I found some shots I did with a point and shoot while on vacation overseas. This is a scan of a 4x6 print of a Malaysian prostitute in a brothel in Singapore (listed in the tourist guide I bought!). She was the first one I found who could speak English, and said she was there to make money, but always gambled it away.

-- John Kantor (jkantor@mindspring.com), July 21, 2001

Answers

I greatly like the composition with quite a few details surrounding her: pillow at opposite end of bed, lamps, handbag, "clock," and wastebasket. They all completely and perfectly describe her profession. Your photograph really tells the story nicely. I also like the matching colors in the objects.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), July 21, 2001.

I like all the things Tony likes, and think the off-centre compositon works nicely, but I wish her facial expression were either more or less engaging. It's not bleak enough to match the spartan presentation of the room, and not direct enough to work as a spark of humanity.

-- Struan Gray (struan.gray@sljus.lu.se), July 24, 2001.

John, can you explain how you came to take this picture (I'm genuinely interested)

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), July 24, 2001.

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In the US I know some people who work in the adult industry. (I actually did some computer work for a nude dance club and an adult bookstore.) I was interested in seeing what actually went on in the countries I visited and how it compared to the US, so I made a point to seek out some of these places. Interestingly, this brothel was listed in the Lonely Planet guide. It was a two-story building with about 50 rooms and housing 100-200 girls (rather like a motel.) I wandered around until I found one that spoke English, asked her a bit about herself and if I could take her picture. (I paid her about $10 for her time.)

-- John Kantor (jkantor@mindspring.com), July 25, 2001.

I don't think clothes are appropriate here.....does not go with the mood!

-- Ali (khanzadabangash@yahoo.com), January 11, 2002.