journalisme Bulgarian mental clinic

This mental sick girl was giving her best smile for this pic. I know

it's not really flattering but if you ever visited a mental clinic

in eastern europe you'll know it's not so easy to laugh...but it

slowly, slowly is going better over there...this girl really gave

her best smile and she really stole my heart! Hope you, dear

photonetters, can place this pic in its context.

Amazing.

Outstanding image! Charming and powerful photo. Very well done!

This was shot at a great moment and it's a much warmer feeling to something that is thought of as dark. However, I don't really like the kid standing in the background. He, I think, takes away from the happy feeling.

IMO, the kid in the background shows the sad atmosphere of this sad mental clinic, without him it would be a snapshot of somebody's crazy daughter. IMO, the boy in the background is not just part of the background but part of this pix story. the smiling girl in the front is the white part of this image (in focus) and the sad boy in the back is the black part (out of focus) Sorry to be rude, but this was a rude place I will not soon forget. Best Geert

wonderful, tender moment to capture. Shame the boy in the background isn't a fraction more in focus - there is a big distinction between her happiness and his loneliness.

Hello Neil, You're right the boy should have been a bit sharper....but with 1/50 f3.2 handheld you can't go many ways. Best Geert

Dear the photographer...you done a very good job, I think I like the composition very much, the unfocus boy as background seem perfect to me. But, the important from your photo is so moving...and touchy, I keep thinking about this image and thanks for sharing it!

It's perfect as it is. The boy does not need to be sharper. Keeping him just in view but not in focus and with the contrast in expressions is why this shot is so good. It could do with a little lift on the highlights but I'm being very picky at that.

Gareth, you might be right about that lift in the highlights.

Geert. Most of your B&W pictures here need a little lift or more punch. But then again I know you ain't anyways got access to a good moniter and I'm now aware of the photo editor issue, not to mention time so I'll try to stop harping on about it. Great picture.

Hi Geert, this is a stunning shot and I feel the boy out of focus is very fitting for the situation.

 

As an aside, it's strange that this fits our impression of mental clinics in the former soviet block, but ECT is still actually carried out in England to this day. I hope in the future we will see more media coverage in this area ... Tony

Hello Tony, Can you tell me what's ECT, don't know what you mean with that term. Best Geert

Hi Geert, sorry it's Electroconvulsive therapy, An electrode is either placed above the temple & a second in the middle of the forehead (or one electrode is placed above each temple) A current is passed through the brain, producing a seizure. Used for the treatment of schizophrenia and extreme depression. Quite often without the patients consent as they are certified mentally ill & are said not to be responsible enough to make the decision.

 

The film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Jack Nicholson was based on it. Most people think it stopped years ago but it still goes on. I found out a few months ago from a friend who works in a mental health unit ... Tony

 

 

Tony, thanks for the explanation, now I know what you mean. Mentally handicaped people have not much rights in our world and I'm affraid that will stay so for a long time. As a mentally handicaped person you can only hope you got a nice family who wants to take care for you, If they put you in a mental house, the chance you become a guinea pig is big. Best Geert

This is a beautifully executed picture and somehow the joyfulness is what makes it so heartbreaking. I really admire your work.

Hi Geert. Truly amazing image. I can't belive nobody has commented on the teddy bear. It is such an essential part of the story behind the picture. The soft touch against her compliments the happiness in the moment. It contrasts and balances against the feeling one gets from viewing such a dark environment.

 

Commenting on ECT: in the movie "A Beautiful Mind" with Ron Howard, there's a scene where he's put through it.

 

Best regards,

 

Atmosfeer and compositie perfect. Knap gezien, Geert

extremely fascinating and utterly tragic. another heartbreaking photo from this neglected and pain filled world. this is up there with Ian's shot (and series) here : http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=861061

you have some wonderful stuff in your folders, Geert! congrats and i hope you're getting the all the attention you and your works deserve.

This is one of the best pieces on photojournalism I've ever seen. You've captured the moment, the innocence of the child and her joy! Well done. I hope one day I can produce work like this... I have much to learn!

As much as I admire your photographs I totally don't understand all that praise over this shot. If one does not read the caption and your heart-breaking explanation, there's nothing to this capture that would put this photograph in the context claimed by you -- in other words, you failed to catch that defining moment. You have a photograph of a wonderful smile and a sad boy in the blurred background -- a moment which could be captured in any New York city preschool. And, photographically I don't find it outstanding. I might be wrong but I will stick to it. Looking forward to your new uploads.