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Khmer Torture Bed


Khmer Torture Bed
Photo Information
Copyright: Nick Kozak (kozak) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 121 W: 8 N: 93] (711)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-10-09
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/15 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-10-29 6:28
Viewed: 957
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a picture taken in one of the torture rooms at s-21 where prisoners were interrogated, tortured and killed during the Khmer Rouge reign in the late 70's. The place is haunting. The picture is of one of the beds that prisoners would be strapped to and tortured. It appears that people were electrocuted to death on these beds. The picture on the wall gives a glimpse of the horror that actually took place with a victim's body burned on the bed.
eugeneahn, Polonaise has marked this note useful
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To eugeneahn: Sad placekozak 1 10-30 10:25
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Critiques [Translate]

Despite what could be said about the image's composition, color tones, and selected use of focus and depth of field, it's the story that makes this photograph. Very powerful story. I'm glad you deliberately chose a POV -- crouching and finding a way to frame the starkness using the bedframe (I am assuming here that you are not two feet tall) -- as opposed to just standing in the doorway and shooting into the room. May images like this one remind us that oppression of basic human rights continues around the world and must be addressed.

Il est bon de rappeler ce que les khmers rouges ont fait subir à leurs semblables. Et pour cela je dis "bravo !". Ce lit sinistre est devenu tout un symbole maintenant, et on se demande quand seront enfin jugés les bourreaux ... La réponse est probablement jamais.

very strong.

It's especially scary when something horrible is represented by an image that, out of context, is beautiful. The abstract beauty here is haunting. I can't quite make out the picture on the wall, though your description lets me know plenty.

The composition and textures make this special. The camera standing just beyond the head of the bed forces us to look at the scene, which is a reminder of the horrors we're capable of. It doesn't hurt to be reminded.

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