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dchui — Father
Published: 2005-04-01 21:53:28 +0000 UTC; Views: 1704; Favourites: 41; Downloads: 152
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This photo is important to me because it reminds me very much of my own parents, and how much they have been through to provide myself and my brothers with every opportunity they could afford. When I was growing up, my parents were always working... for most of my childhood my mom was in Berkeley getting her PHD, and my dad, Talso, was struggling to handle the bills to keep the family afloat.During that time, I remember that my parents argued a lot... I remember one Christmas Eve, my mom and dad were arguing because my dad wasn't happy with living alone in Los Angeles, with the rest of the family in Northern California. He had landed a steady job in the area and the only way that he could work there was to rent out a separate apartment, 500 miles away from his kids and wife.
In hindsight, I can see now that the only thing going through my kid mind during that rough time was:
A) Why are my parents arguing? Is it my fault? Maybe it's my fault.
B) I don't wanna move. If I move, I won't have any friends... what am I gonna do about my friends?
I can see now just how much my dad has sacrificed to make this all work for myself and my brothers: Ben and Kenny, and my mom, Gloria... you know, we never did move down to Los Angeles, and he still works there. Now my mom has a high-paying job in the Bay Area largely because her husband supported her while she was finishing up her PHD in Biochemistry at Berkeley.
I think that one day, my parents will live together in the same home... but right now, it goes as it goes. At the end of the day, I feel that it was hard not to see my dad very often when I was growing up... and I think that it is one of the main reasons I have always been closer to my mom than my dad.
Still, I love the guy... he's my dad. I love my dad.
- Chui
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Comments: 37
Hi! I featured this nice deviation in a news article I made. 
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YOUR deviation has been chosen
to be featured in JOEIE's Dailys,
its a part of her journal that gives
links to some of the best Deviations
she has seen in the past few days, giving
those who come by her place a further look
into brilliant artworks. Please feel free to
visit your link Although it is never required.
Thank you so much for your time and effort to
show off such wonderful work! We appreciate all you
have done to make this picture special. [link]
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Wonderful words.
Wonderful photograph.
The boy looks way too young to have
such a stern look on his face.
I do hope they smile together at times
B.
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what a beautiful photo and a beautiful story.
great capture.
---
please view my
[link]
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i wish i could have a father as sweet and loving like him... lucky child!
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hm
i know this situations from people..
actually as first is the problem that many people
don't accept coloured poeple, i mean in the new country
the racism in germany is so frightfully
i can't understand those poeple, which are
so cold opposite foreigners or foreign countries
it gaves some racism parties, a short while ago
were landtagelections, on the choice placards
stood written something like "good homeward journey"
on the picture were foreigners with plasticbags, in which
were all what they have
or another "jobs first for german people"
i couldn't belive and i can't
it's a big problem for foreigners, too
your friend said it, too
and you told me about the boy which had no visa
it's horrible the people which aren't foreigners and
live in their mother countries don't give them chances
to integrate or to make a good school, they become
at once contravence and when i know something
about those people which are suffering
i suffer, too
like the boyfriend of my sister when i'm thinking of
him i become sadness, and wish he has a better life
and a better childhood
and at second it's so that the parents can't
caring right for their kids, cause mostly they coulnd't
speak the language right, have to find a job
to care at least a bit for their family
hm yes, our countries got bad and good
things.
hm it's good to talk with you about these important things
i'll watch you (:
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oh what you've written
make me sad..
i know a boy which lived in thailand since he was 7 years old
his parents worked all day, too and so his aunt or his grandma educated
him.. and one day his mother knew a german man
they went to germany he became a new father, but
the new father had an restaurant and so the parents
worked all day, too
so he must try to educate himself
he can't speak german just thai, so
he went to school and i think he's
a problem child as far as i know, now hes 19 years old
and he's got no secondary school qualifications
he works in the restaurant of his parents and
he isn't happy, as far as i know..
and a short while ago i knew it right, he cried, that he is't
contended with his life at all
and i think it's concering his parents
he couldn't build up lovely relations with his parents
because they worked all day and he was often alone
with himself..
he's the boyfriend of my sister and i know him good, i think
that's a sad story for me and sometimes i know how much
luck i have..
hm this came up as i read your story..
the picture remembers me up to him, and
remembers a sadly story full of emotions and emptiness
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THank you so much for sharing your story... I'm so sorry to hear about the boyfriend of your girlfriend.
I was talking to a Mexican friend of mine yesterday night, and I asked her why she thinks Mexicans do not have as high a percentage of kids who get into good colleges.
This is what she told me... and honestly I had never thought of it in this way before:
1) Information
Mexican kids lack information about their choices. Many Mexican kids' parents come to this country and do not speak fluent english,a nd are not able to find out the resources they need to fully educate their kids.
More than that, the school systems dont' even think the kids are going to go to college, so they don't facilitate the growth process. This is talking primarily about schools that are primarily Latino or Black... basically it's called self-fulfilling prophecy - by condemning these kids to being unsuccessful, they guarantee that they will be unsuccessful.
2) Parents
The parents work. Oftentimes they work hard, and work all day. These kids grow up in families where the father and mother are gone most of the time - so often they join gangs or bad crowds in order to establish a sense of family.
3) Lack of documentation.
Even the most intelligent latino kids can get nowhere without documentation. Fabiola told me about one friend of hers who was totally intelligent, and got a full scholarship to Harvard for soccer, but was unable to go because he didn't have a visa.
It's a sad country we live in... there are many happy thigns but also many injustices that still need to be worked out.
Thakn you so much for dropping by
- Chui
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wow. what an intense picture... the boy seems like he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders- a boulder thats been passed down through the stern look of his father. Stunning photo... the colours are just perfect... they're dark enough to convey the sullen emotion, yet bright enough to make the viewer feel there is a chance for hope : )
I'd also like to add how i think you are pretty brave in posting those intimate details of your life... the fact that you're able to be vulnerable, and admit how you felt with such a touchy subject, shows how strong you are.
great great work.
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That boy... You can see that sadness in his eyes..
You have captured that moment perfectly.
Those dark little eyes... Wish I could just hold that precious little boy and tell him, that everything will go okay.
Awesome shot, all I can say.
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Yea, thats true, but that's just so perfect capturing, that it makes me think they are like that all the time.
You are just too good taking photos
(And I'm little too emotional person 
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Blippo, thank you for the feedback. But we must remember that, hey, even though the medium of the photograph may be used to tell a story, it is not necessarily the story of the kid and this father. Perhaps I just caught them during a contemplative moment. I don't think it's safe to assume that because he looks a little sad, or the father is contemplative, that they are like this all of the time... I wouldn't presume to know too much about people just from a couple of photos that I took!
- Chui
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oh gosh, this photo makes me want to cry.. look at his face, he looks like he's been through so much, and he's so young. those eyes melt your heart, and your story is something that touches deeply. thankyou for sharing your work
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Amen. I love your work already, the time you take to describe the feelings you have about the work you've created. You are a true artist. God bless, keep up the great work!
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Gawd I love this picture, the emotional bond between father and son and life's struggles of living. I'd like to know where you took this pic if it's ok with you
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I love the feel of the photo, the color. And I like how much thought you put into your captions. Excellent portfolio.
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very beautiful image and love the colors what u shoot with?
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Thank you Bianca! I am using the Canon 10d at this point.
- Chui
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bianca? thats my girlfriends name lol. Im jeremy lol
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This is a very beautiful photograph. Well done. You are right on your DD: your gallery is not all hell/damnation. I like this gallery and I like your attitude.
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i love the picture..very emotional. but to be honest, i would prefer the picture to be more focused on the boy's father's face...since the title is 'father'.
but, either way..i still admire the pictures. you are such a good potrait photographer. do u mind sharing any tips on taking people's potrait ^^?
what a beautiful story about your family...touching and most importantly: real.
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Thank you very much for your suggestion! I really appreciate hearing different interpretations. For this photo, I chose to have the boy more in-focus than the father... because I feel that this is analagous to the way things were for me. For my parents, it was always this: put the kids first, put the kids first. The father is out of focus to emphasize that the ultimate goal is the raising of the son... I feel that for this reason, the fact that the kid is more in focus is justifiable.
Drop me an AIM on Danielchui sometime and I can talk to you more about doing portraits.
Have a good one!
- Chui
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ah...now everything seems clear to me ^^. beautiful piece!
errr...what is AIM?
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AOL Instant Messenger chat service. Or email me at dychui@yahoo.com so that I can answer your Q's... also it is more useful to me if you have pointed questions rather than general ones!
- Chui
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This is an extremely thought provoking image and a very nice tribute to your father.
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interesting and beautiful shot
same as for the description
well done
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You've captured their expressions very well and the chillier tones emphasize their
heartfelt moment of serious thought, and maybe even sadness. Very well
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yes very beautiful man! i really like it alot. It speaks to me aswell. You always have a great composition and outcome, great job!
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this is very beautiful, Daniel. you never cease to put me in pure awe. you're so great. In life there are lessons to be learned and obsticals to climb over. But it's always nice to know you have someone like a family memeber you can lean on if you fall. don't you think?
Anyways, like I said this is a very beautiful picture.
and like kcatstoney said, it is lovely that you are so open. It truely does add to the presentation of your artwork. I'm glad to have befriended such a great person.
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I like this picture...the boy looks confused, yet I think he knows he's safe...the dad looks determined like he's thinking about what he has to do next. It's cool that you can relate and tell your own story of the picture. You really share yourself, and that's awesome, thanks for being so open, it really adds to your art!
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I like the expression on the boys face, it says like he's angry and dissatisfied with the world, he just want's to be happy and he want's everybody to be happy
I know how u feel/felt, cuz my mom and dad fought too, untill me and my mom moved away a couple years ago and now I see my dad once a week or less (and he lives 1km from me), it's very sad how "life" gives us the twists and turns..
i like the saying "what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger"
nice photo
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