This review is about a few images which have changed my perception.
I always had a fascination for still photography. Often still photography raises a lot of questions and leaves a lot unanswered. On the other hand, the implications of watching a video is very clear cut. Leaves nothing to the imagination. You watch the complete video and get the general idea. For ex., when you watch grisly or harrowing scenes, have you noticed that the actions in a video are more horrific to watch? Even though there is not much scope for alternate thoughts as the video speaks. Often there are no questions asked at the end of watching a video clipping in most cases as it depicts a specific action. But still photography? I have been moved by a lot of them. It has the capability of raising your emotions. Whereas in a video, it is the action which speaks. An image can contain/ raise various emotions without being as gruesome as a video. Also it has the capability of raising more questions especially when the images talk about the most basic needs. This is regardless of the camera you use. A simple black and white image would sometimes suffice giving more meaning to the scene than a colorful image. There are a few images I would like to share with you. And all the images are Pulitzer winner’s because they bought the focus of the whole world on the event/location. Here they are…
Again, I don’t know how an image could change anyone’s life, but if there is one, then this is the first in the series. The image is of a village in Nigeria. The image of a child going to the nearest feeding center.. The child is too exhausted to even stand. And a vulture waiting for the child to loose his last ebb of energy, so that it can hunt easily. The child is unaware that death is waiting.. And Death - Waiting for the child to give up hope..
https://nigeriavillagesquare1.com/Articles/Nworah/vulture.jpg
You must be thinking… What happened to the child next? Did he survive? Was he able to make his way to the nearest feeding center?
If the child had died, I would personally have been guilty in a way. Having the luxury of a computer and spare time, I can only blame myself for the state of the child as I watch the image. I feel guilty - not being able to help in any way. Ever wondered what happened to the baby? And the photographer? (This image won the Pulitzer award -1994) I found the below information from the site..
In 1993 Carter (The photographer) headed north of the border with his wife Silva to photograph the rebel movement in famine-stricken Sudan. Immediately after their plane touched down in Ayod, Carter began snapping photos of famine victims. Seeking relief from the sight of masses of people starving to death, he wandered into an open bush. He heard a soft, high-pitched whimpering and saw a tiny girl trying to make her way to the feeding center. As he crouched to photograph her, a vulture landed in view. Careful not to disturb the bird, he positioned himself for the best possible image. He later stated - he waited about 20 minutes, hoping the vulture would spread its wings. It did not, and after he took his photographs, he chased the bird away and watched as the little girl resumed her struggle. Afterward he sat under a tree, lit a cigarette, talked to God and cried.
The fact is very likely that this one image turned his life completely. It bought him fame. But he committed suicide later unable to take the constant images of people getting killed and children dying of poverty. Imagine if the vulture had spread it’s wings and the child in the same position. That would have a whole different meaning…
Thank you Kevin for rescuing the baby. Otherwise, I too am guilty.
This second one is another image taken in Zaire, Africa. Again, it focuses on a baby crying of hunger as his mom lies in her diseased sleep and unable to move. The immediate question that rose to my mind is what happens if the mother dies?
https://pulitzer.org/year/1995/feature-photography/works/AP3.gif
Javier Bauluz was the photographer. Unfortunately in this case, there is no knowledge whether the woman survived. My only hope - A prayer that she survived.
The third once again focuses on a child in Rwanda.
https://pulitzer.org/year/1995/feature-photography/works/AP4.gif
Fortunately this time we have positive proof that the child survived. And he was healthy. The child was sleeping as he was feeling weak in the knees. He felt sleepy while he was waiting in queue for a vaccination. The photographer was Jacqueline Artz.
But if you are wondering about the weakness in the knees, then be assured that it happens often in places unheard of - right now occurring in India!
(Though in a different form. People from the regions of Rayachoti and Cuddapah are well aware of it. It’s due to water though no specific cause has been found so far. They feel weak in the knees for about 2-3 days and feel very tired. After that, miraculously it goes away. And there are no signs of any fever or disease. Is there anyone from these regions who can vouch for this? If so, please leave a comment in the comments section detailing your experience or more information.)
I believe the above images make more sense than a video. For, ex., would you like to watch the video of the child’s suffering in the first two instances? In both the cases, it would not have conveyed the meaning as depicted in the images. And being desensitized to violence on TV only makes it worse. People would probably watch it without much ado - if the same videos were shown on TV.
I deem these the images which have touched my life the most. I have carefully selected the images, because the images raise the basic questions. Did he survive? Did he get to eat? Though in the above scenarios, I still do not know how I can contribute – not in terms of money. But in terms of support, provide the most basic necessities – food and water, and of course to share a few moments with them. For that I guess I need to go there physically. I hope to, one day. It will always be my life’s dream to do that. But till then, I guess charity starts at home….
If anyone wants to share other images which have immensely touched their life, please leave a link in the comments section.