| Author |
Message |
laura lizancos mora
Member
|
# Posted: 8 Apr 08 17:34
Reply
Some times I wonder what´s the "use" , or meaning of a passion as photography for a person..
I know my answer, but , today, I ve received this "strange" comment on one of my photos...
Many of you ve read about "the Dalit Photo School Project " that we had on Woophy newsletter for long -thanks , Joris!- thats why I dont "understand this comment, loving India as I do..
THIS IS THE COMMENT ABOUT the 153186 photo:
"Woophy is a site from which people gets the idea of a country. What kind of picture you want to showcase before the world? When I see other county's pictures, they show the beautiful pictures of their country.
Therefore, I like to request you to display some good picture of our country in future. "Arindam Ghosh
(I can not see nor photos of this autor, nevertheless, just let me tell you sorry for the missunderstanding, because I LOVE INDIA and Indian people..and its beautifullest image.
So... MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS:
what feeling have you got about the "philosophy of the photography fact"???[i][/i] 
Thanks friends and Whoopylovers.. )
I send you a Youtube link, with some photos about the project, too, just COPY AND PASTE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq2o51Y1UmM&feature =related
Many thanks for your critical comments.
|
joris
Moderator
|
# Posted: 8 Apr 08 18:27 - Edited by: joris
Reply
Since this guy is not from India, I guess he invites you to come and take pictures in his country (Bahrein)
Otherwise I really don't understand the comment of him
All the best
Joris
|
zerega
Member
|
# Posted: 8 Apr 08 19:10 - Edited by: zerega
Reply
It looks like the guy is from Calcutta.
I always like to see all aspects of a country, the shitty, the chocolate side and anything in between. However some people feel uncomfortable and embarrassed when coming across photos of their ugly backyard that is not supposed to be on public display and very well hidden from the street. Potala Palace anytime, the police interrogation room definitely not.
May be a cultural thing, varying from country to country. I experienced anything between the policeman's-hand-covering-lens and a rather relaxed attitude where even the poorest people where so glad to have their picture taken (and mailed to after printing) or their less-than-fortunate surroundings.
|
pansa
Member
|
# Posted: 8 Apr 08 21:01
Reply
Laura, being one of the most outstanding photographers of Woophy, with her harsh and honest picture of Indian life and people gets my full support. I dislike the comment of Ghosh. Laura a warm "chapeau" for your work.
|
Geoffrey McElwaine
Member
|
# Posted: 8 Apr 08 21:27
Reply
Laura. I totally agree with pansa ! Photography in general, and Woophy in particular, should be used to illustrate every aspect of the world - good and bad, pretty and ugly, wealthy and poor. To criticise your picture because it shows something the critic labels as not " good " [ and how do you define that word ? ] is, at best, foolish and, at worse, tending towards censorship. To sum up : don't let foolish, ill-informed criticism stop you from taking the kind of pictures you want to !
Regards
Geoff. ( Geoffrey McElwaine )
|
Ruden Fretsbo
Member
|
# Posted: 8 Apr 08 21:34
Reply
Hola Laura,
I think that we must accept this comment as there are so many different sensibilities in Woophy and it's expressed in an appropriate way. My opinion is that this member doesn't have many experience in what we can find in woophy (he is a very new member, as I have seen) and what is the purpose of the site, not only showing the nice places in a country but also the daily life and why not... the worst of every place. Having said this, I can not find anything wrong in the picture, anything bad, anything ugly... Those women look really nice, the picture is not sad but optimistic, and very well done... You're really talented Laura, and this picture is simply a great and respectful shot about India... but we can not be in Arindam's head and we can not look at the picture from his sensibility and point of view. It would be nice if he could explain this better...
I suggest you to send this member a private message to clarify this situation and maybe he will understand.
Un caluroso saludo!
Ruden Fretsbo
|
3.1416
Member
|
# Posted: 9 Apr 08 12:15 - Edited by: 3.1416
Reply
Personally I do not see this commentary offensive. Only he is that of a member who wants to see the good side of the life and who apparently in his opinion this photo represents the poverty of his country. I do not agree in only photographing the nice or agreeable part of the world, though this photo does not have anything bad or aggressive in my opinion.
I would be proud for a commentary like this one, since observing your photographies a great percentage of these, have the definitive PUNCTUM that makes them special.
This punctum provokes a Shock effect, beyond the socio-cultural concerns, in most cases is a very particular detail in your pictures, in this case maybe the poor appearance of the women in your image, reinforced by the sepia tonality that gives an air of past times.
Great collection
|
drora
Member
|
# Posted: 9 Apr 08 12:47
Reply
Laura I love your work and you know that..........I can tell from your pictures that you love the country and the people
Arindam Ghosh - you are an honest person that wish to see beautiful image of his country - so here you are - show us ( in pictures) what do you mean
|
TGB
Member
|
# Posted: 9 Apr 08 13:56
Reply
Showing only the best aspects of a country will not make the poverty go away. However, when people become aware of the poverty they come together to help to diminish or even eradicate it. The starvation from drought and mass population displacement from war in Eastern Africa was brought to the world through photography - and the world responded, and still does, magnificently.
So, Laura, do not ever be afraid to display images of poverty; sometimes this is the only way that people of influence become aware of bad situations.
|
Dieuwertje
Member
|
# Posted: 9 Apr 08 17:04
Reply
Laura, don't mind, I like it very much to see a good serie photo's taken in what country ever.
There is no country in the world who doesn't have good and bad sides, so it's right to show them both.
For people who can't travel themself, it's a very nice way to learn more of a country and of the country life.
So for woophy's who are go to travel in the future, go on please , and shoot the real life on earth.
|
TBM
Member
|
# Posted: 9 Apr 08 19:30 - Edited by: TBM
Reply
Dear Laura,
first of all, let me say that I have the uttermost admiration for your work. Your pictures are not only beautiful in their formal aspects - those vibrant colours, those original and perfect compositions - they are also full of human sympathy towards the condition of the people shown in the images. It is simply an honour for me to be a member of a community where there are also photographers like you.
But, coming to the topic, I think I understand what Arindam Gosh is complaining about. You see, on Woophy (and on most similar sites) there are so many pictures from India, and most of them are about the poverty and the social problems of that country. Now I ask myself: what could my feelings be, if I saw - say - an American or a Chinese or a Venusian come to Italy and take pictures of naked children, dirty roads, unenmplyed men etc? What could my feelings be, if the 90% of pictures from my country on Woophy would be only about destitution and desolation? Do not misunderstand me, please: I do not mean that your picture is partial or unsincere. I mean that - maybe - the global image that comes from the average Indian scene tells only part of the story. And an Indian could notice it better than an European.
So, in my opinion, you are both right: you take (splendid) pictures of the reality you meet, Arindam complains that there is still another India. This is a dilemma that probably we are not going to solve. But the acknowledgement is a first step anyway.
|
Paulo Calafate
Member
|
# Posted: 9 Apr 08 23:25 - Edited by: Paulo Calafate
Reply
 ... and India has flowers too...
|
bruha2
Member
|
# Posted: 14 Apr 08 12:03
Reply
When I take photos I tend to be an Arindam. There is so much beauty in my country that it never occurs to me to use my photography as a social commentary and yet there are people in this land of so much plenty who are forced by circumstances to live in conditions that can only be decribed as degrading. Whenever I am confronted with these situations I feel embarrased.
However 1950's NZ writer and educationist Sylvia Ashton-Warner ( "Spinster" "Teacher" ) had to confront these same issues as a back country school teacher and her conclusions were the same as Paulo's. We are all flowers in the field and each has their own beauty. I am the first to comment about the photos of, to me, miserable old european buildings and sunsets & sunrises but I doubt if I will ever change but then do I really need to as I am quite happy taking photos of endless beaches and I'm sure that people get enjoyment from them.
|
Pituca
Member
|
# Posted: 14 Apr 08 14:19
Reply
Wanted Laura… I admire its work and I find that all and any commentary is welcome! Nor everything that we photograph pleases to all! I reserve myself to make photos of the place where alive, of the nature and places that I visit, always worried in not displaying images of that they do not want to be displayed. In the case of its photos, the poverty exists in all place, nor always is divulged. An image can identify many feelings. For the appearance history is not known! Many times the wealth is in the feelings, the joy, the receptividade of the personages of the photo, at the moment, the chance! If the country has beauties, congratulations… if the country is cultured, congratulations… if it has good governing, congratulations… but if have something discredits that it, with certainty will not be the photo in question, but the preconception of who does not want to see or to know the reality of the place where it lives! Greetings and continue catching the wealth of expressions!
|
|
Pituca
Member
|
# Posted: 14 Apr 08 14:21
Reply
He forgives if my English is confused! I do not dominate the language and I always need a translator online! Thanks…
|
Online now: Guests - 2 Members - 1