Where the Roma live Photo

Photographer’s Note

On the very outskirts of Shkoder city is this cluster of small houses where the local Roma (Gipsy) community live. Spread all over the continent the Gipsy are easily the most discriminated ethnic group in Europe, still largely denied their citizen's rights in a lot of countries. I don't know if their situation in Albania is better or worse than anywhere else. It's just not very good.

This narrow bridge is the only way to enter the city of Shkoder when arriving from nearby Montenegro. Five years ago the road from the border was unpaved and dusty, now it is nicely paved, just like most roads in Albania seem to have been paved during tha last few years.

In workshops you can see this area from above, and a young inhabitant of the Roma ghetto.

Jonathan_Tree, PixelTerror, Vasa, Kielia, fanni, skippy007 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bukitgolfb301 (4588) 2009-10-30 16:04

Hello my dear Gert

What an another impressive shot!
Reasonable framework/composition and good color contrast are outstanding usual!
I can perceive just the daily life of there truly.
Anyway congratulation on your masterpiece!
Thanks for sharing and best regards,
Have a nice happy Saturday !

Takero

saxo042 (15544) 2009-10-31 2:01

Hej Gert,
This red person seems to turn up in many photos ;-). Here she is making a fine accent and a complement to the scattered red roofs in the picture, Many details to study and I am very curious abot those brown sign, what kind of landmarks do the show the way to?
Hälsningar
Gunnar

Jonathan_Tree (4253) 2009-10-31 2:23

Howdy Gert!
Very interesting bridge, good scene: cars and people. Wonderful houses in the background. Good colors. Very fine focus.
Cordially!

nirvana73 (8628) 2009-10-31 7:36

Hello Gert
very interesting
here looks like some part of the city where I live
i like texture
your POV
thansk for sharing and explanat,ons
best regards
Özhan

Glint (3040) 2009-11-01 10:17

hello Gert,
you have a nice light here and bright colours. Lots of intersting details to peruse and a good note too.
regards,
Bev

PixelTerror (86058) 2009-11-01 22:31

Hi Gert,
The bridge looks a bit challenging.. Nice luminous view of the houses, looks like a little village from here.
Have a nice day JY

agjika (198) 2009-11-02 5:51

Hi Gert,

I know it is embarrassing for me but I have never been to Shkoder. As for the "Gipsy" in Albania in my view their situation is neither better or worse in Albania than anywhere else in the Balkans. The prejudice against them in the Balkans goes back since the time Alexander the Great brought them over from Egypt (or so the history goes). I find in very interesting that this people even though have lost their language have managed sucessfully to have a distict culture. They have been infrequently used by various political regimes for their purposes but not many have shown much interest in their culture and the way of life. The common belief is that they live the way they do because that's how they prefer to live!

Regards

Aleks

Vasa (5454) 2009-11-02 8:24

The picture is full of amazing details and I am looking at with big interest, Gert. The background is much more interesting and I hope that you approached later. The life is there. Your visit in Shkoder is a privilege, dear friend. Many thanks for sharing your souvenir.

Friendly

Branko

Kielia (8401) 2009-11-02 11:31

Hej Gert,
although being a ghetto this place looks so nicely in this beautiful light! Excellently composed impression of this interesting cluster of houses, the walls and the roofs are creating wonderful patterns. The photos in Ws are also fascinating. But your interesting note brings one back to reality at once. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

jasmis (50248) 2009-11-03 1:15

Interesting place. Fine reporter's photo.
Regards.

ryno (4604) 2009-11-03 22:43

Great shot Gert, I like the layered background, bringing out the mundane detail of their lives: the washing, rugs hanging out, new breeze block houses going up...in fact, it reminds me very much of life in a Turkish town. You've made good use of the excellent light to capture a pleasant everyday scene (despite the obvious hardships).
Regards
Ryno

fanni (8735) 2009-11-06 1:50

Hej Gert,
this is one of the most picturesque, one of the most interesting and photos I've seen: everything here looks so "squeezed" - a true quintessence of life itself! everything is present - even a "red element", but even without this "element" the photo wouldn't lose its liveliness :)
Excellent composition and timing! :)
Very interesting WS additional photos - and especially the photo of the Roma boy!
Kind regards
and warmest greetings from very frosty Moscow,
Elena

skippy007 (6971) 2009-11-11 16:13

Hello Gert, I like the way the lines & bridge converge, taking us into the frame. Love the rich colours here & so many items of interest. An interest place no doubt, one that need some money spent on it by the looks of it, beautiful shot of the boy who was only looking to hake your hand, a welcome sign?.
Well done, thanks for your interesting note, raising some awayness for these people.
Regards
Santo

boa (1312) 2009-11-25 13:51

Hej Gert,
an excellent capture from this Roma community. I like the compact impression of the houses and all the interesting details, the laundry, and the daily life on the street. This must be the opposite side of Shkoder city ? I arrived here only 3 days after your photo, maybe we were here at the same time..
Ha en trevlig kväll.
Boa