National Women's Day of Protest Photo

Photographer’s Note

As someone quite accustomed to demo's and rallies in Canada, it's an odd thing to hear organizers tell those gathered (mostly women, and some elderly and children) to prepare to face police batons and shields. That this was accepted calmly and without any protest made more eerie still.

The National Women's Day of Protest (NWDOP) march on 28.10.07 made it less than twenty metres before it met with a police blockade. Luckily, despite halting the march to Mendiola (near the government palace gates), the colonel in command did not use force (nor do I think did he have the intention to as the police presence was not strong enough to hold back the rally).

The NWDOP began in 1983 when thousands of women marched in protest of the Marcos dictatorship, twenty-four years later they marched again to protest the Macapagal regime. They accuse the government of neglecting the poor and being the puppets of foreign interests---and of the resulting crackdown on activists and opposition voices (to the tune of almost 900 extra-judicial killings, and thousands upon thousands of missing, detained and displaced peoples).

=======

I have a few more pics up on my blog: http://photoblog.com/alexfelipe

stiginthedump, luisafonso has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

stiginthedump (1823) 2007-10-29 22:50

You did well here Alex. Not only have you gotten some great perspective, you've also managed to get no-one looking directly at the camera (even though you were right on top of them!). I was going to mention the trees, but i like how the police trail of into the distance.

travis_b (902) 2007-10-30 2:40

Alex

Wow what a suggestive photo. Top class work i say. That's a great POV and composition. Just perfect. Awesome effort. Really good stuff. Cheers!

luisafonso (858) 2007-10-30 3:21

I like your pov very much here Alex and the way you used your wide angle with great creativity. You kept us in the dangerous side of the barricade, along with those women, and that's cool. I like to be transported to the moment and that's what you've done here. But I am going to be honest with you. I think that color doesn't work here. Mainly because of that large negative white space in the top left. Not because it's white, but because it doesn't fit well the rest of the color output. You do very good b&w so I wonder why haven't you try that here. I leave a ws just to illustrate my point.

[workshop] [compare] +

Furachan (0) 2007-10-30 3:49

Alright, Alex! Cool reportage shot for sure with an acute POV focused on the PULIS... Ya wouldn't think heavy police presence would be reqired though... Looking forward to the rest...
Francis

vapours (7913) 2007-10-30 8:37

Great perspective Alex, the low angle gives full power to the police as they wait. I don't mind the colour, but I think Luis' workshop gives a much more powerful image.

eleparc (24059) 2007-10-30 14:42

impressive shot from down under and so close to the police forces... Didn't you worry for your own safety?? i am not sure i would be as bold as get so near the police... especially in the Philippines...
Interesting note on the National Women's Day of Protest (NWDOP) march
Eric

vagabondtravels (6103) 2007-10-31 3:49

Hi Alex

Great low pov and very sharp with good color. Nice piece of reportage. Too bad about the white sky but nothing you could do. But color doesn't make this image. b&w is the way too go. Anyhow really well done.
Ben

markoci (3917) 2007-11-05 9:48

like the low pov too... gotta love the 10-22 lens... great docu photo, am sure a nice piece in a series... personally not bothered by the white sky at all...

kajspice (4534) 2007-11-05 11:41

I think Luis's workshop adds the required dramatic effect. Considering the subject, it somehow draws my attention to the people straight away, instead of to the writing, which by the way is nice. Blue and yellow - always a good combination. The slight vignetting is also perfect, just closing everything in.

perlupo (0) 2008-02-18 0:03

Perfect angle of view§! Nice one