Heavy Hearts Photo

Photographer’s Note

Often my thoughts wander to Bosna and my trip there. There is something sombre about places that have seen and experienced evil. The people's gaze is different, their talk varies from cautious to hysterical. What does one talk about with a friend after witnessing the horrors of war? With visible signs of destruction still surrounding one's everyday movements, how can one move on? Some people smile at you, but behind the smile one can hear the heavy heart.
I decided to use a sepia finish for this scene as the original, taken under an overcast sky was bleached in the upper area. The sepia salvaged the situation and added a sense of things being unchanged in the Bascarsija.Appearances can be misleading. Fixing a building or a pubic square helps restore life, but it does not get rid of the nightmares and the loss of faith in human nature.

phwall, Gerrit, fanni, Sne011, holmertz, cagla, Dyerco, jhm, Kielia, Vasa has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

phwall (5705) 2008-10-23 20:31

Hi Klaudio,
Hard shot to critique, not that it isn't beautifully composed and presented its just the memories it provokes. I can still see the image of those two young people gunned down by snipers as they were trying to get away to be married, the war was a terrible thing. Did we learn any lessons, I don't think so. War continues.
Regards
Peter

fanni (8879) 2008-10-24 1:25

Hello Klaudio,
I like this "colourless" (sepia) scene. Very good composition, interesting details to see. And a very good note to the photo, of course! The sepia version makes the photo look older...
War is awful! My parents still remember the WW2! they were little kids at that time.
best regards,
Elena

Sne011 (3103) 2008-10-24 1:30

Zdravo Klaudio,
Ja se secam Sarajeva samo iz posleratnog perioda kada je meni sve izgledalo kao da se nista strasno nije desilo, osim rusevina koje su ostale da podsecaju. Ne volim ni da mislim na rat. Mene ova scena podseca na romane Ive Andrica, kad cujem rec kasaba ja pomislim na Bas Carsiju :)
Pozdrav,
Sneza

holmertz (9963) 2008-10-24 2:43

Hello Klaudio,
I also visited Sarajevo recently and recognize your reactions very well. Although I quite liked the city and people's generally friendly attitude, I felt the heavy burdens of the past very strongly. I think your sepia catches the atmosphere perfectly.
Best regards,
Gert

kschanna (6) 2008-10-24 19:35

Hi Klaudio

As colors represent life, sepia's rendition is of frozen in time...and thats what seems to have happened with this shot, and its beautiful. How does one move on? maybe it is the resistance which is intrinsic to humans or it is too painful to hold on to the memory of the atrocities and moving on is a survival tactic.

Thanks for sharing

Kamran

Dyerco (9302) 2008-10-24 22:21

Hi Klaudio
I now work with a young lady in our office who was from Serbia and she echoes the same sentiments. I think she and her husband are so glad to be in Canada now. A fine image that is enhanced by the monotone presentation.
Phil

Clementi (45217) 2008-10-25 2:18

Ciao Klaudio,
hard shot, Commenting is not easy such a photo. Ink rivers would like us. The only hope is in the future of peace, and what there are not several horrors of the war.
Very beautiful photo
Giorgio

dumbo (4368) 2008-10-25 6:20

Hello Klaudio,
I like this old style B&W photo and this great composition.
Excellent details and good mood.

Regards,
Eino

Scharan (13955) 2008-10-25 14:27

Olá Klaudio

Linda, linda a foto deste cenário com tantos detalhes interessantes. Ótimo trabalho na vertica e ótima escolha do tom sépia para esta curiosa composição.
Parabéns
GA
Vera

Kielia (8733) 2008-10-26 0:27

Hi Klaudio,
what is human nature? Is there any human nature at all?
Your composition leaves a lot of different impressions and thoughts. An excellent contribution to learning about the world...
TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

jhm (83328) 2008-10-26 0:36

Hello Klaudio,

My best friend, all wars have grief to every civilians, never are a winner, always losers, a pity this is the reality.
I am no fan of black and white, here I am very glad with your B&W image, every have to reflect on.
Composition and presentation are very well. TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

Vasa (6318) 2008-10-26 8:05

Dragi Dado,

dobro si izvukao ovu fotku iz fijoke. U crno-beloj varijanti ona ima patinu starog. Sama pomisao na Sarajevo vraća me u davna vremena kada sam tamo bio kao kod kuće. Prosto ne prihvatam da je nešto inosztranstvo što mi je na srcu. Tako i Dalmacija i sva okolina. Šta god da pričaju tvoji heroji, ovo je miran dan u Sarajevu. Mirnoća o kojoj se mašta. Hvala ti za pogled u nostalgični svet.

Branko

aral (1195) 2008-10-30 3:47

Pozdravljen Klaudio.

I like the relaxed Sarajevo mood (haven't been there for years). The slight sepia toning gives just right, slightly arhaic mood.

cagla (2255) 2008-10-31 4:11

Merhaba Klaudio, This one reminds me of the little Aegean mount villages in my country,with the pigeons on the roof, the man holding the prayer beads, the cloudy sky and the smoke from the chimney (it must be cold over there), and of course the little mosque and minaret. Being familiar with all negative aspects of war in that region, I know that it is inevitable having heavy hearts for the people living in that part of the world. I also know that they are mostly brave hearts too.
Sepia has been a good choice for your shot. This has been a touching image and a moving note for me, thank you very much for sharing it. Selamlar. Cagla.