homelessness (At Calvary Jesus says to Her, "Woman, behold Your son." (Jn 19:26) )

Di dhuit Roland, I came across this very powerful image today and I was really impressed...It's one of the best I have seen on P.NET., I do love good B/W....and this photo wouldn't work half as well in colour! If I might don my critics (constructive I hope) hat for moment, I feel that the Post-Processing is not really conducive to the subject matter... the image seems to me to be too 'soft' , sort of like a Norman Rockwell charicature. Perhaps a more 'contrasty/gritty' treatment would create a 'starker' more 'punchy' image. I still like it very much and I hope I have not been in any way mean with my criticism...it's not intended like that!

The other point I would like to address is your dilemma in publishing this photo of this unfortunate human being. I wish I had the wisdom of Solomon to impart ....I don't, but I have had a somewhat similar dilemma on holiday recently and it still bothers me! I was on a tour of South Africa, a stunningly beautiful but very poor country, in May of this year. As part of the tour we were to pay a visit to a secondary school in Zululand to experience the pupils doing traditional ZULU dancing and singing. This just didn't seem right to me....sort of rolling the poor black kids out to perform for the rich white folks!! And all to elicit some small donations to pay for essentials which the rest of us take for granted. I had to travel to the school on the tour-bus(no option there), but whether or not to get off the bus to 'see the show' ???? Well, yes I did! On one level I am glad I did, as I got to meet some wonderful Zulu teenagers who could sing and dance(totally un-rehersed) as only Zulu clildren can...a truely memorable experience. On another level it left me feeling very bad indeed...most of the kids lived in Rondavals, which are basically mud huts and not one of them will ever experience third level education.I also felt that the head-master, a strikingly handsome and inteligent Zulu gentleman, had to endure (with great forebearance it has to be said) an unspeakable level of indignity for the sake of his pupils. The only saving grace is that the tour company sponsor the school, and have installed a new toilet block (there had been 2000 mixed students with no proper toilets) so a least my tourist dollars were doing some good. I asuaged my conscience (easily done) by not taking any photos at the school. So I can understand the dilemma of conscience that you allude to above. I'm not saying by any means that I did the right thing and you did not..rather, I am acknowleging the dilemma of concience you mention.

Sorry for being so long-winded...I hope I have made my point without causing offence.....It is, after all, a really stunning and thought provoking photo...I envy you your talent.....and the rest of your work is not half bad either!

Very best regards....SLAN....FRANK.

p.s. I think the title is very appropriate !!!

Very nice good job

Roland:

The high key component along with the excellent black & white tonal range make this an exceptional image. The high key component leads the eye to focus on the subject. The black & white tonal range is very visually appealing.

It is really hard to say whether the carton next to the subject takes away from it or not.

I would definitely rate this image a 7 in both categories.

Regards,

Al