screaming camel stuck in river

Camel caravan that got stuck trying to cross the Gash river in

Eritrea. The herdsmen tried desperatly to get them out of the water

before sunset, but had to wait until daylight the next day. Of the 70

camels, only one died during the night.

 

more pictures http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=184960

This is an amazing photograph - two expressions - the exasperated man and the camel in agony - posed almost like a portrait. Very powerful.

Very emotional shot. Good job.

the clarity is amazing. the expressions and contrast are great.

This almost looks digitally manipulated. You were very lucky!

Great, this poor guys camel and probably his source of income is stuck in the mud and probably dying... and there you are taking photo's instead of lending hand! ;-)

 

Nice shot.. nice timing.

Absolutely fantastic photo. Did he (& you) manage to get the camel out? What a moment, and the expressions just convey so much exasperation. The contrast, tone, detail, & comp of this photo are mindblowing. Did you use any filter over the lens? This one of the best photos I have viewed on this site, or elsewhere for that matter.

It seems to my also that you used some filter, there is a "strange" quality to the tonal range.

Beeing there must've been enjoyable.

The whole roll of film is amazing, one of my favorites on this website! I would like to see this as photo of the week!

A amazing piece of photography, one of the best seen here, thank you for sharing ...

Wow, did I get excited seeing this photo!

This is wonderful PJ.

Wish I could have been shooting right next you.

Simply powerful. Great photojournalism! Amazing shot.

Of course the herdsman's expression is: What the fuck are you doing standing there taking a picture? Come here and lend a hand!

Extraordinary image. No, one mustn't step in to help - get the pic whatever the cost! Must feel for the poor beasts though....

Another excellent

One of those "once in a lifetime" shots, a miracle we all hope for. But beyond that, it took true talent to not only recognize the moment, but to capture it so perfectly. Amazing!

Great documentary photo exhibiting the emotion of this struggle. IMO there's no better medium for this type of shot than B&W. Really outstanding. The only part that bothers me a little is that it seems a bit tightly cropped on the sides.

Robert(Bob?),

 

From a technical and compositional standpoint, the photo is excellent. However, the man looking directly into the camera gives this more of a posed feel than I would expect in a PJ type shot. Also, I can't help but feel a small sense of exploitation here, as the immediate impression for me was that you had taken advantage of someone's misery. I'm not saying that is what happened, or that you didn't even try to help the guy out, but it is just a feeling I get when I look at the picture - not that I wouldn't have done the same thing had I been in your situation (though with less stellar results).

 

Congrats on POW!

 

Bill

It's a good picture, and I agree that the technical aspects of it were solid. My only objection to it is that it would not have been obvious to me that the man was trying to get a stuck camel out of the river had I not been told the story. If it is obvious to you, then more power to you.

what a wild image.

 

The eye contact imparts a feeling of great urgency, to me, as if he's confronting me with his problem, seeking my help. It's true the camel's plight doesn't immediately come through, but after a few minutes looking over the image you see the camel's submerged up to his shoulders, etc. The man's distressed expression is key to the power here.

Great shot. Indeed, there is a lot of drama and you have effectively isolated a key element. However, it's slightly disappointing that the most important feature -- the man's expression -- is largely a reaction to you the photographer, and not to the plight of the animal. He is not able to even comprehend why you are standing there taking a picture of this scene!

Excellent shot. The tonal values are excellent (was a fill flash used?) and the composition superb. Nice job keeping your cool in an obviously chaotic situation.

Fabulous image. Really excellent and unobtrusive use of fill flash. The tones of the image have a wonderful range and the uniquely distressing moment is an emotion written all over this poor mans face. Very National Geographic!

Robert, congratulations on the well-deserved POW. I doubt

there'll be much discussion regarding it though -- maybe a few

people saying "gee, how could you just stand there taking

pictures when this guys obviously needs help!". I also really like

#584420 which is full of motion and tells us more about the

situation (this was not just one man and his drowning camel).

 

Great portfolio. I sense that you have great respect for the people

you photograph. There's a playfulness and compassion that

comes through in many of your shots. Good use of color vs b/w

too. Thanks for the journey.

An extraordinary capture, and one that left an impression with me since first viewing. As I already commented earlier I will just say congrats for this well deserved POW Robert.

Robert, perhaps you could tell us a little more about your

experience here. Did you spend any time with these people or

did you have a chance to chat with the herdsman? Before the

river incident? After? Or were you just passing through when this

spectacle came to pass?

 

I ask because it's interesting to examine the relationship

between photographer and subject in terms of travel

photography where surely the photographer in a case like this a

bit of a surreal element to the herdsman. Is the herdsman's

expression actually one of: who are you, and why don't you help

me? Or is it, "Robert, look at my poor camel, we must save it"?

 

Can you image how surreal it would seem to this man that he an

his camel are now the subject of viewing and discussion for

people around the world via a technology that's most likely totally

alien to him? I wonder what his response would be.

 

The quintessential photojournalist's (though you were just a

traveller, no? -- or do you set out to get images that you can sell

or use?) predicament: Did you lend a hand?

 

Also, do you have any other photos of these people outside of

the river incident? If so, I'd love to see them.