The Celtic Tiger Photo

Photographer’s Note

This scene really moved me when I was walking along the streets of Cork. It was the main street; people rushed for their Saturday shopping. The woman and the man talked for a couple of minutes and then he left. She stayed in the same position.
Ireland is now the richest country in Europe (that's why it's called "the Celtic tiger"). It hasn't always been so. In fact, during the XIX century potato famine, about 2 million people died and one more million people had to emigrate. They just didn't have what to eat. Nowadays, the trend has reversed and Ireland receives a large number of inmigrants looking for a better life. But even in this economically growing country, not everyone is doing so well.
Well, my point is whatever the country, however rich it is, however low the unemployment rate, you will always see scenes like this in its streets. Will that ever change?

Post-processing: cropping, converting to B&W, sharpening and some selective blurring to emphasise the subject. Also curves and contrast.

I appreciate your comments. Have a nice day!

isabela_sor, hermann, xavis has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

berek (29093) 2007-08-12 21:53

Hi Ines,
this is realty. you caught meaningful moment. I like B&W idea and framing. have a nice week.
B.Erek

isabela_sor (42719) 2007-08-13 3:46

What can I say more than your note?Sad to see scenes like this and the face of that woman says her tragedy without words.What can we do?Exactly what that person was doing there,stop, listen,try to help ...well seen and captured whole scene,no mater the technical details here
Greetings from Romania
Isabela

xavis (3176) 2007-08-13 7:08

Hola,
Bravo por la foto. Intensa e impactante. El blanco y negro le va muy bien para darle mas dramatismo. El encuadre cuadrado le va muy bien ya que centra la imagen en los dos personages. Lo unico que tal vez podria proponer, y siendo un poco demasiado exigente, seria de haber buscado un encuadre en el que vieramos tambien la cara del hombre, o su mirada que se encuentra con la de la mujer. Para dar a un mas fuerza al momento. Aunque de todas maneras es una foto conseguida como tu la presentas.

hasta otra compatriota,

javier

aspiringamateur (151) 2007-11-17 9:54

Hi Ines,
I like your crop here; everyone is faceless except the beggar woman, which adds to the feeling of indifference on the part of the rest of the crowd. B&W is also great for this. This photo is powerful because of its context, and for me especially because I always want to stop and talk to people who beg, but I'm ashamed to say that something always holds me back. I suppose that is a sad consequence of the distrust we are taught towards people who ask for money--but really, shouldn't they, the powerless, be objects of our compassion, not distrust?
As you can see, this photo is quite evocative for me! Thank you for taking and sharing it!
Whitney

venslens (436) 2008-12-14 22:06

A moving picture!!!