Old woman......... and hungry boy in the background

Perhaps the "tone" of my words was not understood; I am a retired educator, so, I best respond this way: you alluded that Mr. Brenden Turner was entitled to HIS opinion so I ask: am I also not entitled to MY opinion?

 

I don't know that Ms. Población was or should be offended when her intentions and her work is misunderstood/not known/misinterpreted and I cannot answer for her. Re-read my words and perhaps you'll understand that my intentions were not to offend or be disrespectul; I try to be charitable and diplomatic with my words and I often try to give others the benefit of the doubt however I do not let others dictate how I should or should not express myself nor do I necessarily express myself in a manner that EVERYONE will like, do YOU? (Rhetorical question; requires no reply) Let us not be pedantic, please.

 

I wish that I had ONLY spent $35,000 back in the 60s and 70s for my education; I understand that I can buy a home today in an exclusive area with what I spent on my education.

 

While I've offered constructive comments and encouragement to some in photo.net, I've never rated a single image because I don't presume to be a professional critic; I can only make observations on what I like and ignore what I do not like. Besides, regardless of how I phrase my comments, I am always afraid that I may be the cause of discouragement for someone who cannot see my facial expressions and hear the tone of my voice.

 

I humbly apologize to Mr. Turner if he was offended but you, Mr. Baiano, should do some introspection before you question my intentions. I mean no you no ill-will nor disrespect and I certainly mean you no animosity.

I will apologise to you Ms. Poblacion if my initial comment has detracted from the dueful critique of this image, and the same to those who may feel as though it has. This is just a very close subject to my heart, as much, I am certain, as the subject matter of the photo is to yours (as well as mine).

 

As well, I wish I could remove the misunderstanding caused by the forum thread thus far, and I will make no further comment as my opinion does not seem to be the popular one. You are right Calico, tone is far too difficult to interpret in text. Arguments are best held face to face. Not here.

 

If anyone is interested in the politics of representiation, please feel free to contact me outside of this thread.

 

Please, back to the image.

I´m afraid I´m late... but it´s never too late to admire a great documentary portrait. It has strength, due to her direct gaze and the pose of her hand, I don´t know. No suggestions on cropping this time: I like her, and also the background.

I have tried it also in BW, but I find yours more appealing (we also can see the diferent tones of her skin).

Brendan

 

Thanks for your comments, no never has given offense to me, but I believe you somtimes forget we are in a web page dedicated to the art of photography and that is the reason why I post photos with some aesthetic content.

The fact that I do digital photogaphy permits me by being "free" (no developing costs) to shoot as many as I want to, and bring home a big documentary of my trips. But I only can post those photos which have interest from the aesthetic and originality points of view, and these photos are not necesarily the best from and anthopologiy or sociology point of view, and this leads to make misinterpretations about a way of life shown or the way the photo was made, that is the rapport between me and the subject.

 

 

With regards to the way of life, I can tell what I saw and what I learnt by reading before and after the travel. With regards to the way I shoot, that only remains in my conscience, and I assure you that I have it very quiet, since I feel very happy among these people, because I was raised among them. My infancy friends had starvation edema.

 

 

The red color on the neck is the same on the hair. All women of this and many other tribes in Africa (see my folder on Namibia) take care of their hair with a mixture of grease and a red powder they obtain by grindng certain red stones.This is made not only for aesthetical reasons, but also as protection against the sun and insects, becausue of the odour it has.

 

I never said that you're not free of saying what you want, but I only stigmatized an approach from you that seemed

to me out of place; probably it was a misleading because, as many said here, the things we have in mind can be

betrayed by the absence of our voices...but I go back to your words: "you (Ms Poblacion) are going to get ill-criticism

by those who sit around in the comfort of their homes doing nothing to improve a condition you have tried to cure

and illustrate to the world.

 

To those who would detract Ms. Poblacion's efforts, please (Mr Turner) step in her shoes but for one minute before making

hasty comments. It's easy to comment and give ill criticism.... but WHAT, pray tell, are you (those very few

detractors) doing? The use of arcane sociological terms does not justify your actions, or your misplaced comments".

 

You are accusing me to not allow you to tell what you think, but it seems to me that you behave in a similar way.

I read again many times your words, and I remain in the opinion that you could have used a different way to

express your disagreement to Mr Turner, And I just pointed this fact out; I apologise because maybe I wasn't

enough clear about that. You say that you leave to the others the benefit of the doubt...so please grant me and Mr Turner this benefit!

All the best

It's stunning - a real showstopper. Visually, it's very well executed: it looks like it belongs in National Geographic. To me, it works very well both for documentary and social commentary purposes.

 

IMO, art is SUPPOSED to touch the viewer emotionally. As some of the previous posts would indicate, this image certainly qualifies. Bravo!

photography:

 

it's not altogether straightforward to figure out what's going on here without looking at the title. before i did (and looked at the comments), i thought this was an on-set still from some made for TV american film. without knowing what was really going on, she looked to me like an actress hamming it up with a bit of tearful chin-stroking (reminiscent of the famous "chopping broccoli" sketch on SNL). i suspect black and white film (as suggested in an erlier comment) would have done a lot to redress some of these unintentional effects.

 

politics:

 

given that an attempt is being made to invoke sympathy and guilt in the viewer, i would like to point out the cruelty of people who know they're not likely to be able to feed children going on to produce them. a recent study (reported in a recent "guardian" article) reported average birth rates of 7 to 8 children per woman in the most impoverished parts of africa.

Enhorabuena Curra, estas en la portada con esta foto excepcional. Retrato soberbio, como muchos de los tuyos. Un saludo, Teresa

Una maravilla de imagen como son todas las tuyas y llena de huamanidad. Me encanta que te hayan honrado en ponerla en pagina principal de P Net.

De vez en cuando hay justicia.

 

Magnifica. Marco

7/7 excellent!