Black Madonna

I took this picture in 1961, using a very simple (by today's

standards) Voigtlander VitoB and Perutz diapositive film. The 35mm

slide was in poor condition when I found it in the attic last year,

and I had to clean it up digitally with Microsoft Digital

Pro.....This woman and her albino child lived in a primitive hut on

Mount Elgon (Masaba). I doubt whether either of them is alive today.

This photo reminds me of the two i've spend in South Africa . It was verry interesting and in the same time amazing . The contrast between the mother and her little baby gives the real face of the strenght of NATURE !!!

This could have been great if the image was excuted well, film, exposure...etc

Paul, You are right, of course. The only 35mm cameras around in 1961 that would have given modern quality photos were the Leicas, and the AlpaAlnea (Swiss pentaprism). ..I wasn't in that league..Just had the little Voigtlander...No batteries..No lightmeter...No rangefinder...Everything was guesswork. This was indoors with no flash, probably 1/30th second at f3.5....100 ASA Perutz film.

 

It would be a good exercise for many of the posters on photonet to go out and buy an old 1950's 35mm camera at a garage sale or junk shop, and see what comes out after shooting a roll of 100ASA.

 

The point of this photo is to show that two black people can have a white baby. What would have happened to this kid in Alabama or Mississipi in 1961?...Quite a dilemma in Little Rock, - would the babe go in with white kids or blacks?....

 

People have amazing photo technology at their fingertips now, and I am amazed at the rubbish that is turned out.

I have heard of two black people having a white baby, an albino in whom there is a biological defect in the skin pigmentation process. What exactly is the strong political statement this photo is supposed to make though?

Isidro, the statement refers to the stupidity of judging people by their skin colour, which continues today....All "white" people are albinos to one degree or another.

Considering this photograph was taken two

"Generations" ago,it still very good. This could

have been a very controvercial subject if it was posted around that time. Now, it's just a history. Those that was not acceptable before

are okay now.... This just showed also how men

were so unfair among women if this kid was born

out of wedlock. The black women I know over here

does not like to be involved with other races. How much more 2 generations ago. Thanks for sharing this photograph...

 

You bet it does! Email me if you want to hear, Robert. I could write a book on this one. I keep looking, and looking....