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

Thanks for your comments and ratings !

This is an excellent portrait full of humanity. The only thing that disturbes me a bit is the green colors at upper left. As usually for portraying people, B&W would work better, I think :)

excellent portrait..but the kid in the background for me is a little bit too apart to be considered in the photo.

Un retrato magnífico!

La expresion de la señora es fantástica, la foto muy bien encuadrada con gran definición.

Love it.

Stunning environmental portrait, Marina! And, know what? I didn't read the caption or tech. Your photo tells the story. My compliments - Gary

Technically superb. Emotionally wrenching.

Stunning! Great portrayal, almost like being there. On a humorous note........the boy's stomach doesn't indicate that he's very hungry? (",)

Alec:

Unfortunately, a distended stomach can be characteristic of malnutrition.

Excellent photo. The light foliage and floral background serve to halo and accentuate the woman's face.

Bravo Marina.

Very beautiful and strong portrait!!!

This abdomen means low protein pressure. To compensate it, the blood plasma must leave from the vessel to the interticie making the edema.

strong portrait

As an Anthropology and International Development student, this photo irks me in a way. I undertstand your excitement over having witnessed this very special rite, and that shows through in the images and commentary you've made. I do appreciate where this photo is comming from and the emotional strain that it took to shoot it. So good job there.

 

What bothers me is her eyes, they are not the eyes of someone about to have a nice snap of them taken to put in the family album. They are the eyes of a woman in pain of having just been whipped and bloodied only to have some stranger shove a camera in her face and snap a photo of it after some financial arrangement has been made. They are confrontational and the body language shows some resentment.

 

I really don't mean any offence to you by this. It takes days to weeks to years to earn the real trust of people. It also takes years of studying and talking and sharing life with people to understand them. For someone who only had a few short hours to draw in a whole culture and then turn around and shoot some photos, you did a very good job. But I just feel the need to say my peice and offer that the photo might have done with some more understanding.

 

I am deeply sorry if this offends you.

best regards.

No Brendan, I'm not offended at all. I am Spanish, and I remember the dictatorship and repression established in my country when I was younger, and that makes me to take in high value the freedom of expression.

 

I agree with you that the face seems to be of a suffering woman, but it was not from whiplashes. I'm posting the photos in chronological order, and, at the time of shooting the pic, the ceremony had not started. Furthermore, they were living the physical punishment proudly and joyfully; their faces never were of affliction or pain. You can find the real cause of pain in this photo. Look at it, please.

 

We were obliged to treat them with the medicines we carried in our backpacks, since they have extended ocular and epidermic injuries. We left that village full of emotions about what we had seen, but empty of medicines.

 

 

Marina,

Thanks for the clarification. The caption you offered was a bit misleading.

 

I have seen in your work a lot of great skill and ability to connect with subjects in a very real way. And I congradulate you for that.

 

I can see what looks a bit like blood on her neck and the distended belly in the background, yes. But is it her blood? It's hard to tell as animal blood is often used as decoration in some cultural ceremonies by some east African cultures.

 

My comment was in reference more to an Anthropological term, "othering" when the person looking has cast their gaze through their own point of view and preconceptions of the world. In essence othering is a form of judgement that can often be quite unfair. "Othering" has long been the root of underdevelopment in the "south" in the point of view of many Anthroplogists and Sociologists. In essence the representation and perception of someone from another culture and most typically "undeveloped" cultures, is often done in a way that does not show the same respect to the subjects as one might afford someone in your home town. This image is almost a j'accuse, and as such it is most interesting, but the whole story is a bit vague and it's hard to tell excactly what she's thinking. Images that show people in developing countries as being "backward" reinforce stereotypes like "these people can't hold their own" or they are "backward" thus reinforcing public opinion over the situation. The result? Take over their economy, they can't handle it on their own.

That is why this photo irks me, without freedom, respect and the favourable opinion of the North in terms of their ability to handle their own affairs, there will never be development.

 

I know you want to illustrate the problem here. And I admire that a lot. Perhaps through your work, you will touch on it. As for now, this is a symptom.

 

kindest regards

 

(note: this comment has been edited after much thought. the original wasn't as constructive and was probably inapropriate.)

You have something (a gift?) that causes you to see images before you convert them to photographs; your captured images always cause us to see a story with our mind's eyes. While some may misinterpret the image displayed and your intentions, I've come to know something about you: you CARE about your subjects. Some may feel bothered, others annoyed but it is only through their own perceived ignorance. How can anyone tell what your mission in life is, unless you tell them? You should NOT have to tell them anything since they should not be judging you through their own percieved prejudices.

 

Your role as a photographer is quite simple: to record a condition, a lifestyle, a situation, etc. Your role as a photojournalist is to invoke and stir emotions, to awaken empathy, to make others aware of something.... and, hopefully, to move others into action. You can only do what you can, as a person in the Helping Profession, and you make others aware of the situation through your images. You should know that the road to hell is often paved with good intentions.... you're 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 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.

 

Marina, good show! Keep up the good work, and remember that there are many more who admire your work and appreciate your efforts.

Never said I devalued the compassionate efforts of the photographer. I never said I thought she was a bad person. I did say that her efforts were akin to those of Albert Schweitzer.

As a grad student of International Devlopment, the study of development in so called "Third-World" countries, I most certainly am making every effort to improve the world. The $35000 I have spent on school and the years of studying can speak for that.

 

I'm just trying to bring out a question about how we, in the developed North "see" so called "underdevelopment." This image raises that question.

 

The term "othering" is by no means arcane.

That is all.

One of the most interesting portrait that I've ever seen!

I don't understand why Calico is so aggressive toward Brendan: he has explained his point clearly, in a humble but competent way, as the expert he is, and I think that Marina shouldn't be angry for this comment that has full respect of her and her work, and also proud of the fact that he has given a deep view of the image. At least, he has given a comment different from the superficial ones (included mines) we meet in this website, and you should appreciate the fact that he has put this rich critique instead of putting a 2/2 without explaining why...I understand that everyone would like to get 100 ratings with 7/7 and a series of applause, but the site hosts thousand of people with different opinions and you should respect them, expecially when they respect the others.

calico was not completely out of line. I think my original comment was a bit too emotional and accusational, I have changed it in light of His/Her(? sorry) comments. But the jist is still the same.

Hola Marina,

 

I have never been anywhere compareable to this place. Illustrated and ecapsulated in time by you. Somehow, I wish I was fortunate enough to have taken such picture. To record this moment in time. Its honest, its life. Aqui en Canada tenemos una vida presiosa... Her eyes somehow make me feel guilty. Guilty for feeling sorry for myself, at times. Meanwhile I am typing away and expressing my random thoughts. Mental soliloquy inside my head - I could do better in my business, did I sleep enough last night, my child was too loud, I am getting older so I should go out and have more fun, debts... Living inside a well heated home by the mountains, trees, ocean and plentifull of water. Your image reminds me of a world that is strange to me, but co-exists with all of us.

 

Muchas Gracias Marina por compartir tu foto.

... and quite out of place all those comments. From your photography it seems clear to me how compassionate you are! From your comments that impression is proved right! And knowing you, as I have the privilege of, just emphasizes how great a human person you are.

I feel honoured to consider myself as your friend

As an unemployed sociologist (I suspect the vast majority are...), I admire this photo, it is precisely because the image stirs these conflicting emotions and opinions, all equally valid in their own way, that makes this image so powerful.

 

Here is an attempt at a dialogue between two vastly different cultures (thats what we need), that it has started a discussion on PN is an indication of its worth. By requiring an image to be sympathetic towards the subject, you would lose the raw power of photojournalism and a certain objectivity would be lost in an attempt to contrive a more sympathetic photo. The truth of the reality of life in this part of the world would be covered up in favour of something ironically more pleasing for western sensibility.

 

The woman seems defiant, despite the harsh condition of life these people have to endure.

 

A sensitive, potent and honest portrayal that asks questions of the beholder... And that is what this genre of photography is meant to do.