Kenya

[Angus]

I have to say I know very little about the current unrest in Kenya but I saw this photograph in the IT last Thursday.

I am not a photography expert but look at this and tell me you would not be moved.

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/images/2008/0221/1203471498175_1.html

[jebus]

I have to say I know very little about the current unrest in Kenya but I saw this photograph in the IT last Thursday.

I am not a photography expert but look at this and tell me you would not be moved.

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/images/2008/0221/1203471498175_1.html

Studied photography in college and sorry to say that images like that are far too common. People don't seem to be moved by photography anymore, to be honest they don't seem to be moved by much these days, the only exception being an image of an ethopian child (still alive), being eyed up by a vulture, absolutely horrific image which made me question the whole process of photojournalism (why did he take the shot instead of getting the bird off the kid?). Can't remember the photographers name, have it in a book home so I'll try and find it and put it up

[DIFChick]

Kevin Carter won a Pulitzer Prize for this photo back in 1994.
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/kevin_carter/sudan_child.htm

Sadly, he committed suicide a couple of months after receiving the award. I suppose seeing so much death and misery through a lense was too much for him...

Carter's photo is a haunting one and I thought of it as soon as I read your post jebus.

[jebus]

Carter's photo is a haunting one and I thought of it as soon as I read your post jebus.

That's the one I was thinking about alright, depressing image given that it was 14 years ago and not much has changed at all

[DIFChick]

It's awful to think that the photographer took the photo and then walked away... Could he not have carried the poor child to the Food Camp???

[jebus]

It's awful to think that the photographer took the photo and then walked away... Could he not have carried the poor child to the Food Camp???

He shot that one from the safety of a food camp if I remember correctly, sadly the child was on the outside. I remember my tutor saying that as an observer you can't interact with the subject that much, that helping one child wouldn't change anything so it's better to just take the shot as that would do the most good in the long term when I put that question to him, absolute nonsense attitude to take by any photographer/film-maker to make themselves feel better in these situations if you ask me

[Angus]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I was horrified by the other picture - genuinely gruesome.

makes you think about this geopolitical farce that we see.......

[Block G Raptor]

It takes approx 10 secs to compose and take a shot, this Vulture(not the one in the photo but the one taking it) could have had his Pulitzer prize winning shot and saved the child so really can't see why or how he could just walk away. I put it that it was guilt at winning the Pulitzer for this shot and not depression that led to his suicide

[bennocelt]

I have to say I know very little about the current unrest in Kenya but I saw this photograph in the IT last Thursday.

I am not a photography expert but look at this and tell me you would not be moved.

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/images/2008/0221/1203471498175_1.html


tx Angus for that pic, makes one think

[pete]

To me the originally linked photo looks staged. Would that make it less effective?

The Kenya story is amazing as it was supposed to be well run country surrounded by less than well run countries. Kenya was stable, has sizeable middle class & safe place for tourists.

[endabob1]

The Kenya story is amazing as it was supposed to be well run country surrounded by less than well run countries. Kenya was stable, has sizeable middle class & safe place for tourists.

Parts of Kenya have been no-go areas for a long time, there ave been tribal tensions bubbling under for a few years. I was there in 2002 just before the last elections when Daniel Moi was about to be ousted and there was a real sense of optimism but as with many African countries when the change happened at the top it didn’t necessarily bring any changes to those at the bottom.

[pete]

Kenya seems to be a good example of a country that is democratic only in name. It is all very well to have elections but democracy does not exist if power cannot be freely transferred. George Soros has used his wealth to fund the Open Society Initiative (http://soros.org/) to help create these conditions.