottie Graham and yours truly, Piotr Jakubowski.

a 60x90 (cm) print was also featured at a photo exhibition at Borobudur Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia. I hope that the exhibition will travel elsewhere.

you can grab a copy at [link]

*comments appreciated*

Description
may 2005
banda aceh, indonesia

sometimes the most important things in life are the small things. the details.

these children are young. they've attended school, but have nothing to show for it. why?

it took a few minutes for their lives to be changed. 180 degrees smack in the face. a tsunami disaster.

parents. lost. house. lost. family. lost. friends. lost.

everything is gone.

BUT, they still have each other.

their friendship isn't solidified by something tangible.

it is solidified by the small things in life. small things that we take for granted and we don't even realize until they are gone.

a pat on the back.
a hug.
a smirk after you've just been cheered up.

and best of all

a smile.

a smile sees no race, religion, ethnicity. it sees no language.

Paul Ekman discovered the vast power of facial expressions. And he confirmed.

A smile is universal.

whether from LA or the jungles of the Amazon.

a smile is a smile.

cherish each one that you have. and even if something happens, don't stop smiling. at least you still have that

and if you ever complain.

take a look at this photograph. and ask yourself is it worth complaining.

the photograph is featured in the book Letters from Aceh which presents photographs by Scottie Graham and yours truly, Piotr Jakubowski.

a 60x90 (cm) print was also featured at a photo exhibition at Borobudur Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia. I hope that the exhibition will travel elsewhere.

you can grab a copy at [link]

*comments appreciated*