This first image is from the funeral of Rainier Oregon's Chief of Police Ralph Painter. The photo really displays a sense of solemnity. You can see the emotion in the boys eyes and body language.
This next photo is of a protest in Tripoli Lebanon. The protesters set a van on fire which belonged to Al-Jazeera, an international Arabic news network. I find this one to be very ironic because the angry protesters set fire to a vehicle yet a man stands next to the flames and holds up a peace sign.
These are both very interesting images. The photo of the little boy is fantastic in the sense that it shows how small the boy is that has to deal with such a situation in the middle of all of these strange adults. The impersonality of it all is reinforced by the missing heads on all the adults. And yet this kid, whom one would expect to be distraught in this situation, is stoically holding the flag and doing his part in this big funeral production. It is a powerful image.
ReplyDeleteThe contrast between the peace symbol and flames in the second photo is also very powerful. It would be a strong visual image without the peace sign but it would not have the PJ artsy impact it has as is.
Great selections!
Not a bad set Gabe. What does everybody think about the gloved hand behind the boy's head? And if the shooter included the faces of the people in the background would have it made a better or worse photo?
ReplyDeleteThe protest photo definitely has an interesting juxtaposition with the man giving the peace sign in front of the flaming news vehicle. It will be interesting to see the image galleries over the next few weeks that come out of the events in the middle east.
Nice finds Gabe!
ReplyDeleteI think the gloved hand by the boy creates a leading contrast. It is angled in such a way that naturally guides you to the boy's eyes.
I think if the faces of the adults were showing with a lot more emotion than the little boy, the image would really tug on the heart strings of people. If on the other hand, the adults had stoic composures, it would had made the image weaker.
As to the symbolism of the second picture, my take is that while in the US that hand gesture signifies peace, in other parts of the world that same hand gesture could signify victory. Winston Churchill made this sign famous during WWII.
Sunni supporters of the ousted prime minister burned the Aljazeera car because they believe Aljazeera to sympathize with Shiites opponents or Hezbollah. By going to the streets and further burning the property of the of sympathizers of Hezbollah who have the support of parliament to control Lebanon's next government, the Sunni supporters are showing defiance.
Thanks for posting this picture for it gives us an opportunity to discuss how communications --body language and gestures-- can differ around us and the world. In 1992 President Bush Senior while touring Australia used the same hand gesture trying to say to peace to a group of farm demonstrators protesting US farm subsidies. He had the outside of his hand facing the crowd and the palm of his hand facing him. In Australia if you use this sign with the palm of your hand facing you, you are in essence telling people "UP YOURS MATE."