I thank you all for the excellent comments that I received on this photo, as well as the great rating.
When this challenge was first announced, this image immediately came to mind (which is, in a way, unfortunate). I had some reservations about submitting this photo, but in the end I decided to go with it (mainly because I reminded myself of why I am taking a photo in the first place). Not to get too drawn out here, but to me photography serves three main purposes:
1. To present the photographer's view point of a subject or the impact of a subject.
2. To stir some emotion or feeling in an audience.
3. To enjoy the process of taking and preparing a photo.
For these three reasons, I submitted this shot.
If this shot offended/offends anyone, then I apoligize for that.
I am glad that this shot has had an impact, however small.
Thanks Again.
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 132 Avg (all users): 7.9160 Avg (commenters): 8.6735 Avg (participants): 7.6346 Avg (non-participants): 7.9899 Views since voting: 14073 Views during voting: 521 Votes: 250 Comments: 111 Favorites: 53 (view)
wow, how distirbing. i just got done reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" a few minutes ago, and this ties in perfectly to the story. if you haven't read it yet, you should
Well ... I just think this image is astounding in all departments ... attitude, lighting, focus, crop, subject presentation, every dayam thang!
Congratulations. This image moved me deeply and I consider it brave that you took it to such lengths. It is a gorgeous statement of humanity and lack thereof.
Wow - just amazing how people think and how we perceive the world...I've been looking at this image for over a week now. I live in South Africa where racial segregation, hatred, prejudice STILL fester as massive cancers.... and all I've been seeing in this picture until yesterday - is a man filled with self hatred, in the last stage of committing suicide! Then yesterday, suddenly it hit me what the image was "about". Why did it take me that long to "see" it? Maybe it's because it's still so prevelant here, and it's not "news" or "shocking" so I was looking for something else...? That in itself if a shameful thing isn't it...
But just to say it's equally powerful within both of my interpretations, and I applaud you for this stylish, sophisticated image. Well done!
Was unable to vote because of vacations but would have given a double "10" for the immaculate photographic quality and for the highly symbolic political and racial expression.
A no-contest blue win, congrats.
Franklin
This is just magnificent! You have coalesced the voters into crossing all barriers and awarding an honest look at a truly disturbing part of humanity with the recognition it so deserves.
I imagine that you had a rough time with your emotions during the course of this challenge and a great feeling of relief to see that so many people put down their different views to join with you in expressing the view that this *IS* hate in its vilest form.
You are truly insightful and I am privileged to have been here for your sharing of this incredibly poignant shot.
I find the content to be a bit Inappropriate,and somewhat offensive..
I take no offense to your post. As a matter of fact, I value all comments/opinions of my photos.
I believe that what an individual takes away from a photo is highly subjective and dependent on that individuals biases, viewpoints, experiences, place in their lives, etc. What may be enlightening to one way be offensive to another. Your example of the little girl may be extremely offensive to someone who may have been in that situation as a little girl and experience great hurt.
So, while I am sincerely sorry that you find the photo offensive, it does not change the fact that others may find it enlightening. My photos are first and foremost a window to my thoughts, however strong or mild or permanent or fleeting they may be. Most of my photos are not at all "popular" here at DPC (or anywhere else for that matter), but that does not impact my willingness or intent to continue producing the photos that window my thoughts.
I am not going to try and detail the exact story behind this particular photo as I intended, because I don't believe that that is so important. If five different people look at this photo and see/feel five different visions then I consider that a success.
So thank you for your post, and please feel free to comment on any of my current or future photos.
I find the content to be a bit Inappropriate,and somewhat offensive..
BUT !This is in no way ANY kind of personal criticism of or at the photographer Dr. Jeuss or his skill as a photographer technically. "I think he has shot some brilliant stuff".
I just feel you could have captured and represented the essence of HATE in SO many ways,(still using THIS CONTENT),but without stuffing it in peoples faces...as such.
Are you not just showing the RESULT of hate, or the consequences of it.?
Where is the Instigator/s of this action( Direct or Indirect)Who truly encapsulates the ugliness of HATE..should they not be part of the composition/content,and the "result" of hate maybe more of a background to it, if you are going to use such a Strong Image.
FOR EXAMPLE- (and a simplified one at that)
A young girl,at school,is the target of someone/s HATE and is constantly being teased,tormented,beaten up,religious persecution, whatever it may be.... and is at her whits end..
You could show;- (again,just a crude example of content etc,no more..)
1.- A young girl facing the camera(same distance from it),with very much the same expression on her face as "h a t e - unchecked", with her tormentors in the background and out of focus (so as not to busy the shot to much),part way through there session of HATE upon her. which could show the WHAT And the WHY of HATE, along with the results of it.
2.- OR an EVEN stronger image if you must ,having her out of focus somewhat,in the background,up on a chair with a rope/noose in her hand or already around her neck,trying to tie it to a spot up high that is JUST out of reach for her hight,with her tormentors still mocking her in the foreground etc.
OR "To stir some emotion or feeling in an audience" as you said.
3.- A young girl behind a school lunch shed or maybe under a school desk with a razor blade to her wrist,and the same look on her face as "h a t e - unchecked".
(Am i looking at the end of a story and not THE story.)
I just feel you MAY have gone for Number 3. and left out some VERY important content as a bit of a cheap way to..."To stir some emotion or feeling in an audience" ?.
I mean no offense by this post, but as my FIRST post EVER since I registered in 2004 !!!-(And no I have NEVER participated in a challenge yet Because I still don't think I'm technically "there" yet..Oh and no credit card to pay for a "full" membership LoL)I feel I needed to say the above and this includes having a brother do or have done to him what is depicted....BTW sorry for such a L o n g post everyone. :(
RoBBiE.
... just ... WOW! ... stunning in how such an apparently peaceful, self-absorbed, reflective moment can so depict what hate can do. I am totally slain by this photo and it took me a long time to respond to it but had to tell you how hard you touched (POKED) my heart.
Congratulations on the massive statement that your image makes. Not only the composition and general lighting but how wonderfully it was technically in general. Truly an amazing image extremely well presented (I avoided using the word executed here for the first time ever).
P.S. I often disagree with the general voters here but 58 10s, 51 9s, 45 8s and 43 7s out of 131 voters, on this image, makes me proud to be in this company.
Not that my comment has anything to do with the photo as a phot, but technically the knot on the noose needs to be longer. Otherwise this is a very powerful photo that I've definately added as a favorite.
Well, I've been looking at this shot since the results went up, and am finally getting around to commenting on it (which I feel very compelled to do). Seeing this bold, provoking, grittily emotive photo take the blue, and with such a high score, to me, reaffirms a confidence in the dpc 'voter'. From the moment you see the thumb, to when it opens in full, this image just reaches out and grabs one's soul, and absolutely demands attention! I feel it causes the viewer to look deep within himself, and to consider what feelings lie in the inner depths of his heart, and to think about what is in the hearts of the world and his fellow man. True, it brings with it feelings of sadness, and revulsion, thinking about what man has done to man in the past, and yes, even in the present...but yet, for me, it also brings a slight glimmer of hope. In that I mean, we have at least come to a place where an artist can produce such a visciously strong image, to put it right 'in your face', and say 'deal with it!', and going by the comments and score, it is accepted and agreed with by many at least. Obviously, there are those that wish for better tommorrows.
You certainly nailed the challenge topic, and as far as technicals...what more needs to be said than...outstanding. Definitely not 'eye-candy', but by all means, photography at it's finest, for this viewer anyways. I thank you for creating this masterpiece.
Possibly the best shot I've seen EVER. Not pleasant to look at by any means but Powerful and emotional and gripping. also technically perfect. I applaud you.
New to DPC... How does an image like this get even a single vote as a 1? This is a well composed beautifully lit on topic photograph. It seems to me that anyone scoring this as a 1 is a) trying to lower the overall score of an obvious winner or b) upset by the subject matter and totally ignoring the quality of the image. I know that if you take these 2 votes out the score doesnt change all that much but in some challenges it may mean the difference between 1st and 2nd. How does DPC view this issue?
There will ALWAYS be people of different view points and different likes and dislikes. As such, I put very little emphasis on individual ratings, but instead use the cumulative rating as a very rough guide for general appeal. Instead, I pay MUCH more attention to comments. However, a higher rating usually means more visibility and more comments. So I'll take the high rating as well.
New to DPC... How does an image like this get even a single vote as a 1? This is a well composed beautifully lit on topic photograph. It seems to me that anyone scoring this as a 1 is a) trying to lower the overall score of an obvious winner or b) upset by the subject matter and totally ignoring the quality of the image. I know that if you take these 2 votes out the score doesnt change all that much but in some challenges it may mean the difference between 1st and 2nd. How does DPC view this issue?
Congratulations! This shot is absolutely astounding... powerfully emotive, tasteful, horrifying, and... something about it echoes back and forth through time. Brilliant.
I too have lived in the south all of my life (excluding the few years I lived in Japan, where I was often kicked out stores for not being Asian). The suggestion that only "The South" has racism is cliche in itself. Racism is not bound by a geographical location. It's an innate reaction in everyone to fear the unknown and attempt to harness it. That being said, I recognize that history shouldn't be forgotten and we need to preserve our cultural lessons to enhance our humanity. However, lynchings are not common practice today, which is why I question the relevance of the message. Without doing any research, I'm willing to bet the number of same race assaults far out weigh assaults involving 2 or more races. I live in Atlanta where we enjoy a diverse population consisting of more than just black and white. By limiting our focus on past events we avoid making difficult analyses on our future challenges ( I suspect we do this due to the clarity of hind sight. Why present untested solutions for current and future problems when a person can always be correct and look only at the past).
What I do think is great about the photograph is that it has spurred a debate. Dialogue creates the opportunity for an exchange of ideas and it is with this exchange that we have the opportunity to increase our wisdom. Kudos to the artist for his impact on the forum!
I have created a thread for this discussion to continue.
click here
Sherwin if you would like me to edit my coments to clean up your comments i would be happy to.
No need to edit. I appreciate each and every comment.
I think what makes this for me is the intimate closeness. It's not something I have ever seen the likes of.
When you can see the tiny textures of the skin and the rope in a perfectly clear and beautifully lit set-up, it really brings this into a new realm considering the subject at hand here. The closed eye also helps - I think an open eye looking at the viewer would have made a completely different statement (possibly even more dramatic) but I prefer like this - nice choices all around.
I thank you all for the excellent comments that I received on this photo, as well as the great rating.
When this challenge was first announced, this image immediately came to mind (which is, in a way, unfortunate). I had some reservations about submitting this photo, but in the end I decided to go with it (mainly because I reminded myself of why I am taking a photo in the first place). Not to get too drawn out here, but to me photography serves three main purposes:
1. To present the photographer's view point of a subject or the impact of a subject.
2. To stir some emotion or feeling in an audience.
3. To enjoy the process of taking and preparing a photo.
For these three reasons, I submitted this shot.
If this shot offended/offends anyone, then I apoligize for that.
I am glad that this shot has had an impact, however small.
Thanks Again.
I would like to assure you that I am not offended. I would also like to point out that whether or not I was offended matters little. Although only the government is bound to support freedom of speech (private organizations can censure all day long)I believe we have a culture that recognizes this right. However a problem exist when people are afraid to offend and are reprimanded for stating what offends others. Just to reiterate, we enjoy freedom of speech because no one has the right not to be offended.
I've been enjoying the photographs of DPChallenge for a number of years and greatly appreciate the work so many of you share. However, I am surprised and disappointed by the lack of conversation about the photos themselves. Some of the imagery is very strong and most responses are limited to "great job". Edentated comments ignored the potential lessons we can gain. I think too many people feel they are "closed minded" if they don't automatically accept the perception of the world that the artist offers. I respect others opportunity to express themselves, but I don't want spoon fed ideas. I should have the courage and duty to strive for intellectual honesty and provide the artist with feedback. Hopefully, we'll both learn something new.
Incredible entry. One of the best shots ever on DPC, both in terms of technicals, but especially in terms of raw emotion and the fearless insistance on telling it like it is, even though the truth is unpleasant and even brutal. Kudos to the photographer for the vision and courage to let art speak!
I too have lived in the south all of my life (excluding the few years I lived in Japan, where I was often kicked out stores for not being Asian). The suggestion that only "The South" has racism is cliche in itself. Racism is not bound by a geographical location. It's an innate reaction in everyone to fear the unknown and attempt to harness it. That being said, I recognize that history shouldn't be forgotten and we need to preserve our cultural lessons to enhance our humanity. However, lynchings are not common practice today, which is why I question the relevance of the message. Without doing any research, I'm willing to bet the number of same race assaults far out weigh assaults involving 2 or more races. I live in Atlanta where we enjoy a diverse population consisting of more than just black and white. By limiting our focus on past events we avoid making difficult analyses on our future challenges ( I suspect we do this due to the clarity of hind sight. Why present untested solutions for current and future problems when a person can always be correct and look only at the past).
What I do think is great about the photograph is that it has spurred a debate. Dialogue creates the opportunity for an exchange of ideas and it is with this exchange that we have the opportunity to increase our wisdom. Kudos to the artist for his impact on the forum!
I have created a thread for this discussion to continue.
click here
Sherwin if you would like me to edit my coments to clean up your comments i would be happy to.
I thank you all for the excellent comments that I received on this photo, as well as the great rating.
When this challenge was first announced, this image immediately came to mind (which is, in a way, unfortunate). I had some reservations about submitting this photo, but in the end I decided to go with it (mainly because I reminded myself of why I am taking a photo in the first place). Not to get too drawn out here, but to me photography serves three main purposes:
1. To present the photographer's view point of a subject or the impact of a subject.
2. To stir some emotion or feeling in an audience.
3. To enjoy the process of taking and preparing a photo.
For these three reasons, I submitted this shot.
If this shot offended/offends anyone, then I apoligize for that.
I am glad that this shot has had an impact, however small.
I think the message was a little contrived, but then again I don't understand why we associate hanging with racism. Hanging is a method of execution that has wrung the neck of every race. Granted, I'm the one who is mentioning racism at this point, but I think traditionally the symbolism is there to support my conjecture. For all I know there could be a black executioner, but without other symbols in the picture I believe the imagery for the average American represents racism. If the message is racism, I don't think this extreme form of it is relevant today. Currently, I believe racism is multi-directional and is expressed in other forms than lynchings and hangings(a tab cliche). However, if it is a message about the evils of murder, then it is an effective photograph. Murder is wrong and the subject express adequate sadness is their expression. Good Job!
I don't know where you live but as someone who has lived in the south my whole life that this is not cliche. btw in the background is a KKK person.
I too have lived in the south all of my life (excluding the few years I lived in Japan, where I was often kicked out stores for not being Asian). The suggestion that only "The South" has racism is cliche in itself. Racism is not bound by a geographical location. It's an innate reaction in everyone to fear the unknown and attempt to harness it. That being said, I recognize that history shouldn't be forgotten and we need to preserve our cultural lessons to enhance our humanity. However, lynchings are not common practice today, which is why I question the relevance of the message. Without doing any research, I'm willing to bet the number of same race assaults far out weigh assaults involving 2 or more races. I live in Atlanta where we enjoy a diverse population consisting of more than just black and white. By limiting our focus on past events we avoid making difficult analyses on our future challenges ( I suspect we do this due to the clarity of hind sight. Why present untested solutions for current and future problems when a person can always be correct and look only at the past).
What I do think is great about the photograph is that it has spurred a debate. Dialogue creates the opportunity for an exchange of ideas and it is with this exchange that we have the opportunity to increase our wisdom. Kudos to the artist for his impact on the forum!
I think the message was a little contrived, but then again I don't understand why we associate hanging with racism. Hanging is a method of execution that has wrung the neck of every race. Granted, I'm the one who is mentioning racism at this point, but I think traditionally the symbolism is there to support my conjecture. For all I know there could be a black executioner, but without other symbols in the picture I believe the imagery for the average American represents racism. If the message is racism, I don't think this extreme form of it is relevant today. Currently, I believe racism is multi-directional and is expressed in other forms than lynchings and hangings(a tab cliche). However, if it is a message about the evils of murder, then it is an effective photograph. Murder is wrong and the subject express adequate sadness is their expression. Good Job!
I don't know where you live but as someone who has lived in the south my whole life that this is not cliche. btw in the background is a KKK person.
I think the message was a little contrived, but then again I don't understand why we associate hanging with racism. Hanging is a method of execution that has wrung the neck of every race. Granted, I'm the one who is mentioning racism at this point, but I think traditionally the symbolism is there to support my conjecture. For all I know there could be a black executioner, but without other symbols in the picture I believe the imagery for the average American represents racism. If the message is racism, I don't think this extreme form of it is relevant today. Currently, I believe racism is multi-directional and is expressed in other forms than lynchings and hangings(a tab cliche). However, if it is a message about the evils of murder, then it is an effective photograph. Murder is wrong and the subject express adequate sadness is their expression. Good Job!
Congratulations on winning a blue with such a powerful image! I wish that the world would stop ALL hatred. Hopefully this image will stir some emotion in all of us and make us think.
Great shot. Focus is very good. The only part that bothers me is the focus on the shoulder. The facial expression is beautiful--the way the brow is furrowed ever so slightly... I love this compostion. VERY nice.
Stirring & emotional. Excellent choice for this challenge and one of my top picks. I love the textures in the rope and the skin are fantastice, the conversion and tones are very good and the composition is perfect. 10
This is such a strong photo to me. My little brother hung himself when he was 29. Just 6 years ago. it's very confronting, but I understood why he did it. I can relate to this picture, eventhough it touches some cords I'd rather not want to be touched. I know how he hated himself and saw this as the only way out. The only 10 I gave out in this challenge.
Wow, this has a powerful message! Kind of a double meaning to it. Probably amongst the very best I've seen in this challenge. There's so many that are "shoe-horned" into this challenge. I think another member said it best when they said: "I could have taken a picture of just about anything and put an 'I hate....' in front of it and made it fit". Nice and refreshing to see this! Great shot!
Wow - Great image and very powerful. The lighting is beautiful capturing all those wonderful skin tones. A shot that makes you stop and think. Not too many of those around.
Well done - My fav so far.
Man, it seems like people had a very hard time capturing "hate" in a photo. Compared to the "love" challenge everything seems so contrived and devoid of any real emotion.
This photo however, seems to express the results of the very real menace of hatred in a poignantly crafted statement. Well done.
In my opinion, blue ribbon. You'll probably have people whine about how you shouldn't have went this controversial, but why ignore the most brutal forms of hatred that ever were. I commend you for making that stand, and for taking a brilliant photograph both technically and emotively. Congrats in advance on your high placement.
The detail in this shot is amazing, I love the crop and the lighting. It looks great in black and white amd it made me really stop and think.....10 from me.
Powerful. Well executed (no pun intended). Brilliant lighting. Great DOF. I like the half face - it's quite symbolic. Best of the bunch as far as I'm concerned. 10
*gasp* One of the most powerful images I have seen in a while. Gives me chills to look at it. Connotations of slavery, segregation, racism... yeah... powerful. I like the way the face is half-presented; gives a very good epmhasis on the noose, and makes it less about "one individual" and more about a larger problem. Background is a tad distracting but not too bad.
h a t e - unchecked
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