In the village of Sinyea, Liberia - a kilometer north of the blooming Phebe Junction - the young children have no reservations and few obligations. Stiff cement homes are set in the verdant, overgrown "bush". This provides a beautiful and often stark backdrop for the "bluffing" youth. 
Overlooking a farm and the campus buildings of Cuttington University - hard to distinguish from the surrounding vegetation.
Mah-Beh, a 4-year old whose fervor off-camera drove the actions of the pack.
DJ - a soft-spoken but loyal boy who I grew closest with during my weekend in the village.
Georgie - carefree as can be and perpetually touching every surface in sight (note the shirt...)
The stoop kids of Sinyea, from youngest to oldest. All young at heart.
Lovely photos. Have you spent a lot of time in Liberia?
I appreciate it - can only hope to hold a candle to your work one day! Week 7 is coming up, however I plan to stay here for 27 months with the Peace Corps teaching high school science. Have you been / are you interested in coming?
I would love to get to Africa in the next couple of years. Not sure when however. Enjoy your time there!
Nice photographs! Soon you'll be giving @thomasjmitchell a run for his Steem money.
Interesting perspective in the photos of Mah-Beh (where she's angled) and of DJ (where only part of his face is in view). In general, I am not this advanced at photography... I obsess over making sure to fit everything in the picture, when perhaps I should be more cavalier and eschew the traditional fit and perspective. What do you think?
Sometimes the more you leave out the more powerful the photo.
Thanks Dan! One can only hope.
I think you worded it well - my goal is to "eschew the traditional". In the omnipresence of phones with capable cameras, I see too many images that seem to be collages of each other. For example, those who visit the Taj Mahal will almost surely take the straight on shot, perhaps having their loved ones stand centrally. Why not just photoshop the family into an already existing professional photo? Along this logic many of my photos are formed. But I believe other lines of thought, such as yours of fitting all the information within the bounds of a photo to most fully capture a moment, are equally valid. Be intentional and purposeful with your photography and there are no mistakes.
Brilliant!
I will be going to the #steemphilly meetup tonight organized by @hypnopreneur. I hope to share this important photographic insight with the other attendees including @trang.
For future photography posts, consider using a tag from this post, which can get your photos picked up by @photocontests. I believe this service is made by @juliank. I have never participated, since I didn't know about what tags to use. But I think I will in the future. I would say this post would fall under the #portraitphotography tag.
Kids often need just a little attention and love to bring smile on their faces. So cool of you to help them out in Liberia.
I agree! But I also think these children would be happy with or without @jhimmel. Sounds like people in Liberia tend to be happy people. @jhimmel is that true?
They are playful, happy, and resilient. Perhaps it is only when they become aware of their economic status relative to the rest of the world that this happiness is watered down.
Yes, all kids are happy as long as their basic needs are fulfilled and as long as they are loved!
Liberia is interesting. Few go hungry as a relative will almost always take them in under the clause that they will do chores around the house. And there are many of those.
Kids should be doing some chores in and around the houses anyway, even if they would live with their parents. This way they learn about responsability and importance of work. Usually it's better they are taken by relatives, then given to some unknowns.
Those kids seem to have good time and are happy to have you there!
They were certainly a happy bunch!! And they were nearby during every waking hour :D
Great to hear that, Josh!
@jhimmel I followed you at the recommendation of your brother, @dhimmel. I love these photos and your storytelling is beautiful. I see the things we take for granted here and how small things can mean so much to these children in need. How a simple smile from their face has carefree worry in their world, even though there are many issues they face. Excellent post and photographs! I cannot wait to see your next post!
@dhimmel has my back! Figuratively and genetically. The smallest things bring the biggest smiles here. Earlier today I saw the children behind my house poking a stick through a leaf and running to spin the makeshift propeller through the wind for half an hour, loving every minute.
@jhimmel That really touches my heart to hear stories like this! Keep up the story-telling as you have an avid reader in me that loves to read and see the photos as often as I can!