Cornered, a photo from Bucuresti, East

Photographer's Note

Unirii Square is a place popular among what I have come to call "the ladies in black." These are old women who sit down by the eateries on one side of Unirii Square, hoping to receive some money or a bite to eat from a compassionate passer-by.

To state the obvious, this was taken while the police stopped to push the woman away from her spot.

ryno, Marche, isabela_sor, sabyasachi1212, goodwill, balatrek, Quentin, Betty, matrix268, WesternDrake, cunejo200, fjufju, benkrut, archanabhimasen, silvia_zenova, gmg, vagabondtravels has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

nwoehnl (122) 2006-07-16 8:39

An interesting and relevant piece of street photography, Raluca. The framing is good with the old woman in a somewhat desparate pose, and the two officers just shown as torsoes. The blinking handcuffs are a good detail to emphasize the dramatic element of the moment.

ryno (6863) 2006-07-16 8:39

Hi Raluca, this is a hard-hitting photo highlighting the plight of the poor. One can't help but sympathatize with this victim of poverty. A poignant scene, well-captured. Regards,
Ryno

leo61 (0) 2006-07-16 8:42

Hi Raluca !
This is a sad but verry good documantary shot.
I think the woman is hiding her face because she knows what will happen.I like that there is to see only a part of the police people with the dominant weapons and handcuffs.
Verry well seen and done.
Regards,Leo

Marche (4307) 2006-07-16 8:57

Bonjour Racula,
Bien vu cette photo reportage, triste et bien réelle.
Photo bien composée ou tous les points importants sont bien mis en valeur.
Cette photo est très touchante.
Amicalement
Martine

isabela_sor (47748) 2006-07-16 14:32

Nu inteleg cum de aceasta fotografie nu a fost mai des comentata...poate entru ca nu au curajul sa inteleaga pe deplin mesajul ei!!!Total de acord cu Norbert(nwoehnl)!!
Cred ca te-a mai intrebat candva un alt membru marian daca esti fotojurnalist...cert e ca ai talent !!

sabyasachi1212 (19779) 2006-07-16 15:57

Hi Raluca,
This is one of the most touching images I have seen in recent times. Excellent street photography. I like the way you have cropped off the police officers and focussed on the plight of this old lady. The way she covers her face, is very poignant.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

goodwill (4274) 2006-07-16 16:25

Hi Raluca,
Your post touches the heart. Cropping of the heads of she and he oficers has a dramatic effect. The poor lady is in sharp focus. I stick to my words, you have shown nothing- but everything.
Regards,
Rajeev

dada (1135) 2006-07-17 3:26

bravo raluca, excelenta poza, direct in favorite!

pup,
anca

jinju (14265) 2006-07-17 3:43

Hi Raluca,

this shot is full of emotion. Its a sad one for sure. What I like is how you managed to give everybody anonymity. The cops are just faceless figures with symbols of power while the old woman is shown as powerless and small in the face of the power. Symbolic work.

s10001in (0) 2006-07-18 3:36

Raluca, Sad shot..with emotions. Covering her face & legs of officers.making the scene perfect to title. Brave shot..Regards, Shailendra

oochappan (4880) 2006-07-18 5:33

Hi Raluca
The hard reality of living in the street in the West indeed, well framed to spot all the elments in a strong way. I like this kind of shots, street life reporting.
Excellent shot
Henk

nemesiss (2979) 2006-07-23 10:55

Emotionanta imagine ! Din nefericire inalnim foarte des pe starda oameni necajiti car nu au din ce trai sicand apeleaza la mila altora, neavand curajul de-a cere de ei se iau acesti "politisti comunitari". Imaginea este deosebita !

balatrek (7455) 2006-07-24 7:50

Hola Raluca,

Impresionante imagen, la composición es correcta y nos acerca a la triste situación que nos muestras con esta fotografía, gran trabajo, felicidades.

Saludos, José

Quentin (5280) 2006-07-24 14:34

Hi Raluca
Very strong photo here, congratulation. I saw some woman in
black in the street of Bucharest and there life condition are
very hard. Is it really good that you make a serie about this
sad subject. Cheers
Quentin

everlasting (19680) 2006-07-25 9:00

You have chosen a good POV and framing for this piece of street photogrpahy, the soemwhat desparate pose of the women, beign lorded over by the police complete with handcufs. Nice work

faubry (35447) 2006-07-27 4:30

hello Ralu, a pitty for this woman! and the police ask her "go away"... very sad for all people who are need some money for live..
thanks
francine

christina (2040) 2006-07-27 19:11

Unfortuantely, this is a world wide problem-elderly people with little money to survive. I like the emotion you captured in her body language.

brevbrev14 (140) 2006-08-17 6:51

Hi Aralda, not happyness in this shot but real life..Sad real life...You choose a perfect COMPO here with more importance to old woman...Also the lights works very well with no sun to emphasize the moment!
Very good work Raluca!
Valeria

darrasin (2860) 2006-08-18 18:42

Great shot. This evokes many thoughts. It really looks like they're going to throw the book at her, literally.

The main thought that comes to mind is the way the shot emphasizes that she is being looked down on by the officers. She is also literally down on her luck.

Bravo!
Doug

WesternDrake (765) 2006-08-20 16:53

Fantastic shot... well, if calling "fantastic" a scene of such human drama and social dimension is allowed.

The woman's face, the authorities cornering, the tension... you got a wonderful shot here, Raluca. This is urban drama at its best!

Congrats on this shot, sincerely. One of the best you've done.

I made a Workshop only trying to enphatize the woman face and the handcuffs. But yours is already magnificent!

[workshop] [compare]

cunejo200 (7281) 2006-09-16 9:56

Hi Raluca,
Such is the state of life sometimes, sad and harsh reality sometimes exists. Love this daily life capture. Speaks volume. Best wishes. Danilo

Benedict (7076) 2006-10-24 8:20

love this foto! whatever was the old lady's 'crime' that she is cornered by these 2 peace officers? oh..she was begging?
the picture is well composed, clear, bright and sharp! it at the same time 'emits' emotional feelings of pity...very touching!!
cheers!
benedict

fjufju (335) 2006-10-24 8:27

Hi Raluca,
This is very touching picture. The way you cut the police officers in the middle is more than perfect. Everyone here wants to be anynomous.
Regards,
Jan

kfreud (1231) 2006-11-05 10:35

great but sad picture
Karl

SCidER (388) 2006-11-13 10:34

run grandma.. run!!!

sebinho342 (19329) 2006-11-19 17:01

Hi Raluca, this picture interpelled me, very appealing, you caught it well with this low POV, cutting policemen and focusing on this woman struggling to survive, and even here her place seems to be elsewhere for policemen :((
Excellent sad shot

ninaL (21348) 2006-11-24 4:19

Oh, very strong, very hard image, Raluca. Bravo for this capturing...no words, the situation make me cry. Regards.

archanabhimasen (270) 2007-01-04 4:11

Nice Composition Raluca. Its hard but true to see the poverty one goes through. And you have captured the right moment.

silvia_zenova (1336) 2007-01-17 10:48

Hello Raluca,
your picture touched me deeply. In Bulgaria, in the capital Sofia, is the same reality and the same begging old women in blach.
Very well captured...
Thank you and best wishes for you!
Silvia

ElAprendiz (30) 2007-01-19 10:23

Hello Raluca
This photo gives sadness me, but it does not let have an excellent composition and frame. Congratulations
Your friend, John

vagabondtravels (6511) 2007-01-31 4:50

Hey Raluca

Great documentary shot. Really nice pov. Good colors and very sharp. You have captured the womans emotion and the mood of the situation very well. Good work.
Ben

crhieatt (5347) 2007-09-23 4:34

Raluca,
A classic perspective for this scene - and very effective - making the authority "faceless" - although one of them is wearing high heels. :)

Batons, cuffs and a big book of rules - or maybe they've just been to the local library - but somehow I doubt it!

Deservedly popular shot, well done.

Regards
colin

clarityDC2 (157) 2007-10-02 4:42

The female officers shoes caught my eye....they look pretty impractical if she had to chase me down.....but seriously, you captured a human moment perfectly...cropping the officers faces really draws you to the womens suffering

Photo Information

Copyright: Raluca Preotu (aralda) (1240)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-16
Categories: Daily Life
Exposure: f/3.8, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Police !, hard life, My Favorite Romania Pictures [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-07-16 8:27
Favorites: 3 [view]