At the brick kiln Photo

Photographer’s Note

Life at the brick kiln is hard, many employ bonded laborers, yet the back-breading labor does not break the workers' spirit that is visible through the colorful dresses they often wear.

[The Office of the UN Highcommissoner of Human Rights defines bonded labor as a form of slavery: "Debt bondage can hardly be distinguished from traditional slavery because it prevents the victim from leaving his job or the land he tills until the money is repaid. Although in theory a debt is repayable over a period of time, a situation of bondage arises when in spite of all his efforts, the borrower cannot wipe it out. Normally, the debt is inherited by the bonded labourer's children. Sharecropping is a familiar way of leading borrowers into debt bondage."

This is hardly a problem only in India. Many countries, including, India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, a number of South Asian countries, and several African and South American nations, and, yes, even the USA
has this problem. A very interesting article is here.]

siolaw, bip-bip, Galeota, nerve, Homerhomer, KevRyan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

RGatward (19737) 2006-04-28 18:27

Amazing shot, very artistic reportage, and such an interesting place. How strange to wear such elaborate clothes for such a job.

don_narayan (2014) 2006-04-28 23:40

Hello Animesh. Great shot, reallt good composition, especially with the men in the background, the woman below makes this a more complex composition, not something easy. Well done.

Narayan

kinginexile (2440) 2006-04-29 0:25

Hello, Animesh

There are shots that you see and like, then write a critique about, and some where you stay a while with, and go back to. maybe then, is time to drop a few words. This is one of them.
When I first saw it, I thought, oh he cut the hands, how shoddy! Not long.... This is actually the best image you could get out this scene, the framing is both personal and impeccable, conveying all that we need to know and feel about these women working. We have the endless circle of loading and carrying, best reprsented by having 2 women doing these tasks, as we know in a while, it will be the other one moving along with her load, and this one in her place. The men, hard workers too, are taking a break, not the women. Here too, the journalistic approach is showing much about the condition of lowly women, and we may as well think of many asian women.

The uniformity of tone, offers no distraction, and maybe an irony, such nice pink pastel brickwork, built by sweat and laboring under the sun, only to have the ominous presence of grey bricks yet to be carried away impose on us the real color of that day.

No special conclusion to this image, being timeless and everlasting for too many people, who have but their arms to make a living.

[2]

jussipee (10) 2006-04-29 2:24

Perfect picture, just like everybodys been sayd before.
Cutted upside, your picture is also almost falling to the left, but woman keeps balance, careful legs position, and those mans at up right, story way balanced.
Many times its hard to catch all (and long time) process to one picture, but here you are.
Well done.
Thanks Animesh

entrelec (8342) 2006-04-29 3:44

This is really a very good shot, a shame you did not get more points!
Wonderful composition.
Nice location of the two women and the men team,on background.
Lovely monochrom pastel.
The kind of shot I would have on a wall, in my house.
Bravo
Fav
Joel

siolaw (25694) 2006-04-29 3:53

Hello Animesh,
A good POV, interesting perspective, nice soft colors for depicting a hard work,
all the best
TFS
laurent

bip-bip (1837) 2006-04-29 7:14

A powerful shot !
Your composition is full of details and well describe their hard working conditions.
Véro

Furachan (0) 2006-04-29 9:29

Very nice color work this time, Animesh. It just confirms me in my belief that you came back from India loaded with gems! And from that F3 too! WHy not use the Leica...? That is my only question.
The colors are amazing here (variations on pink and red). The scene you describe so well is harrowing - it is truly a vision of slavery from a BIblical film, or a living nightmare.
Well documented, artfuly so...
Best wishes from Bangkok,
FRancis

Polonaise (5627) 2006-04-29 20:57

This is heart breaking, guts wrenching photo, Animesh.
Supported by previous gems of yours, speaks louder the million of dull politicians standing behind their tribunes.
Sociological as well as historical document.
George

Galeota (10329) 2006-04-30 2:24

Good composition. Striking to observe the contrast between, somehow, their noble pose and dresses and the nature of their hard work, as if not even bondage would be enough to break their spirits down. Very nice colours, seems perhaps a bit too bright to me unless it comes from my screen.

nerve (10210) 2006-04-30 8:28

Wow! another excellent one Animesh.where were you standing, i wonder? (didnt you block their way? LOL!)
anyway, your composition is just brilliant! i am still thinking if it would be better if you raised the top part a bit higher (so including her basket a bit more maybe..) Still, very impressive.. you have one of the best eyes here on TE for sure..
take care.

Homerhomer (4005) 2006-04-30 12:59

just like the others I am a big fan of this image Animesh, looks like you have been very modest in saying that your photography in India wasn't succesfull.
However just like Evren I wonder about a higher point of view, and the colours that seem a bit flat and bright, I have prepared a quick workshop.
Peter

[workshop] [compare] +

KevRyan (22297) 2006-04-30 13:15

Ironically the brick makers I filmed were working within the context of a holistic rural development project to combat the incidence of bonded labour - perhaps another reason for the different expressions I saw there - this is a stunning image - human activity at three different levels and a vista beyond - the eye is fully engaged across the image, composition and colour are great - these look like very well made bricks - don't see so many breakages around - great work.

kev

greg (2835) 2006-11-07 15:13