Holocaust Memorial Day Time 10AM DSCF3300

At exactly 11 AM (maybe it is 10 AM) on Holocaust Memorial Day, sirens sound for 1 minute and Israel comes to a standstill. Israelis drivers leave their cars and most of them pray...... For critique only. It is about impossible to get a technically good photo in harsh sunlight.

At 11 AM (maybe 10AM) on Holocaust Memorial Day Sirens sound and

Israel comes to a standstill. Drivers leave their cars and most pray.

imho it's a bit too much contrasted, but the story here goes well beyond tech matters. Thanks for sharing, Giuseppe

your opinion on contrast is correct as I wrote above. thank you for commenting.

No need to apologize for the contrast - from my point of view it even adds to the authentic character of the photo.
From first glance, I'd agree with Guiseppe: it's meaningful and powerful: her position and bearing indeed show she's interrupted her -perhaps mundane- activity for a moment of contemplation.

But - regarding the photo a little longer now - what strikes me are the objects in her hands: a sheet of paper and her car keys - I might overinterpret, yet to me this looks like she's only half praying while her other "half" is eagerly waiting for taking up her daily business again.
Now, this does not compromise the photo's power at all - it rather adds the complexity the topic deserves.

and that she is expecting a child. The sun washed out the whites but if you look closely the "paper" is a small booklet and her thumb marks a page. There are special prayers and psalms for remberace of family lost etc. As for the keys, I do not know her reason but I learned never leave the car even for petrol without keys. Locked myself out many time. As you say there are different interpretations.

Meir, like you say it is very difficult to get a technically perfect photo in harsh sunlight. Yet, if a photo was about technical perfection only then it would be substanceless and meaningless. In my view, one has to make the most of what one can get at the time of releasing the shutter. For me this photograph has a lot of substance and meaning. It is a very interesting and informative documentary of a woman praying/ standing in a moment of respect, to a terrible and very tragic event.... You have captured her pose and the moment perfectly. As for the harsh light it only tells me that it is shot on a bright sunny day and I think the skin tones have come out remarkably well if I refer to the Zone System :-) also the choice of background is perfect....regards

I agree with Dara's statement. Having been in Israel at this time of year for several years, I never saw anyone or heard any comment about being bored when this air raid siren pierced the soul of the country that is still in shock and mourning over the callous and complicit indifference of the world to genocide. Hopefully, we can learn to be proactive and shut down all forms of discrimination and insensitivity to other people and to all forms of life.

 

I wonder if there are many Israelis who have not lost loved ones -- including family they never met but have seen signs of grief in the eyes and unguarded looks of family members, neighbors, people on the street-- , particularly a pregnant woman.

 

I have stood at attention. Boredom is not something comes comes to mind. In a way, it is a collective, plaintive wail

Thank you for commenting.

Meir, Here is the message sent by the the director of the US Holocaust Museum in response to this Wednesday's shooting of the security guard in this museum by a hate-filled racist. I'll take this down in a day, not to clog up the comments under your pic, but it seemed apt.

 

Dear Museum Friend,

 

There are no words to express our heartache and shock over yesterday’s tragic events, which took the life of Officer Stephen Johns, who died heroically in the line of duty. Officer Johns was a loyal and devoted member of our Museum family, serving on our security staff for six years. Our hearts and prayers go out to his entire family. We closed the Museum today in honor of Officer Johns and our flags are flying at half staff in his memory.

 

We are grateful for the overwhelming support and expressions of condolence we have received from our Museum community, President Obama, and concerned citizens and organizations across the country and around the world.

 

We are also grateful to our officers who responded so quickly and effectively as they have been trained to do. The safety and security of our visitors and staff has always been our highest priority.

 

This incident underscores why the Museum is so important. The Holocaust did not begin with mass murder. It began with hate. The Holocaust reminds us of the dangers of indifference and unchecked hate—and that each of us has a responsibility to stand up to it. Nothing teaches that lesson more powerfully than the Museum.

 

It is unconscionable that such an act of violence, fueled by hatred, would occur at our Museum, a sacred place of memory. Yet, despite our grief and outrage, we will reopen on Friday with a renewed commitment to the urgency of our mission.

 

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for commenting. No need to take it down.

many thanks replying my comment. In fact, I wasn't sure about her pregnancy (I chose to be polite and avoid that subject) and that in her left she's holding a book of Psalms is both "context"-information I was missing and make me re-think my initial interpretation.

Regards,Wolfgang

Thank you for commenting. I am glad that you did.