Looking for thoughts on this photo

Initially intriguing because of a kind of surreality...,but don't see a great staying power, but that's a lie because it made me stop and comment; interested in further comments from others ....

I like the more narrative foreground against the more abstracted background. The legs and character of the dogs and their bodies echo the columns of the facade behind them. The older dog has a potent stare and stance. There's an interesting relationship between the highlighted wall carving and the dog's head. I don't think the photo has universal power. It does have strength and a sense of engagement.

Can't look away. especially full size.

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Try cropping off about 10% of the image on the top and right and see if you don't like that a bit better.

It's emotive. It's sad.

 

WW

Wow this looks like some crazy, exotic African basenji or Egyptian dog at what feels like an ancient temple- interesting subject matter. The dog's ears, its eyes...cool. The dog's stance seems to emulate the relief image on the stone wall to its right. All the components are there for a great photo. The composition seems a bit hurried tho, which I think is why people aren't finding lasting engagement with the photo.

The most first thought is the Lupa Capitolina. The dissonance between the black mother and wight puppies echoes the dissonance of animal and human boys in the legend. The lifeless/stone background underscores the possible sign of starvation of mother. I found this shot interesting.

You can try to crop off the black strip on the right side of frame.

Cheers.

I first saw this photo this evening (European time) on my phone traveling by bus to a Big Band rehearsal. I play tenor sax in a couple of Big Bands.

At the time, I thought "yes, it's striking, it holds my attention, I like the B/W opposites and the background but I'm not sure whether there's a real 'story' in this photo". Something that makes it more than 'striking'.

 

When I got home (late) I took another look on a bigger screen and I found my story in the photo which made me appreciate it all the more:)

 

So this is my story (all made up by me :)) is this: in this photo, I see an aggressively protective mother, stark and starved with barely flesh on her bones - look at her legs and ribcage - who still (somehow) produces enough milk to feed her pups. It seems that her own nutritional needs are denied in order to feed her pups. My "story" continues ... it's not a great leap to think of the many human mothers in similar situations.

 

I'm pretty sure that it's biology at work rather than 'choice' but within the context of my made-up story, it's a very powerful image. A metaphor for how the survival of children takes precedence over the health of the mother.

 

In the context of my made-up "story" the image is much more meaningful to me and lingers long after the ''first impressions' have disappeared.

 

I always think it's wonderful when a photo invites viewers to think up their own "stories"! So my congratulations on this photo. I can't speak for anyone else but this photo drew me into into it and invited me to think about what it might mean to me.

 

Looking forward to more posts from you!

 

Mike

This is an excellent "what and where" image. What kind of dog(?) is that? What is she doing with white puppies? And where are we? I don't think we need answers, because the questions are sufficient in themselves.