referendum Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Today, Oct 23, we brazilians had to vote on a referendum whether we should keep the right of buying guns and bullets.
The government did not promote any debate and the campaign was sponsored on the one hand by the gun lobbists (according to the newspapers, there is a gun factory in Rio Grande do Sul, which supplies the guns for the NYPD) and on the other hand, pacifist ngos and tons of actors, singers etc.
Both sides have good reasons to justify their position.
Briefly speaking, according to the newspapers again, 99 people die per day victims of lost bullets and accidents with guns. At any moment, though, the rulers of the public security said a single word about improving means to protect the population.
Thus, here I am; on a rainy sunday, I crossed the south zone of the city to express my opinion in a school near the neighborhood I grew up.
The guy in the photo was lost, and so was I concerning my vote. Thinking better, most of the population is feeling lost. And abandoned.
***
I´d like to hear from you, brazilians, but also from people around the world who have already gone into a campaign like this. I thank you beforehand your opinion: should the countries prevent the comercialization of guns and bullets?
have a good week! :)

wgreis, alejandroguzman, don_narayan, coco, bertolucci, Elise_d, Davids has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

wgreis (6062) 2005-10-23 19:12

Olá Isabel,
bom e oportuno tema. Nota excelente também. Parece que, apesar de você gostar de fotos ligeiramente desfocadas, neste caso parece-me que houve um pouco de ruído (ISO muito alto!?!?).
De qualquer forma, muito boa composição.
Parabéns.
Wagner.

Furachan (0) 2005-10-23 20:27

Well this is just a masterpiece, Isabelle, goes into my favorites right away...As a Franco-American, I can tell you GUNS SHOULD BE OUTLAWED in the general population - the US is a nightmare of rampant criminality (enormous number of domestic shootings too) - disgusting record enhanced by the current president who is an abomination and a pal of the gun lobbies.
But back to your shot - it is one of your more poetic ones 0 the framing of the lost boy in the hall, his long figure framong the whole height of the hallway, the colors, the light - you are either in or on the outskirts of genius, ma chere Isabel, just so you know...
Love,
Francis
ps I am intrigued to see that you left a small nick next to my "note" yesterday. It wasn't one of my best notes but the image, on the other hand seems kind of interesting in an Isabel-ish way...no?

alejandroguzman (4672) 2005-10-23 21:55

Hi Isabel:

Great movement efect. I really like it !!!
And also the sharpness of this picture is nice with that intensive colors.

hugs
alejandro

PeterC (2242) 2005-10-23 23:00

Isabelle,
Great photo sits pefrectly with the topic. The colurs here are fantastic creating with the compostion a kind of disorientation i feel like im back in school on my first day looking for the math class.
As for my opinion on the subject. I agree guns should be outlawed. Yhe US being the biggest advert for problems associated with handguns. However like everything in this world money talks. Im so gald that in Britain after the Dunblane massacre the government and the politicans decided that handguns should be banned.

don_narayan (2014) 2005-10-23 23:25

wonderful photo, great note as well. "an eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind" gun's shouldn't be a "tit for tat" thing... raising the paranioa and making everyone so scared that their trigger finger shakes. I would sleep better knowing that there weren't so many guns, sure, of course.

On the flip side of this, i don't anyone to tell me that I cannot "die with dignity" (when I am old and suffering from a terminal illness, I don't want to suffer, I'll just want to die... and that's illegal... dying with dignity? I'm confused), or that a woman cannot choose to have an abortion. So how can I say it is ok for the government to take some rights but give me others, I want all of them. If I can own a gun, I can have an abortion, or have my doctor end my life when I am going to die suffering. ok, i realize these are different things, obviously, but it comes down to this: I don't want a government to set "moral norms" for me, a government (certainly mine included, but also nearly all in the world) is one of the worst examples of what morality is... government is made of people that thrive on power... doing whatever to get the power... "rational self-interest." So the real question is this, "do you want your government telling you what is moral and what is not?" I don't like guns, not one bit, never owned one, never will... but once you start losing rights, you set a precedence to lose others... look at the US, we are losing them left and right... becuase we let the government start... and now they don't see a reason to stop. ok, done ranting.

[2] +

rbcy1974 (20742) 2005-10-24 4:33

Hi ISabelle,
Excellent photo, with interesting blur and pale institutional colours,
You raise a very interesting point. I agree that having everyone own guns puts up the general sense of paranoia, so in principle normal citizens shouldnt own them. However I think that in coutnries like ours in order fo r that to work, we need a clean, efficient and well organized police force to protect you, and sadly we are a long way from that.
Regards
Daniel

bnallama (3755) 2005-10-24 7:23

This is a strong image with a strong message Isabel. The shot is splendid! And I love the grains!!

Now the issue.. I think by outlawing the gun I don't think that we gonna change a lot.. Important to increase awareness among people the misuse and to avoid accidents.. the people who wanting to break the law can do it in any way if they want to... For example in Switzerland gun based crime is really low and you don't even has to be registred to own a normal gun (not automated).. On the other hand every citizen serving the army has their gun with ammunination kept at home... and still the crime or misuse of this gun really remote..

For me it lies in education and awareness..

A lovely photo isabelle.

Bala

sohrab (7423) 2005-10-24 8:17

hmmm ok so i don't support commercialisation of guns..

as far as the photograph is concerned..

it's a nice photograph, with lots and mood and all of that..
but in my opinion it's way out of context sorry :(..

if it's a part of a whole story/series on this particular issue.. then i'd like to see it.. maybe this will then become a real nice part of it..
but as a single image.. it just doesn't compliment your note..
yeah it might work if you're talking about youuth problems etc.. but when you're talking about guns you need to hsow the context more clearly..
even if there was a poll booth nearby.. there should be somthing in the photograph that relates it to guns/problems regarding guns or anything like that...
take care :)

[3] +

coco (27900) 2005-10-24 10:57

Hi Isabel.
First, about the second question, I think that guns and bullets, the comercialization, must be controled, and not free.
I know that Spain is not Brasil, and there are different realities and also differents needs, but anyway a gun is not a toy. Control doesn't mean forbid, and even in this case there will be people who'll can obatin guns (even being illegal).
Even in this last case I think that is better control this commerce.

About the photo, I like this one. The composition, the way as the time is stopped, that boy crossing the corridor,... The note adds a special meaning to the picture, and I like.
The noise doesn't dislike to me.
Regards.

MiguelP (14326) 2005-10-24 14:36

About the photo: Very good composition, I like the blur, very according with the uncertain outcome of the poll. I also like the emptyness of the place... Maybe an exemple of the interest of the population about vote?... About the opinion you ask, happily I´ve grown up in a place without arms and I like it like this. From here I think one of the main problems all america has nowadays is the absolute freedom to use weapons... Did you see "Bowling for Columbine" by Michael Moore? Do you remember the difference between Canada and the States? Of course, he´s kind of overwhelming but what he say in the movie is right: Weapon could bring nothing but death people. I felt sad today when I read on the newspaper about the outcome in Brazil. I think you have lost a great chance to improve America.

Elise_d (1943) 2005-10-24 18:02

Right between photojournalism and art. An outstanding composition. As for the subject itself, it's obvious for me that guns should be forbidden everywhere. But i understand it's not that simple. Anyways, great shot. congrat.

nofer (3186) 2005-10-25 20:52

O resultado foi um bonito protesto....!!!! O Brasil está cheio de leis a respeito... mais uma... o NÃO foi contra tudo que está acontecendo.
Bom tema, boa foto... boa composição.
TFS(OPP)
Reynaldo

Davids (1034) 2005-10-29 1:20

First about the photo, Isabel, you have the capacity to make anything interesting with your style. It is documentary with a camera, and there is one thing you should do, and cannot do on TE;
make an exhibition, and use series. This style is perfect for it. this theme could have 4 or 5 photo's.
(Don't make a book)

about weapons; Europe is rather free, and the number of dead here (and in simular countries) are lower. But poverty and crime is also part of it.
I don't think I should tell Brasillians what to decide. Even if the outcome is not to my liking.

devimeuxbe (55873) 2005-10-29 17:58

Hi Isabel
Très belle image. J'aime bien l'originalité de cette composition avec le personnage fuyant sur le coté.
Bien vu
Bertrand

greg (2835) 2006-02-01 6:51