Maya Woman Finds a Job Photo

Photographer’s Note

Women go from door to door all day, looking for a casual job. Here this elderly woman gets a job at repairing some clothes and dresses. She settles down on the pavement outside the house and mends the clothes. Her dog stands over her.

RADEEH, Isabelle has marked this note useful

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RADEEH (2762) 2006-02-23 21:01 [Comment]

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MKING (3050) 2006-02-23 21:18

Good catch; visually the solid darkness of the two subjects contrast so well against the detail of the graffiti wall they lean upon.

I've noticed in my recent travel that the elderly are kept "employed" in the three countries I visited-- be they serving burgers at a fast food joint in Singapore or collecting cardboard boxes, newspapers and tin cans in Malaysia and Hong Kong for want of a means to survive. Good social documentary.

don_narayan (2014) 2006-02-24 1:14

Hi Animesh. A good composition, nice balance of the woman and dog and the grafiti in the center. I think it could use a bit more contrast, though. Otherwise it is a nice street shot.

Narayan

Salil_B (737) 2006-02-24 1:20

A great image - stark, yet soft and 'simpatico' - if you know what I mean. The dog adds that much dimension to the scene replete with humanity.
Salil

designsoul (21394) 2006-02-24 10:44

Well, Animesh, after my own posting today, this is in really stark contrast... a very fine shot, gripping as usual... what a life. I think also through TE I learn a lot about my own life, and about myself, when I complain...
An excellent bw shot that brings together the aimlessness of youth culture with all that graffiti, nothing extraordinary; the poverty of the old lady and the dog looking after she is not robbed, which adds yet another dymension to your shot.
Sasa

verde (957) 2006-02-24 11:36

I think your composition is great here. the two subjects on the poles of the frame, and the linking graffitti. well seen.

I kind of like the grayish quality here, it adds some mood to the shot.

my only question is about the dog's eyes? they seem burned in around the eyes in an unnatural way? was the light doing something strange?

Isabelle (9014) 2006-02-25 8:18

I am trying to shut up and not ask you the question.
i myself would have reasons to upload a photo AND a note like these.

Homerhomer (4005) 2006-02-25 12:19

Animesh, along with note this is quite an interesting and informative photo. At 28mm you must have been very close to this puppy (unless this is a heavy crop), the dog looks exactly like mine, many folks are quite scared of him, brave you ;-)
The image from an artistic point of view is ok, I am not sure if you have used auto exposure here, but looks like it's metered of the white wall, hence the woman and the dog are grossly underexposed, I see you have tried to recover some details, but especially on her the details look flat. IMO you need more contrast on the wall.
Peter
BTW, which member is your daughter?