Convenience Store

It's a startling image. On one hand these are true entrepreneurs working hard for thier existance. On the other hand I can't imagine what their struggle is like. The basic difference between what makes a good day and a bad day must be meager to most and means the world to their survival. But happiness can be found with the most basic human connections as you seemed to have captured in the couple to the right.

 

Creative image of a poor reality that you captured with skill.

Thanks, my friend, for your touching and inspiring words that make me happy. Maury

 

 

While there are glimpses of a colorful, glorious world around them, their work for survival is confined by a cheap, precarious plastic sky and no treasure to sell.

I am not going to label this scene as poverty. Poor is a relative term. Much of what people erect in the Caribbean is makeshift. Sometimes this is for no other reason than a disinterest in permanence, or a firm knowledge that it will get blown down next Nov. Even if they were in a position to spend their days toiling to construct a big beautiful brick and mortar edifice to their entrepreneurial skill, odds are they would instead fill their day laughing and kidding one another catching up on local gossip and staying cool in the shade. When I get back from the Caribbean and shuffle along with all the other working stiffs, I see another sort of poverty, one that is caused by wealth, not alleviated by it.

 

What does this have to do with your photo? ...probably nothing. I love the mood of this scene, I can feel the heat of the day, feel the warmth of the sun. That womens pose with elbows on the table leaning in to hear the other person. The kid in the background distracted by something behind the tarp or maybe just daydreaming. What I like the most about your photo Jeff is that it is real and honest. A slice of island life unembellished.

It is still very dull and cumbersom built, according to Western standarts, but it is a genuine life photo. I was not in the Caribbean islands, but I was in Burma( Myanmar , what a terrible natural disaster there! ) the poverty according to our life is simply hard to observe, but we have met with local people in their homes,and they don't look unhappy, they are not embittered, they are content with what they have, even so little.

 

So Gord, your description may be right,only the globe resources are not fairly divided....

 

The composition with the people is well diagonally placed on the frame. Looks business as usual...

In my rather limited travels, I too have seen genuine poverty and the suffering that comes of the inequality of wealth in our world. It is insane that, while one segment of the world population perish from lack of food and clean water, another segment, namely us in the first world, are all killing ourselves off through gluttony and other excesses. It was not my intention to be flippant about another peoples plight.

 

I was recently in Honduras a poor country monetarily, wages are low, health care non existent. Shacks sit next to palatial mansions. Despite all this the majority of people spend a lot of the day with huge smiles on there faces, they looked happier to me than the people I see on the streets of the my own cities. There is more than one type of wealth and it often appears to me that those with less of one type end up richer in another. I guess that is just another irony to ponder.

Bob: What's startling for me is that others live such different lives. The experience of a makeshift store is certainly beyond my experience. This was taken at a roadside in Jamaica in a poorer part of the island.

 

 

Maurizio: Thanks. I'm glad you liked this one, which was taken on the fly.

 

 

Donna: There does seem to be an incongruence between their sunny surroundings and their sparse immediate circumstances. I never thought of the tarp as being a plastic sky, but it's quite descriptive. Thanks.

 

 

Gordon: It's hard to truly put oneself in their shoes to determine whether they are happy or not. Like us, I'm sure that they are immersed in their own lives and get caught up with it. As you mentioned, poverty and depression are relative concepts, defined only by context. Within my own life circumstances, this would feel like a poor, grim existence. Or maybe not. Like you, I live in a world of affluence and indulgence, and I see plenty of pinched, angry faces suggesting that something's off balance. I think that having options contributes mightily to depression. Interestingly, the rates of anxiety and depression have increased as people have become wealthier and more upwardly mobile. Context again. If we are not the rich, thin, perpetually young people we see on television, we feel we are missing out. The disparity leads to depression. Similarly, many believe themselves to be financially lacking, when in actuality they are comparing themselves to the rich and famous and not to the rest of the 99% of the world that lives on much less, often happily. Thanks for your deep read on this photo.

 

 

Pnina: Similarly, I agree that the world's resources are incredibly off-balance. The few get fat and the rest of the world starve. I think the definition of "sin" would involve gobbling up resources at the expense of others. I can't say I'm guilt-free in this regard. I'm defined by context and circumstance myself. Tragedies such as Burma...where to begin. Anyhow, as an outsider, these people seemed relatively peaceful and pleasant, certainly much more pleasant to deal with than the typical Bostonian.

Taken in Falmouth, Jamaica. Comments/suggestions welcome.

I love reading this thread, it's truely provoking in some way. I agree with your thought about it being startling that people actually live like this. I think that's what I was trying to say. And to compare to my trivial struggles it's worlds apart. But the basic thing we all have in common as human beings is making a connection to another human being. I see that in this image with the couple on the right. Even though their economic situation is quite different, their basic human needs are very similar.

both of you are right, we are on the rich side of the global map,but we have eyes and feelings to observe the differences. It is right that the people on the other side may be richer despite their dull situation, but their existence is hanged on a hair cord, Myanmar is a good example how fragile their existence is ,when the equilibrium is violated, either by wars or natural disaster. Only than the world remember to send help... why not earlier?

 

Jeff, your upload is really thought provoking. I know that help is sent to countries in plight, but it is not enough, and much more needs to be done.Thanks for uploading it to the surface.We as individuals can help some in our corner, but the global org, has to do much more.

This place must be quite a contrast from its sibling sister in MA. - USA. Necessity is the mother of all inventions (and improvisations.) This is a truthful documentary shot of how people from other parts of the world live. The wonderful thing about travel is that it opens our eyes to different aspects of life and in the process we learn more about ourselves. The blue tones are quite prevalent here.

An excellent title, since this is exactly what this is in much of the Caribbean. Your image also captures its role as a social center (though more people would have been fun). Very good composition and color, and I like it that you don't show their faces - allows us to concentrate on the locale.

Hmmm, do I comment on the photo or the comments on the photo? No question, both.

Very good documentary compostion Jeff, well composed, great dof and colors. I kinda like the way the faces are all but featureless. It helps draw attention to the interesting surroundings.

 

What you three, Gord, Pnina, and Jeff all said is true. I believe it is a result of our beginnings and what we grow accustomed to.

 

Those in the image and that live by a thread are closer to edge, experience disasters and death more frequently than us and realize the fragility and non-permanence of life, therefore, they could seem or be happy because they cherish the present moment more dearly. They rely on each other for comfort and safety, increasing the dependence on other humans and the ability to see the beauty in others more readily.

 

Those of us born with conveniences, food and shelter have a distorted view of what brings comfort and safety and pursue those material things we percieve to provide this, that feeling can never be realized in this pursuit and leads to the dissapointments and ultimately the prevalent depression Jeff spoke about.

 

I believe as communications over the years has improved, awareness is being raised but there is still a long way to go.

 

I fear I am caught up in the rat race; although I make a meager income, it is more than the majority of the world but way less than much of this world and it never seems enough...

 

Kirk

Jeff, much of what is written above is true.. The image is well-composed,colorful and documentary of stark reality.

Great title. The comments make me think a lot about this scene and I end up feeling melancholy. I also feel greatful for the wonderful life that I have. Perhaps these people are happy too. Thanks for sharing ,Jeff.

For me it is a fine image which shows how the life is different behind every corner. And as a person who hates super markets and all that stuff i like the mood i get from this. This isn't anything like poverty or misery to me. In this image is the part of that freedom that we can't get in the urban jungle... go figure, which is better.

Bob: I'm glad that you identified the connection between these two people, which is an important part of the photo. Psychologically, there is a tendency to simplify and generalize others' experiences and other groups in general when they are perceived as different from us. You've identified the similarity, despite differences in economic and living circumstances. I'm sure that their lives are every bit as complex, intricate, and nuanced as ours.

 

 

Pnina: I agree that when you lack resources, tragedy hits hard and recovery may not happen. New Orleans is a good example of how folks with resources rebounded, rebuilt, and recovered (to some degree), whereas those lacking resources to begin with may never reestablish themselves. The Burmese tragedy is unbelievable. We sit cocooned and others suffer so much. Life does not seem fair.

 

 

Adan: You are right about travel being an eye-opener. And even then, I'm sure we visitors only see the carefully crafted areas for tourists.

 

 

Roger: I saw many of these places along the side of the road where folks clustered about, just talking, laughing, and hanging out. The lack of features in the face is not intentional. This was taken from a bus window, so there was no possibility of using a flash.

 

 

Kirk: Unfortunately, we Americans are always chasing that line that defines "I have enough." The damn line keeps moving. As a grad student, I somehow lived on a stipend of $6K a year, supplemented only a little bit with loans . And somehow I managed to be relatively happy (and admittedly, in many areas of the world, that would seem to be an exorbitant amount of money). I don't know, Kirk. I think "caught up" is a good description. I imagine myself being plopped down into the ocean of life and ordered to swim to shore. I don't really know where the shore is. And so I swim. I have no intention of making you or anyone feel bad. I'm certainly not saintly myself.

 

 

A.K. Stark and yet colorful. An odd juxtaposition, true of much of life.

 

 

Joseph: We are blessed. And out of blessing comes responsibility. "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required." This feels less like a quiet suggestion and more like a divine mandate these days.

 

 

Tero: I could not believe how I could BREATHE here. I find that in the city, I'm always holding my breath. These wide open spaces and the leisurely pace of the island were so restorative. Thanks.

 

 

 

Poor life but that it has some moments of serenity as that you have captured. A perspicacious look on the world of the different people. Warm regards.Glauco

So basic a set-up yet still an honest way of earning a living. That's to be encouraged. The photo itself is well captured. You got a lovely sky & most imp, a good story here.

A fine, provocative, sensitive piece of work, Jeff.

i can't really add anything to what has been said above, except that i agree wealth is subjective. i count mine in my rich relationships rather than my possessions.

The happiest people surround themselves with family and friends, pursue personal growth and intimacy, judge themselves by their own yardsticks, never against what others do or have. A study shows "Nigeria has the highest percentage of happy people followed by Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador and Puerto Rico, while Russia, Armenia and Romania (my country:( ) have the fewest" I really really like the blue on this photo!

 

It's the juxtaposition of sky and structure mediated by faux sky of the blue tarp that I find most interesting in this picture; it lends almost a Magritte feeling to the scene. The comments on this picture are interesting and I have to agree with many of the statements. It is also true that we can't project our values on these people. Are they happy with their lives? Are they grateful for what they have been given? Who knows? I think your observations about the underlying spiritual poverty and discontent of the more affluent peoples of the earth are accurate. As for the picture, itself, although it is an accurate document, I don't think of it as a true documentary photograph. Any strong social statement would be overwhelmed by the almost surreal nature of the color and composition which was the first thing that struck me. I think you always approach a subject as an artist first rather than someone with a particular social point of view he wishes to illustrate.

You've done a wonderful job of framing this scene and including information to tell a story about these people and their lives. I like the blue tarp against the cloudy, blue sky. I like the physical depth you've created by allowing us to see through the structure as well as above and below it. Visually, I'm struck by the manner in which the person behind is highlighted by the post which runs in front of the head but emphasizes a dignified profile. The tree-tops almost seem to blend in with the clouds through your depth of focus and the sky seems to have what I'm now beginning to see as a Jeff trademark, that sort of fairy-tale sky, especially poignant in a scene such as this.

 

I agree that there is a surreal aspect to this photo, which I actually find in the kind of color and sky you've used and the manner in which you've chosen to convey this particular subject matter. It is the way you've visually rendered this image that, I think, makes the statement. I think it is in that statement that your artistry is to be found here. The color, composition, and surrealism affect me precisely because of the content which they inform. I think it would be a very different social statement were it, say, in black and white or perhaps accompanied by a more moody or threatening sky. I think you are involving yourself as well as a social point of view by overlaying the fairly pleasant color palette and benign atmosphere considering the actual scene itself. I disagree with Jack only to the extent that I think you are displaying artistry, not *rather* than illustrating a social point of view but *because* you are doing so, using the tools you are using.

 

The most important artists, to me, blend subject matter, statement, and visual tools so that they are all interdependently related.

 

You've very adeptly allowed these visual tools to do your speaking, as photographer, for you. The scene seems, within both its own context and within the visual context you've given us, to speak for itself. I don't feel quite as much the voice of the three people involved, especially the couple. Getting a little more from them, for me, would take this image that much further.

Image of the future western economy if oil prices keep going up! Maybe it is not so bad for us: less cholesterol and less prozac...