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Anti-propaganda Propaganda
1st PlaceAnti-propaganda Propaganda
gyaban


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Propaganda Poster (Expert Editing*)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
Date: Sep 11, 2014
Date Uploaded: Sep 11, 2014

 Our world is made of sides. Most of these are arbitrary, human-made. I suppose that if beings from outer space would visit our planet, they would be extremely surprised about how divided we are, especially for such a small ball in the cosmos. Countries, regions, political parties, religions, education, various industries, wars, various laws, various rights: literally anything is a ground for division. The existence of these groups is so commonly accepted that many don't hesitate to actually define themselves through them: "I am an ecologist", "I am an atheist", "I am a democrat", and so on.

Yet, if one would step back for a minute, what looks obvious is how similar people are, despite those beliefs. Most feel the same coldness under the same rain, the same fear after the same noises during the same nights, the same illnesses after behaving the same way, the same love for the same relatives, the same mothers worrying about the same children, the same alcohol to forget the same things. Even when it comes to what we are physically made of, genetics studies show that Europeans, Americans, Africans, Japanese or even Siberians people all have common ancestors (that actually lived in Eastern Africa). In a nutshell, technically, we all are brothers and sisters.

From there, why this irrepressible need to create groups and subgroups, and promote them? Why create categories? Are we that arrogant to need this illusion of being different? Do we feel better with boundaries around us? Is it that important to defend some kind of side, to the point it becomes vital to destroy other ones? In the light of our deep identity, how absurd is that? The guy on the picture is obviously against propaganda, but by attacking it, he is also doing some kind of propaganda. This is why the picture is recursively shown inside the paper he is holding, in order to illustrate the paradox lying there: even if you are against propaganda, there is not much you can do, because fighting it is also doing some. I am helpless about it, of course, but still, I am wondering why we stuck ourselves in this foolish situation...

Thanks for your kind votes and comments, they mean a lot to me!

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 35
Avg (all users): 7.2963
Avg (commenters): 8.2857
Avg (participants): 6.8571
Avg (non-participants): 7.4500
Views since voting: 2721
Views during voting: 314
Votes: 81
Comments: 20
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
Nikon D800
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
 09/25/2014 04:40:37 PM
Congratulations on your much deserved ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/20/2014 10:48:53 AM
Very well done, the lighting, clarity of the image, and composition of the poster design - all great. I gave this a 10 in voting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7100
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 09/19/2014 08:51:31 PM
Congrats on the blue yet again Mr Lundgren err, Kiciak...and as always I love to read your shoot notes and follow your thought processes. Fascinating as always.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 09/19/2014 05:13:58 PM
Well deserved blue, sir. Like I said before, there were few to me who actually submitted "propaganda" posters...This was my favorite. AWESOME!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm X-Pro2
Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R IOS
 09/19/2014 02:37:16 PM
Superbly designed and executed. Plus, it is an interesting message. Nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 09/19/2014 11:48:02 AM
Congrats, Christophe! So many things to celebrate this week
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/19/2014 09:25:14 AM
Hit again home... very well done and grats on the ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 09/19/2014 08:57:41 AM
Congratulations, Christophe! This was my pick for Blue. Much deserved!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-60D
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
 09/19/2014 07:56:15 AM
As always, Cristophe, brilliant.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 09/19/2014 12:14:45 AM
Congratulations, Christophe. Great work. This was my stand alone top pick, sorry I didn't get back to do any commenting before this.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 09/19/2014 12:03:04 AM
great job and great message :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D5000
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G
09/15/2014 01:51:15 PM
Pure genius!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 09/15/2014 10:01:22 AM
haha! My favorite! Just GREAT work, as usual! You continue to inspire.
9 from me. The only reason it didn't get a 10 was a personal pref that I would have loved for you to appear just slightly more illustrative. (which is probably why my entry will be DQ'd...lol) Good Luck!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7100
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
 09/13/2014 11:26:25 AM
LOL! Who else but Christophe would come up with an anti-propaganda propaganda poster? I might add you look very Dolph Lundgren here! Love the classic layout and simple, powerful imagery. And as always jealous of you incredible ps skillz! 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D4s
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 09/12/2014 05:12:33 PM
Very well done..!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 09/12/2014 01:15:33 PM
Been working out, Christophe...? I love the little airplanes dropping leaflets :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 09/12/2014 11:40:28 AM
Top 3, would have gotten best in show, but another entry hit home
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 09/12/2014 11:29:15 AM
As I look through this challenge there seems only a few that fit a true "propaganda" poster according to what I have been looking at. I love this one. It's my favorite in the challenge!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a6400
Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD
 09/12/2014 09:55:26 AM
I'm sure this took a lot of work and it paid off, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Lens
 09/12/2014 12:36:20 AM
No
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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