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The Bang Bang Men


The Bang Bang Men
Photo Information
Copyright: Kev Ryan (KevRyan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1881 W: 183 N: 4656] (20319)
Genre: People
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2007-05
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-10-29 1:31
Viewed: 555
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In the Harmonious Society there will be opportunities for work for everyone, for social happiness and productivity work together to produce a calm and caring environment for all citizens.

China is a nation with a growing level of social unrest - this is not about student protests and state repression, the culling of the perpetrators of new ideas, China has moved a long long way from those events...........

As China gets richer a new and less 'harmonious' society emerges where the inequalities are more visible and the buy into 'my nation right or wrong' begins to fray around the edges. Some citizens are now getting far more access to this happiness in a very materialistically orinetated culture. Of course some always did but now the numbers are astounding and they are very visible to those who do not have access. The rural/urban divide is seen most clearly in the big emerging cities like Chongqing through the rurally sourced construction workers and some of the army of bang bang men who are the human, goods transportation system of the city. Waiting for the next job has its own stresses and strains because this small income per journey is all there is to support the neccessities of life and the potential route out of this existence for the child of the next generation.

This is not yet the beginning of a social welfare utopia that might have started to grow out of China's new riches - in all its new economic and productive power on a global scale China's weakness will be its own population and the maintenance of social stability.

Gandhi would have suggested starting here with the bang bang men and the rural poor - their social mobility and the dignity of their organisation and education will uplift everyone. New social contracts are needed. China may have launched its great drive to a Harmonious Society prompted by the awareness that the rate of change is already outstripping old forms of social control. We rarely hear about it but the unrest and protest are real.

For the moment all that strength and energy is bound up in waiting in the heat of the day for the next job..........
skellywag, delnaja, macondo, broglia, Polonaise, jaywalker, kessi, everlasting, keribar, kozak has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi, having very recently visited China and learnt of the changes in society I found your information reiterates what I discovered. These men have a difficult life and your shot accentuates this. A very emotive shot. TFS, Jean

this is a superb photo. There is a lot of sadness in the scene captured which is enhanced by the b&w.
Important note as well.
best wishes
Fred

This is what call a SERIOUS shot, reminds me a bit (if you can forgive an egoistical aside...) of my "Cyclo" pic from Saigon... similar relationships, dynamic. Sad picture, of course but lovingly treated with brilliant distribution of DOF, so cleverly, delicately graduated.
I believe this is one of your best shots ever, kev, at least in my view, and I would like to know your degree of personal affection for it... Is it one of you favrites too?
Best,
Francis

Hello there Kevin.
I like this one a lot. A 'softer', more subdued b/w than one often sees on TE. I like the way the background faces are looking at the camera, while the main subject, well lit, shows his exhaustion absolutely. I found your notes very interesting and thought-provoking, something to reflect on. Thanks.
Regards,
Andrew

Fascinating story Kev - as usual with every race for progress some get left behind. Wonderful, thought provoking shot - the magic of three, and a great choice of DOF. The subtle tones of grey fitting very well with the overall mood of the shot. Fabulous TE material. Best regards, Roberto

A wonderful shot Kev, the light and dark, the focus all falling just right. A fine tribute to the bang-bang men. Mayeb we should have start a theme?

Hello Kev,
A very sad picture with the looks of the men, the BW tones. But very impressive too.. Bang bang ? I never heard of them. Good to learn thanks to TE and you.
Cheers - Izzet

  • Great 
  • kozak Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 121 W: 8 N: 93] (711)
  • [2007-11-28 1:55]

nice shot sir if a little lacking in sharpness. I love your writeup it's very informative and gives me a bit to think about before I go to China myself soon. Cheers.

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