Tom Buckard, APSA
October 2026 - Bonaire’s White Slave Huts
Original
About the Image(s)
Standing quietly along Bonaire’s southern coast, these small coral-stone structures at Witte Pan are among the island’s historic slave huts.
Built around 1850, the tiny huts served as sleeping quarters for enslaved people who were forced to work in Bonaire’s salt industry. Measuring only about 5 feet by 6.5 feet, their cramped dimensions offer a sobering reminder of the harsh and inhumane conditions endured by the people who lived and worked here. There are 170 of these huts in Bonaire and four to six people would live in each one.
The Witte Pan huts are distinguished by their whitewashed walls and dark roofs. Farther south, another group of historic huts can be found near the Red/Orange salt pan.
This photograph was taken at Witte Pan, with the Caribbean Sea stretching out behind the hut. Located along EEG Boulevard, roughly eight miles south of Kralendijk, the site lies among Bonaire’s historic salt pans and stands as a tangible reminder of a difficult and important chapter in the island’s history.
The image on the right is the mountains of salt that is taken from the sea.
Images taken with a Nikon D850, 24-70mm Nikkor Lens, Focal Length 34 mm, ISO-100, 1/400, F10.
9 comments posted
Actually, I don't think this is a "postcard" image. If you look at the work of some of the great photographers, they often captured everyday objects or landscapes to tell stories. The challenge, in my view, is telling a story through a single picture. It may happen only once in a lifetime that we capture the perfect, unique image.
Over the last few months, I have started looking at my images and trying to organize them into projects that can tell a story. Indeed, your two images would be a good starting point, particularly when you know the story behind this building.
On the other hand, the picture with the woman in the frame looks to me like one of those images people post on Instagram or Facebook (I assume so, since I don't use either of them), and it is not particularly appealing to me.
Just my two cents.
Best wishes,
Michele
P.S. I love postcards and still have many of them stored in a box. I think they were a wonderful way to send greetings to people we care about. Posted: 10/12/2026 15:57:06
I only have a couple of minor nits to further enhance the image. It looks like there is a subtle tilt in the horizon line. Also bringing down the highlights on the clouds and lifting the shadow details in the small gable window may also further refine the image. I've attached an image with my minor edits.
I was unaware of this location and its tragic history. It's unthinkable that such a beautiful location has such a dark history. Your photo essay encouraged me to do some research online. I found this page that goes into the history of these huts and the harsh conditions of the enslaved dwellers. https://bonaire.com/en/sightseeing/slave-huts-saltpans/
Posted: 10/15/2026 16:24:36
