Now this shot was tricky and I regret that I didn't have more time to get it right. I had one quick shot at it really and the light was far from ideal but I still like it. This shy young boy was dressed in an army uniform for some reason and I think it struck me more because of the relative conflict the east coast endures. I wanted to ask him why he was wearing it but his english wasn't good and my Sinhalese practically non-existent so instead I saluted at him. He saluted back and I snapped the photo before he ran off. Afterwards I suddenly realised the parallels this image had with a shot by Diane Arbus where a young boy is holding a toy grenade and this in turn I think pointed to the reason I had been struck by this young boy in uniform. War and childhood shouldn't mix and when they do, something inside doesn't feel right.

 

 

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