This picture makes me cry!

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Socke

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A friend just led me to the gallery of Steve McCurry and I opened the southamerica album first.

This is a picture which not only moves me but makes me cry in despair.

see here
 
May want to put a family viewing warning on this one..

But yes, a raw, very affecting photo. This is one that as a photographer, I don't know if I could personally bring the camera to my eye and snap the photo if this scene unfolded in front of me. It'd be instinct for some, but I just don't think I could do it. It's important to share these things with the world, not just the pretty things. While some surely don't want to see this, it will reach others with whom it will make an impact on and possibly a difference in some degree down the line.

Thanks for sharing this Socke.. that's what it's for.
 
not to seem coldhearted here.. but that photo definitely appears to me to be an image of an unhappy child playing haphazardly with a dangerous looking toy.. nothing more

however, it's obvious what the photographer was going for.. I would file this one under 'manipulative images'
 
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raid amin said:
Keep guns away from children, and keep politicians away from countries they don't belong to.
Raid, does this not look strange to you? No trying to stir up anything here but it would be nice to know the real story behind the photo.
 
Warning, this attachment conatins a disturbing picture from Iraq

ONE SHOT, ONE KILL.

Edited by JT

Bryan, If you wish to show these particular pictures please create a personal gallery in the gallery and share the passwords with those that ask for it. Or post a link to them where the link shows up upon clicking on the link.

Thanks,

JT
 
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I chalked it up as a situation out of my realm of understanding, but I'm maybe not as suspicious as I should be about these things. I was reminded immediately of the movie "City of God (Cidade de Deus)" and the kids running around with guns for their respective drug rings. Here is some infor about the movie in case you haven't seen it: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317248/. That connection lead me to believe what I was seeing I guess you could say.
 
Bryan, not sure what the posting of those photos is supposed to represent- maybe shock value. If it is a political statement- I have no problem with that at all. There are lots of people in the USA and especially the rest of the world that believe that the USA has no place in Iraq, and I am one of them. If that is your intention, I am with you, but did you really think this was necessary?
 
RDW said:
Bryan, not sure what the posting of those photos is supposed to represent- maybe shock value. If it is a political statement- I have no problem with that at all. There are lots of people in the USA and especially the rest of the world that believe that the USA has no place in Iraq, and I am one of them. If that is your intention, I am with you, but did you really think this was necessary?

Im not trying to make any political statement and I dont go for shock value. It is a real set images that was sent to me from Iraq. The images might now be available to the public but Ive had them for some time. Since the subject is what makes me cry I thought I would add these because its the only thing that has made me come close to crying in a while. Babys dont carry passports so Im not out to demonize any goverment and I highly doubt anyone would have done this on purpose so Im not even trying to demonize the shooter. It is a real set of images and others can take from it what they wish, I just dont believe the average voter in Europe or America has a clue to what the reality of war is. I got my first lessons by walking though the graveyards in Germany and finding the graves of over 20 children together who all died on the same day in a city heavily bombed by the allies in WW2.
 
My opinion is very easy to understand: Keep all politics out of this forum. Period. The tone of this thread could all too easily become contentious and that should be avoided.

The photograph of the child with a pistol is very powerful and a good example of top-notch photo-journalism. Leave it at that and resist the urge to make political statements which have no place here..... in MY opinion.

Walker
 
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doubs43 said:
My opinion is very easy to understand: Keep all politics out of this forum. Period.

The photograph of the child with a pistol is very powerful and a good example of top-notch photo-journalism. Leave it at that and resist the urge to make political statements which have no place here..... in MY opinion.

Walker

Pictures are political by nature, While I agree that written political statements and arguments are to be avoided, Where would one draw the line on what is or is not political in photography?
 
Bryan Lee said:
Im not trying to make any political statement and I dont go for shock value. It is a real set images that was sent to me from Iraq. The images might now be available to the public but Ive had them for some time. Since the subject is what makes me cry I thought I would add these because its the only thing that has made me come close to crying in a while. Babys dont carry passports so Im not out to demonize any goverment and I highly doubt anyone would have done this on purpose so Im not even trying to demonize the shooter. It is a real set of images and others can take from it what they wish, I just dont believe the average voter in Europe or America has a clue to what the reality of war is. I got my first lessons by walking though the graveyards in Germany and finding the graves of over 20 children together who all died on the same day in a city heavily bombed by the allies in WW2.
I can find photos like these on probably thousands of websites from many different countries. I am a voter and trust me, I have a clue as to the reality of war. Obviously my interpretation of this as a political statement was wrong. That makes me wonder even more about your intentions on posting the photos.
 
I disagree that the original photo is photojournalism, much less top-notch.. but that's merely my opinion, based on my strong belief that the child's gun is just a prop.. I think the kid was merely holding it to his head in a pose that garnered him some attention.. or possibly was holding it that way at the suggestion of the 'photojournalist'.. but again, that's merely my opinion.. but at least it's an interesting image, either way

however, the photos that Bryan added aren't appropriate, IMO
 
Bryan Lee said:

Pictures are political by nature, While I agree that written political statements and arguments are to be avoided, Where would one draw the line on what is or is not political in photography?

The picture in and of itself is fine. It's the commentary that - IMO - steps over the line. Let the picture speak for itself and refrain from making political points.

Again, this is MY opinion. I have no idea how the moderators feel.

Walker
 
doubs43 said:
My opinion is very easy to understand: Keep all politics out of this forum. Period. The tone of this thread could all too easily become contentious and that should be avoided.

The photograph of the child with a pistol is very powerful and a good example of top-notch photo-journalism. Leave it at that and resist the urge to make political statements which have no place here..... in MY opinion.

Walker
For some strange reason, it seems that people here in the USA have a problem discussing in a normal, civilized fashion, the politics of the day. We have all become so friggin' homogenized, so terribly bland and politically correct that all civil discourse is looked upon with disdain. Bryan is right, the very nature of these photos begs for political discussion. This is what photography is about, to make you think, to make you feel- sometimes there is more to life than what lens or camera is better than another.
 
JoeFriday said:
I disagree that the original photo is photojournalism, much less top-notch.. but that's merely my opinion, based on my strong belief that the child's gun is just a prop. however, the photos that Bryan added aren't appropriate, IMO

Joe, IMO it is photo-journalism even if, as you suspect, it's a staged shot. It was taken to make a statement which is what photo-journalism is all about. I'm willing to bet that more journalistic pictures are staged or arranged than most would believe. I'm cynical enough to believe that Photographers will manipulate events to illustrate whatever it is that they wish to show.

Walker
 
I think that photo that Steve McCurry took shows total and utter despair as it , I think, was meant to. If the intent of the child and the handgun were real, I would hope the first reaction to that scenario would not be to take a photo but to intervene to attempt to save the child's life. I do not think that the situation was real but it really makes you think.

Bob
 
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