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Challenge: Numbers (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: 2008 Challenges
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D
Location: home
Date: Sep 14, 2008
Aperture: f8
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/20
Galleries: Emotive, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Sep 13, 2008

 While the World Slept...

Solomon Radasky was an Auschwitz survivor with the Auschwitz registration number 128232. The numerals add up to 18 which forms the word "life" in Hebrew. Mr. Radasky worked near the crematoria hauling sand to spread over the ashes of the dead.

I was doing research into the number tattoos used in Nazi concentration camps. I found the following links that provided me an example of a man (Mr. Radasky) that did all he could to survive in the midst of one of the worlds worst events.
Solomon Radasky
A Story of Survival



As soon as the challenge came up, I knew what I wanted to say , but I just couldn't decide if I should proceed. I am not Jewish, but I have a strong affiliation with the Jewish people and the struggles they have had to endure. I remember watching documentaries and reading books about World War II and the horrors that so many people had to endure, that the entire world had to endure at the hands of hate.

This image is dedicated to the concept of compassion and love, a far cry from the actions and hatred that created these tattoos. This is also to the six million who died at the hands of hate and to the millions of men and women throughout the world that fought that hate. That we can still have hate and destruction in places throughout the work such as Dafur is beyond all comprehension. When will we learn?

I really struggled with a title for this that conveys the horrors of this event in a simple and poignant way, and finally decided to contact a good DPC friend and member of the Jewish community levyj413. Thanks to Jeff for bouncing ideas off of as I really did not want to offend those that this image was meant to memorialize.

Editing: Crop, noise ninja, levels adjustment, curves, desaturation using hue/saturation, USM at 15,50,0 to increase local contrast. Burn, dodge around hand to increase dirty feel. Blur hot pixel areas and around number. Resize for web, noise ninja, USM, added duplicate layer and USM at large radius to further dirty the palm fo the hand- masking out the arm, slight adjustment to sepia tone, curves.


Post Challenge: I really was torn as to whether to add the swastika to the image or not. I had an outtake I liked a lot, but I really wanted people to feel the hate in the actions, so with the guidance of a few DPC friends, I reshot with this hateful symbol. In hindsight, I really wish I had entered the image without the symbol because I really hate looking at the image...

Outtake:

Statistics
Place: 24 out of 126
Avg (all users): 5.9375
Avg (commenters): 8.0000
Avg (participants): 5.9804
Avg (non-participants): 5.9091
Views since voting: 2404
Views during voting: 304
Votes: 128
Comments: 14
Favorites: 0

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
Canon EOS-7D
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Canon
 09/25/2008 11:09:58 AM
I could have sworn I commented during voting. Definitely a strong emotional image. Impacting. Thought provoking. Congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D700
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon
 09/25/2008 10:06:37 AM
Pete, this is a very powerful shot. Although you don't like the shot, the swastika adds that extra dimension.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D200
Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF
 09/25/2008 05:36:27 AM
A fitting image. Thanks for submitting this and the story behind it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
 09/25/2008 12:43:37 AM
I'll be honest... I didn't notice the swastika. I've seen these numbers on patients before, and they're so shocking and profound, I guess I was just awed by the power of the actual subject. Still a great image to get a message across and so well done is something... scores are just scores.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon
 09/24/2008 12:19:29 AM
I still prefer it with the swastika, Peter. I know you hate looking at it, but I truly believe many more people would have missed the connection.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Leica M Monochrom
Leica 50mm f/2.8 Elmarit M MF - Black
 09/22/2008 06:48:05 PM
Nice score man and a nice pre-poland entry to boot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon D90
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED
 09/16/2008 04:09:26 PM
Well shot image, but the image is a little disturbing. What is the tattoo actually from??
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
 09/15/2008 08:49:44 PM
Powerful images, and is quite complimentary to the HOLOCAUST image in the same challenge. I hope you do well. 9 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon
 09/15/2008 03:21:26 PM
Very powerful, Peter. I hope it does well for you. *no vote*
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7500
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 09/15/2008 02:20:45 PM
So I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this going to be controversial. I will have to come back and survey the aftermath. Some will love this. Others? Not so much. We'll see..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-1100D
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
 09/15/2008 09:50:49 AM
Fantastic idea, really good. The light is great too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-40D
 09/15/2008 09:06:33 AM
Love this pic! Great idea and statement! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D800
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 09/15/2008 08:11:14 AM
great tones and lighting, perfect as a sq crop
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-40D
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
 09/15/2008 04:04:46 AM
poignant, indeed
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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