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our photographs strive to serve as a visual manifestation of both the challenges faced by the people we work with, and the work we do to help them build better lives.

Rather than stew in resentment, he decided to join a peace movement to prevent such violence from happening again. He works in partnership with Mercy Corps’ to help defuse tension before it can break out into full-fledged violence.

Lombok is extremely vulnerable to climate change and is experiencing shorter rainy seasons and longer dry seasons that put harvests at risk.

They provide a safe space for girls to discuss issues including health, hygiene and gender-based violence, and empowers them to have a stronger voice in their community.

There are various political agendas here, and some damn good ones. I can’t see distancing myself from that. Art and photography are often at their best when there is some political, social, or human cause behind it. Does the world and the web have us so cowered that a photographer has to now deny obvious ties to politics? Thanks for posting. These are not macros of flowers or pretty sunsets. They’re stories of human misfortune and resilience and, sometimes, hope. The misfortune and some of the suffering shown is a result of political circumstance. THAT’S the point. If there’s not a political and social story here, there’s nothing. [“Agenda” is too loaded a word here because it may suggest something fabricated. These are real photos and they say a lot about politics which it’s impossible to deny, IMO.]

There’s always something new under the sun.
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There are various political agendas here, and some damn good ones. I can’t see distancing myself from that. Art and photography are often at their best when there is some political, social, or human cause behind it. Does the world and the web have us so cowered that a photographer has to now deny obvious ties to politics? Thanks for posting. These are not macros of flowers or pretty sunsets. They’re stories of human misfortune and resilience and, sometimes, hope. The misfortune and some of the suffering shown is a result of political circumstance. THAT’S the point. If there’s not a political and social story here, there’s nothing. [“Agenda” is too loaded a word here because it may suggest something fabricated. These are real photos and they say a lot about politics which it’s impossible to deny, IMO.]

 

Fred, I certainly get the point you made. However, I think a distinction is in order - between my having a political agenda and using the images in question as a means of trying to convince others of its veracity, and the images having political content. I wholeheartedly agree with you if your point concerns the latter. If there was anything I was trying to establish through the OP, it was simply to heighten awareness of " . . . human misfortune and resilience and, sometimes, hope."

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Fred, I certainly get the point you made. However, I think a distinction is in order - between my having a political agenda and using the images in question as a means of trying to convince others of its veracity, and the images having political content. I wholeheartedly agree with you if your point concerns the latter. If there was anything I was trying to establish through the OP, it was simply to heighten awareness of " . . . human misfortune and resilience and, sometimes, hope."

Again, I think using “agenda” along with “convincing” others presents an unnecessarily narrow view of political expression. You might, as a viewer, simply present such photos to express your political view on something without that being part of an agenda or coming from a desire to convince. To express oneself is not synonymous with convincing someone else, though there’s nothing wrong with a viewer’s using a photographic essay to try and change minds. There’s a tradition of that. In tolerant environments where that important aspect of photography would be embraced, we wouldn’t feel compelled to preface the posting of pictures like the ones you posted with a disclaimer distancing ourselves from politics. One doesn’t “heighten awareness of ... human misfortune and resilience” in a political vacuum. The essay you linked to, in fact, goes into some of the political, social, and environmental causes of the misfortune and suffering portrayed and the photos also show some things that can be done about it. This can’t be dismissed and need not be watered down or apologized for by a wave of the hand which says, “I’m not pushing an agenda.” There is certainly an advocacy aspect to these photos, less in-your-face than others though they may be, that is worth embracing. They show what can be done and your sharing that seems to me a political act that there’s nothing at all wrong with.

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Again, I think using “agenda” along with “convincing” others presents an unnecessarily narrow view of political expression. You might, as a viewer, simply present such photos to express your political view on something without that being part of an agenda or coming from a desire to convince. To express oneself is not synonymous with convincing someone else, though there’s nothing wrong with a viewer’s using a photographic essay to try and change minds. There’s a tradition of that. In tolerant environments where that important aspect of photography would be embraced, we wouldn’t feel compelled to preface the posting of pictures like the ones you posted with a disclaimer distancing ourselves from politics. One doesn’t “heighten awareness of ... human misfortune and resilience” in a political vacuum. The essay you linked to, in fact, goes into some of the political, social, and environmental causes of the misfortune and suffering portrayed and the photos also show some things that can be done about it. This can’t be dismissed and need not be watered down or apologized for by a wave of the hand which says, “I’m not pushing an agenda.” There is certainly an advocacy aspect to these photos, less in-your-face than others though they may be, that is worth embracing. They show what can be done and your sharing that seems to me a political act that there’s nothing at all wrong with.

 

Fred, I agree with your overall position. When I submitted the OP, I was trying simply to avoid the wailing and gnashing of teeth that was involved in a similar thread. I here I was not, as you indicated, trying to dismiss anything or engaging in apologetics.

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I don't see anything particular compelling in any of the photos. Surely, thousands or tens-of-thousands of similar snaps are taken every day. Really, anyone can go to any down-trodden part of the world and take pictures depicting struggle, perseverance, tragedy, and redemption. I don't think any of these do that in a particularly notable way.
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I don't see anything particular compelling in any of the photos. Surely, thousands or tens-of-thousands of similar snaps are taken every day. Really, anyone can go to any down-trodden part of the world and take pictures depicting struggle, perseverance, tragedy, and redemption. I don't think any of these do that in a particularly notable way.

 

No problem, Jordan.

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The compelling thing for me is the organization and some of the things it does.

I agree that the organization itself is worthy of admiration. I especially like that it doesn't seem to be tied to any particular religion - just people helping people because it's a good thing to do.

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"Really, anyone can go to any down-trodden part of the world and take pictures depicting struggle, perseverance, tragedy, and redemption. I don't think any of these do that in a particularly notable way." I disagree and don't think most people could do it. It's much harder than you think and to get compelling images you have to understand the issues your subjects are facing.
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"Really, anyone can go to any down-trodden part of the world and take pictures depicting struggle, perseverance, tragedy, and redemption. I don't think any of these do that in a particularly notable way." I disagree and don't think most people could do it. It's much harder than you think and to get compelling images you have to understand the issues your subjects are facing.

Do you find any of the noted images particularly compelling? Perhaps 'anyone' is too expansive, but I'd say 'most' who are in those parts of the world are open to observing it, and would easily produce such images.

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Do you find any of the noted images particularly compelling? Perhaps 'anyone' is too expansive, but I'd say 'most' who are in those parts of the world are open to observing it, and would easily produce such images.

I find them all compelling on many different levels. I don't expect everyone to agree with me so I will leave it at that.

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I disagree and don't think most people could do it. It's much harder than you think and to get compelling images you have to understand the issues your subjects are facing.

I happen to agree with your assessment and also understand why you wouldn’t necessarily expect others to share your opinion of the pictures. But, not expecting others to share your opinion doesn’t seem a great reason to keep the reasons for your opinion to yourself. This could be a teaching, or even just a sharing, moment.

 

Some of the things I see that I’m not sure most other takers of such pictures would capture:

 

First pic ... great lighting on the woman’s face supporting a radiant smile.

 

Second pic ... something about the upside down suggestion of a man seems to comment on the sentiment of the reflected artwork.

 

Third pic ... interesting sense of scale.

 

Fourth pic ... good rhythm to their toil, punctuated by the woman in the background. The bright green/yellow is optimistic.

 

Fifth pic ... effective perspective with descriptive distortion of her hands as a result. Connecting portrait.

 

Sixth pic ... (boy on bike) good storytelling. Movement, determination, environment.

 

Seventh pic ... storytelling, surroundings, scale, perspective.

 

Eighth pic ... moving, tender moment.

 

Ninth pic ... good double portrait in situ, nice contrast between engagement of subjects, textured background and lighting work.

 

Tenth pic ... lovely lighting on a hopeful face. A good character study. Natural and unaffected.

 

None of the photos are extraordinary, IMO, which doesn’t mean they’re not effective, illustrative documentary photos, all having something to recommend them. It may, in fact, be their understatedness that makes them work for this story. Yes, I’ve seen better and been more moved by other photos and documentaries. Nevertheless, I’m happy to share my impressions of what each photo and the group of photos does hold for me.

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These photos are illustrations for a plea for donations. Without a back story, there is nothing to distinguish them artistically, nor can one discern what they presume to illustrate aside from the text. That is not to say the story isn't compelling. Illustration is a legitimate use of photography and story telling. Otherwise where would National Geographic be, or Life Magazine (R.I.P.). Not all propaganda is bad.
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Do photos have to be “good” or “poignant” or “moving” to be interesting? Sometimes I actually find photos I don’t think of as very good (especially ones that go along with such histories) to be as interesting as photos that are. If these photos lack something, even as illustrative accompaniments to the written stories, why would it not be “interesting” to figure out and articulate what they lack? As much can often be learned from thoughtful criticism as from praise. But to brush them off without a reason, or praise them without reasons, especially in light of others’ differing or opposing views, seems lacking in itself. In third grade, I learned from a good teacher that “I like it because it’s beautiful” or “I think it’s interesting” were somewhat hollow and that descriptions and reasons helped both the reader to understand and the writer to get something out of even things they don’t like or don’t find compelling. If I can assess these photos fairly, for good and/or bad, I can improve my own photo documentary work. The more carefully I look and articulate, the more I learn and the better I see.
There’s always something new under the sun.
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"But, not expecting others to share your opinion doesn’t seem a great reason to keep the reasons for your opinion to yourself." I would probably give some reasons why I find them compelling but I don't think it would do much good. Looking at some of the above responses reinforces my attitude. People believe what they want and who I am to try and change their attitude(s). I am glad the poster brought these images to my attention and that is good enough for me.
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Tim, speaking for myself here, I’d love to hear some reasons for your finding them compelling. I wouldn’t necessarily be convinced that your point of view is better than mine, but it might nudge my view of them, which is neither very positive nor very negative, or just widen the perspective I bring to them. I learn a lot about photos and my own seeing from listening to others’ descriptions of and reasons for feeling about photos the way they do. While I understand some resistance on your part, especially when minds seem to be made up and somewhat unyielding, I hope you trust that when I’m involved in a discussion specifically about taste for certain photos, I do try to keep an open mind to others’ tastes and opinions. When I give my own reasons for liking or not liking something or for what I do or don’t find interesting, I assume there will be some listening with closed minds but others more open. I actually believe that even closed minds can be affected by a good insight from someone else, though the effects might not be felt until much later, if ever. Planting a seed now can bear fruits in the future. But, if you really don’t want to say, I certainly accept that as well.
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Ok, I'll bite:

 

1st pic - an interesting sky, but otherwise it's just a snap of a mural. I have no idea what the deal is with the feet. Perhaps there is some irony in the wording on the mural and the possibility that the feet belong to a dead guy. I guess in that case, this one does actually have some interest.

 

2nd pic - two people working in a field by a large rock. Photographically, the composition is fine, but looks like a vacation snap.

 

3rd pic - Again, nice composition and it is kind of comical looking with the faces not visible, but I don't know if that was the intent. If it was meant to portray humor, then it does that, but if it is somehow supposed to generate some sort of emotion for these people in the field, I don't see it. Had I taken the shot, I would have thought it was kind of cool.

 

4th pic - Looks like a wide-angle closeup of a woman carrying a plant, and that's about all I get out of it.

 

5th pic - Snap of an attractive girl in a window, with a partial head at the lower right of the window frame that just serves as a bit of distraction. Overall, the feeling of the shot is one of happiness, but that's pretty much any shot where people are smiling. Colors are nice as is lighting, as 'shadow' noted (for his 1st pic).

 

6th pic - honestly not sure if getting the boy riding the bike into the frame was accidental or intentional. Regardless, given the focus is on the village, all I see is a snap of what might be considered a trailer park here in the states.

 

7th pic - Snap of what look like storage lockers at the foot of a large hill. Probably my least favorite of them all because it seems cluttered and I don't find the landscape particularly attractive.

 

8th pic - A nice moment between father and child, doctor and child, or whomever they are, but nothing a zillion other shots haven't depicted. Nice light.

 

9th pic - Another nice parent/child portrait, but I don't feel any particular emotion from looking at it other than 'nice colors.'

 

10th pic - Nice light in what looks to be a portrait of a shopkeeper, but I don't get any feel for what's in his shop or how he might interact with his customers. Again, I get no emotion from this other than 'nice portrait.'

 

Now, I'm not a professional photographer or even a particularly good one, so this is coming from nothing other than gut feeling, though I've certainly seen photos that had me saying 'wow' and making me feel empathy, sympathy, joy, or something else for the subjects

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