Of Course It Hurts Photo

Photographer’s Note

Of course it hurts when buds burst.
Otherwise why would spring hesitate?
Why would all our fervent longing
be bound in the frozen bitter haze?
The bud was the casing all winter.
What is this new thing, which consumes and bursts?
Of course it hurts when buds burst,
pain for that which grows
and for that which envelops.

Of course it is hard when drops fall.
Trembling with fear they hang heavy,
clammer on the branch, swell and slide -
the weight pulls them down, how they cling.
Hard to be uncertain, afraid and divided,
hard to feel the deep pulling and calling,
yet sit there and just quiver -
hard to want to stay
and to want to fall.

Then, at the point of agony and when all is beyond help,
the tree's buds burst as if in jubilation,
then, when fear no longer exists,
the branch's drops tumble in a shimmer,
forgetting that they were afraid of the new,
forgetting that they were fearful of the journey -
feeling for a second their greatest security,
resting in the trust
that creates the world.

Translation by Jenny Nunn

This poem was written by Karin Boye (1900 – 1941) and her statue stands outside the Gothenburg City Library.

To the left is an ice cream café.

mikolaj_kawa, Buin, feather, jlbrthnn, bukitgolfb301, fanni, Kielia, Ola_Kwiatek has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mikolaj_kawa (30117) 2009-09-20 0:05

Hello Gunnar! Wonderful shot and poem, amazing scene, very interesting sculpture. Good POV and capture. Original picture. Good luck!

Buin (37634) 2009-09-20 0:17

Good morning neighbour! ;-)
A beautiful scene! I like how this statue is comprised in daily life and how you show it in a wonderful inclined light which emphasizes the scenery in front of the dark background in a wonderful way! An impressive statue - and even dogs seem to like it ;-))
Thank you for the poem!
Greetings from an a bit aumnal Siegen! Have a nice Sunday!
Frank

snunney (34868) 2009-09-20 0:48

Hello Gunnar,
A nice capture of this bronze statue with the light shining across it and bringing out the detail to such good effect. The little family group are well included and contribute much to the atmosphere.

feather (49860) 2009-09-20 3:30

This is a wonderful way to show a statue of one of your poets. Not just sterile, standing on its own, but with a wonderful family tableau. You left plenty of background interest too.
She looks a bit stern. I wish the sculptor had made her smile! :D
Kath

jurek1951 (25990) 2009-09-20 3:33

Hi Gunnar,
Beautiful and picturesque scenery :] Nice composition, colours and lighting, well framed.
Georg

nirvana73 (8630) 2009-09-20 3:52

Hello Gunnar
very nice daily scene
wonderful poem too
thanks for sharing
best regards
Ozhan

jlbrthnn (37913) 2009-09-20 5:41

Hello Gunnar,
Beautiful image or the dark background puts forward this luminous scene. Beautiful image to illustrate the poem of this writer, represented with dignity by this stripped sculpture. Beautiful image to summarize the life. Cheer.
Have a nice sunday.
Cordially.
Joël

mesutilgim (36803) 2009-09-20 12:39

Hello dear Gunnar,
Wonderfull daily life scene,very well seen and captured.
Good pov and nice light. Nice the contrast created by the sculpture and 3 peoples there.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

bukitgolfb301 (4616) 2009-09-20 21:10

Hello my dear Gunnar

What an another fine snap shot!
Comfortable framework, nice composition and light management(in this case rather difficult) are splendid as usual!
The contrast of human being and statue is good idea.
Congratulation on your masterpiece!
Thanks for sharing and best regards,
Have a good blue Monday !

Takero

jasmis (50360) 2009-09-20 22:13

Funny photo. Some parts are overexposed, I presume, but nevertheless interesting presentation.
Regards.

fanni (8737) 2009-09-20 23:09

Hej Gunnar,
this is a very nice daily life scene :) I like the deep contrast lighting and the bright colours which make the whole scene very lively. How interesting it is that they sit right next to the statue! And, like many times, I wonder if people sitting there ever think of the poet..
How often we fail to notice something that may bring a bit of joy to us - and at the same time to remember something and/or make us a little philosophic.
Also, I'd like to read the poem in Swedish, so I'll try to find it to see how it sounds and to compare with the English translation.
Kind regards,
and a nice week to you!
Elena

emka (21423) 2009-09-20 23:31

Hi Gunnar, Nice scene near simple monument. wonderful light. One can feel that summer goes to end..

Regards

Malgorzata

Graal (57909) 2009-09-20 23:49

Hi Gunnar,
an interesting presentation from Gothenburg. Nice statue and peaceful atmosphere. I like the poem and note also. Solid work.
Gr., Aleksander

wolf38 (12765) 2009-09-21 0:14

Hi Gunnar. A wonderful everyday scene and a poetic text in addition. The photo is very beautiful. Overall, a good shot. Best regards, Wolfgang.

graffer (1764) 2009-09-21 5:02

Hello Gunnar,

This is such a fine example of good composition, that I thought I'd do a WS with some superimposed lines, illustrating what I think are the points I look for when I am critiquing an image for composition.

1. The rule of thirds that advises that the main object of interest should be placed on or close to an imaginary line a third of the way across, or up and down in a picture. Here the statue is placed close to one such line. BLUE.

2. Leads in, or across an image.

The diagonals formed by the gaps between the paving stones are leads in. The diagonals suggested by the lines on the building lead across the image. ORANGE.

3. Contrasting and/or complementary elements.
In this image the blue, orange and pink colours illustrate this.

4. An area of particular interest. Especially if it is in the foreground.

The group of people and the pushchair form a group of human interest. GREEN Circle.

Finally, I notice that this group is placed on an intersection of "thirds", BLUE, and that the orange diagonal lead lines pass through this circle as well. this strengthens the composition even more.

So, that's why I think this is an excellent picture.

Kind regards,

Peter.

[workshop] [compare] +

Kielia (8487) 2009-09-21 9:00

Hej Gunnar,
a very beautiful composition in every sense. Very nice daily life scene, I guess the little girl did not like to be photographed. You gave us a very good idea of the poetess with the accompanying poem that matches excellently this scene. My compliments!
Warm regards
Harriet

Fis2 (45799) 2009-09-21 9:25

Witaj Gunnar!
Interesting scene.
Curious POV and composition.
Strong light and nice colors.
Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

TopGeo (21789) 2009-09-21 11:08

Hi Gunnar! Interesting picture combined with her poem and the statue Is beautiful and a lot of times price in are reported newest in the old authors Good your idea you add also the daily life of scene here
regards
Georgios

skoogmi (39) 2009-09-21 22:07

Hej Gunnar,
Uppenbarligen en mycket lyckad bild. Analysen som graffer har gjort är ju enastående i sig. Men jag ser också en tydlig linje längs kvinnans rygg upp mot statyns huvud.
Hälsningar
Mikael

Ola_Kwiatek (2524) 2009-09-23 2:32

Nice picture, very funny scene, beautiful colors. Original note.
Cheers

rodgerg (24029) 2009-09-23 3:53

Hello Gunnar,

A very original, very efficience and very nice composition with these four ladies. These ladies are very differents and give a very pleasant aspect to the image.
Best regards,
Roger

holmertz (9636) 2009-09-27 8:55

Hej Gunnar,
A fine combination of life and poetry. I somehow get a feeling that the women and the child keep the statue of the dead poet company. The bright sunshine has made small parts slightly overexposed.
Hälsningar,
Gert

larsy (26) 2009-09-30 23:44

Nice picture of a typical summer environment in Gothenburg, the ice-cream café next to the library and with Karin Boye overlooking it all.
Lars