Despair

Poverty is a fact of life in India,but it seems some nationals of the

country do not like me showing these photos and have taken to giving

me 3/3,s,well so be it.My photographs reflect how I view the world and

the inequity in it.

Original & very nice!

 

It is really tragical, something one would like to keep his eyes off. But it belongs to life and the best way to eliminate it is first to assimilate it. So I look at your image and wouldn't like to seek something showing happiness, well being and "rosy" situations. You accentuated the hand very correctly: It expresses everything.

Best Regards FK.

Birte,

You have somehow "bettered best" with this one. One of the most powerful of all the photos I've seen in this series. Who, looking at this photo, cannot know the despair this poor soul is enduring!! Very well done!!

Touching.

 

Alberto

Your photo reflects your desire to seek some admiration out of misfortune of others.

And you David are a total idiot,before you make such statements why not find out whats behind them.Firstly we have helped these people a lot and will continue to do so.We plan on launching a book later in the year where all proceeds will go to these people,perhaps you would like to buy one when it comes out.As for exploitation it seems to me thats exactly what you are doing with the females you photograph.Thanks for your narrow minded comment.

Another moving image Birte. I do admire your dedication to bring the plight of these poor people to the eyes of the world. Regards - michel

A strong image. Thanks for sharing. You help us to think how world is unfair. Ciao.

Good one! I like the tight crop here.

Strong and very touching image, Birte. Good capture. Congrats

 

 

Great!! Terveisin,Ilkka

atmospheric shot! Great work

Bravo......excellent work.

I don't understand why some people think you exaggerate things.I respect your work.Your immagination and message are completely true and simply great.

I agree with you that some people discourage you by underrating which happened to me also.Please don't be disheartened and carry on with full enthusiasm.

Regards to you.

for me poverty means poverty, not necessarily something else....in my life I have seen and have discussed with poor people that are still happy (not happy being poor) and have a decent life...and some that were desperate...the same with people having cancer where some stayed positive and some deseperate, or other life problems....

 

In my opinion Birte, your Indian photograph are OK and even very good from a technical standpoint (colors , compo and the rest I am no one to judge that)...the problem is that I don't see the story and at the end to me it looks like shots from a tourist that made a tour to the poor area...

 

You are clear with your intention and I give you credit for that point ...you want to show poverty to us all...it's not a bad thing and it can be very positive...

 

The problem I see as a simple viewer of your numerous photo, is that you don't show the people simply being what they are...you show poor people in a way for the viewer to be forced into pathos...in some sense it seems to me you make your photo speak (instead of the people) the way you want them to speak...

 

Show the people, their life, how they live, what they do for lïving, their struggle, their positives points, show context, show a story and I would be the first one to applaud...

 

For example, like Mc Curry does, like Jonas Bendiksen does in http://www.theplaceswelive.com/....these photographers show us all side of the story, the sad one, the middle one and some possible positive issues...

 

Instead I have the impression of watching a tourist tour in the poor area....most photos seems to be tailored to make the viewer cry...ok I will cry with you...what's next ?

 

Photojournalism (for me) if it's that what you want to do is not about making people/viewer cry, it's about presenting facts from all sides of the story...and let the people express themselves rather than doing it for them....

 

In my humble opinion it seems you would like to be their voice where the only thing you could do reasonably is be their microphone...sadly in the process, pushing too much you loose credibility....because the subject is a very serious one I think it is very sad...yes I think some subject require professionalism and a careful approach......

Laurent,

 

Maybe it's not my business to reply here, but I have also worked and lived 30 years of my life in some of the poorest countries of Asia and Africa. I can tell you that the romantic idea of “poor but happy” is really only a Hollywood fantasy for rags to riches movies. The reality is much different. Poverty is not only a question of not having money but one of vulnerability. How would you like to see your own children dying of malnutrition or dysentery because you have no money, no means and often no access to health care services? How would you like to be in a situation where your children cannot go to school to get an education that would allow them to have better opportunity in life? Where you do not even have the opportunity to find work to pay for their basic needs? How would you like to live in a single room house where the floor is made of dirt, there are no doors and windows only openings, the roof is leaking during the monsoon season and the children cannot study at night because you have no electricity? How would you like to see your own children begging on the street or rummaging through garbage to find some scrap to eat for lunch? And i can go on because i've seen worse. Despair comes from hopelessness, and helplessness in the face of your own vulnerability. It’s easy to talk about people being “poor but happy” when you go back to your own comfortable house at night, it’s a different story when you have to live poverty day in day out, not knowing when one of your children, your wife, or yourself will get sick and you wont be able to do anything. The fact that you can see them smile is a testament to their courage and strength but do not mistake that for happiness.

 

I think Birte’s photos capture the emotions and the condition of the people with honesty and without pretense. This one certainly expresses despair to me.

I have no romantic idea of poverty Michael not at all...quite the contrary in fact...it's strange you say that because I have neved said poor people seemed or needed romantic photography...

 

What I don't like is images that are tailored to make the viewer cry or tailored to result in pity in the viewers eyes...what is needed if you want to help people is an honest view of the situation, not to dramatize and not to minimize....it is not pity that is needed but help...help is much more efficient when the situation is honestly described...just honest photography like Mc Curry, Bendiksen and others...

 

I am not commenting the situation of these people (I have immense respect)...I don't know what their true situation and feelings are but it's certainly not this kind of sensational photography that could help me make an honest opinion...

 

I am commenting the photography, the manipulation and the editing...nothing else...

Outstanding image Birte! I cannot see how anyone could come up with a better image of despair. If despair had an ad campaign this would be on the poster. Brilliant work. Don't let your detractors drag you down. I admire what you do, and your fervor to achieve change.

All the best,

Neil

I sent you an email as i do not want to highjack Birte's photo critique. Regards- michel

First, wonderful image..holds great emotions!! Also, I wanted to thank you here for your last comment on my BW portrait..means alot coming from a great portrait/photo journalist as yourself!

The way you portrait the feeling in this picture is truly remarkable!