a female possessed by a camera
collided frames
Posted by Alina Livia Lazăr (Leigh, United Kingdom) on 2 February 2009 in Cityscape & Urban and Portfolio.
I took this photo yesterday, February 1st, in Leigh's centre, being at first captured by the man's interest for that shop-window and a second after - by the whole quiet scene.
The poster depicting Horatio Herbert Kitchener, better known as Lord Kitchener and the words 'YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU' represented the most famous image used in the British Army recruitment campaign of World War I. This poster was designed by Alfred Leete, and the device of a hand pointing directly at the viewer has inspired several imitations.
The message has always been the subject of imitations, and it is even nowadays: according to Wikipedia, 'Your Country Needs You' is the name chosen for the 2009 series of the BBC TV show broadcast annually to select Britain's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest.
[Whisper for the most curious ones: Lord Kitchener's biography is worth reading: important decisions, assaults, conspiracies and even gossips related to his homosexuality.]
Besides all the symbols I saw or I re-created when and after shooting this, there are some words that come into my mind when analyzing my own photo:
'When love and duty are one, then grace is within you' ('The Painted Veil')
I also considered this photo connected to the one I posted yesterday.
Constructive criticism will help me improve. Thanks for the time you took for viewing and analyzing this.
(This photo represents my second entry into B/W Street Photography Theme:
http://electro.aminus3.com/)
I keep all my photos in my head. All I have to do is find them in reality and then press the shutter.
Thank you for helping me with this!
Veronique from Sarrouilles, France
very good capture !! the three elements are astonishing
2 Feb 2009 6:57am
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Very good composition with so differents characters of different ages and styles.
The main subject separates in two the figures of the indoors and all the three create an amazing suggestion.
2 Feb 2009 8:23am
R.J.Dee from Ettlingen, Germany
I think the young man seems to be not very convinced of Lord Kitchener's idea of dying as a soldier ...
You' re showing a stunning picture, Alina.
2 Feb 2009 9:21am
@R.J.Dee: Indeed, R.J. Dee, I thought the same when seeing him: that he is not so convinced by the message on the poster!
zahai from Berlin, Germany
His country needs him...really. Great capture, love the interaction between live and non life elements :)
2 Feb 2009 9:25am
Laura from Birmingham, United Kingdom
love the figure holding the bust in the background. A superb combination of figures. Great work
2 Feb 2009 9:53am
Hikari from Kumamoto, Japan
I like a lot the interaction in betwen the characters .
Very well seen !
2 Feb 2009 11:45am
Ron from Saint Louis, United States
Excellent photo ... really captures the essence of everyday interaction between people and their surroundings ... ron
2 Feb 2009 12:05pm
dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States
Great composition. apparently he wants him!
2 Feb 2009 2:54pm
@dogilicious: dogilicious, yes, I thought the same too.
I also thought that choosing this direct angle, it will be like the man on the poster wants everybody:) including you!
thanks a lot.
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
Great interaction between the man and the poster.
2 Feb 2009 3:09pm
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
I like all the things going on, the man looking in, the man with the bust looking out, the poster, loads of things to gather meaning from, good work.
2 Feb 2009 3:23pm
Giovanni from Milan, Italy
Excellent and intriguing composition! Love the three characters interacting here. Great capture!
2 Feb 2009 5:11pm
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Your historical text and explanation moves the image into a completely different category; maybe the young man is inspired by the poster? I think it's a great dynamic image.
2 Feb 2009 11:25pm
Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada
Fascinating interplay between all the characters in this tableau. It's up to the viewer to put them all together.
2 Feb 2009 11:54pm
Barbara from Florida, United States
My words are not just a pay back for your kind comment on my post for today. But this one is the best I have seen in the challenge. It has such character and interest. Not just a snapshot. You framed the shot perfectly also capturing the man inside looking out. Very appealing image, Alina
3 Feb 2009 3:52am
Jorge from Daly City, United States
Sharp details. My take on the photo is that we always have to make choices such as in this picture where it looks like the man is thinking whether to answer the country's call or choose the bust being offered by the man on the other side of the glass.
3 Feb 2009 7:16am
@Jorge: Actually, Jorge, at first I wanted to give this photo the title MAKE ART NOT WAR but I thought that it was just too much, altering somehow the natural scene and its message(s). Thanks a lot.
djedfre from schaumburg, United States
a very intriguing shot! he appears as though he's lecturing him - and then there's the interesting implication of the brand name Everlast placed over USA - as though the very British poster and the American logo are competing brands of propaganda... well captured!
3 Feb 2009 9:11am
@djedfre: This is what I like most, actually. Maybe I will post here someday the color version of this one which is more appealing in my opinion and where this implication regarding the USA logo and the British poster is even more intense. Thanks a lot for mentioning this ( I did not want to say it myself! ).
Pied Crow from Nairobi, Kenya
In light of Djedfre's comment, it's also interesting to recollect the famous "Uncle Sam Needs You" recruiting image that is clearly modeled on Kitchener.
3 Feb 2009 11:07am
@Pied Crow: You are right :)
@JM@somedaysomewhere.net: And you too, yes :)
Nikon D90
1/125 second
F/4.0
ISO 220
28 mm