While others pass by

picsonthemove, on January 11, 2009, said:

Nicely seen and good title

Ciao

picsonthemove

Mario Escherle, on January 11, 2009, said:

Excellent view and timing!!!

Greetings from Germany,

Mario

© Rapidsh☺t, on January 11, 2009, said:

*

pingu57, on January 11, 2009, said:

Good angle !

Hank Waxman, on January 12, 2009, said:

This photo is phenomenal, Marilyn. If this was an art class we could spend an hour discussing your intent. Can it be an accident that stereotypical western tourists are standing at the Temple Mount ignoring the traditionally dressed woman in the supplicating pose. After all, it might look like she's asking for money, but symbolically, maybe she's just asking to be noticed.

And the shadowy figure on the right, isolated in a graphic world of his own, would have been cropped from any picture that was solely intent on composition. I guess he's there in case we missed the message.

Am I reading too much into this?

Hank

Marilyn Whiteley, on January 12, 2009, said:

Thank you, picsonthemove, Raip, pingu and Hank.

Maybe a little overboard, Hank, but I do appreciate your comment. Part of the discussion of intent has to focus on the (to me) always interesting question of the photographer's layers of consciousness.

I saw and wanted this image, and in a few seconds my mind carried on a compressed version of a long debate about whether to take it. It felt intrusive even though I'd be using a zoom (as you can tell by its compressed nature), but it seemed such a powerful image. I took it (raising my camera first toward the Dome, then lowering it and making the shot quickly) and only later had a chance to become conscious of intent.

Incidentally, I think the man in black is actually a woman from our group, an interesting and very chic art historian. So inadvertently in this uncropped version we have two very different women in black!

Marilyn

pingu57, on January 12, 2009, said:

Marilyn I think Hank was talking about the men behind the pillar, not the women in front of the group. The one behind the pillar looks really like a men, holds a bottle like a men, has glasses like a men, so i guess..

Marilyn Whiteley, on January 12, 2009, said:

Well, now that I zoom way in, I guess you're right. I don't think the female art historian wore glasses, and her hat was black, not dark blue. Too bad!

Hank Waxman, on January 12, 2009, said:

I guess I may have overdone it, so please forgive an old art major for dusting off some little-used but always enjoyed picture analysis habits...and thanks pingu57 for picking up on my man in the corner.

Great shot, tho'

Hank

Marilyn Whiteley, on January 12, 2009, said:

Please don't be apologetic, Hank, because it stimulated me to think and then write about the photographic process--so I'd have to apologize, too!

Marilyn

Hank Waxman, on January 12, 2009, said:

So you and I are even Marilyn, but something dramatic drew you to this composition, and I think it is among the most powerful photos I've seen in a long time.

Well done.

Hank

Bending Light, on January 13, 2009, said:

Marilyn,

So many great photographs. After looking at your gallery I feel I have travelled the globe. It's a magnificent place through your lens.

I must add and I find it mildly amusing the begging woman appears to be wearing Crocs.

Mike

Makephotos, on January 14, 2009, said:

The pic tells more as the title! Well done Marilyn!

Greetings Makephotos

©polytropos, on January 14, 2009, said:

Great catch! A sad scenery often seen in the "eastern world".

Marilyn Whiteley, on January 15, 2009, said:

Thank you, Mike, Makephotos, and Poly. I'm glad you "saw" this photo--each in his own way.

Greetings, Marilyn

pehinucu, on January 17, 2009, said:

Una dura escena que revuelve un nuestras conciencias. Mi felicitación por esta fantástica fotografía social.

Saludos.

Marilyn Whiteley, on January 19, 2009, said:

Merci, pehinucu and Domi, for your very nice comments. Greetings, Marilyn

Amarnath Sharma, 4 days ago, said:

©polytropos! begging is not snatching.

©polytropos, 3 days ago, said:

Sorry, Amarnath, I don't know exactly what you mean.