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free as a bird
free as a bird
Phileine


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Freedom II (Advanced Editing II)
Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S602Z
Location: Artis Zoo, Amsterdam
Date: Jul 9, 2004
Aperture: 2.8
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/90
Galleries: Animals
Date Uploaded: Jul 6, 2004

 Freedom exist by the notion of its opposite, imprisonment. We treasure our freedom because NOT being free is the greatest sufferings known to mankind.

"Free as a bird" is the expression. The essence of a bird is its freedom, freedom from gravity, from the ground, from the earthly life. Imprisoning a bird, takes away the very heart, the characteristics of the animal. If freedom is like a bird, is a bird in captivity still a bird?

Does everybody experience the same as I do when watching a bird in a cage: the urge to scream out that something is very very wrong? Never in life will I be more aware of the concept freedom and its opposite, when viewing the most beautiful birds encaged and thus rubbed from their soul. If you ever need a reason to fight for freedom, look at a bird in a cage.

-added after voting period-

I clearly misjudged the cultural differences in the conception of irony. In Holland (and I think the whole of Europe), Irony is a very widely used tool, practiced especially when the message needs to be very strong, e.g. idealistic marketing. A picture of an imprisoned animal, would in most people here immediately revoke the reaction "this is about freedom", even without the title. I even was afraid the title would be too much, because I think irony needs to be subtile. Well, I learned my lesson. I can see from the comments that most people didn't get my meaning. I can live with low scores, but not with being misunderstood. That's why I felt the need to explain....

Statistics
Place: 123 out of 140
Avg (all users): 4.4022
Avg (commenters): 4.8462
Avg (participants): 4.0256
Avg (non-participants): 4.6792
Views since voting: 980
Views during voting: 267
Votes: 184
Comments: 13
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
 07/18/2004 11:18:55 PM
Bondage? Sorry, this does not express freedom to me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D70
 07/17/2004 06:11:34 PM
WAIT A MINUTE!...that bird's not free - 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi
Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
 07/16/2004 07:20:02 PM
Nice photo, but it doesn't look like the bird has very much freedom. Unless of course you were the one in the cage. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM
 07/16/2004 04:12:35 AM
but the birds in your photo are not free. Nice colors on the birds.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D70
 07/15/2004 05:29:30 PM
If this is freedom, you can have it! I wouldn't want to be caged up. Nice picture though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-300D Rebel
 07/13/2004 05:29:56 PM
is there freedom behind a chain link fence?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D
Konica Minolta AF 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5
 07/13/2004 12:42:03 PM
Free as what bird? These don't look in the least bit free, and the one in the foregournd looks distinctly unhappy about it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi
Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon
 07/12/2004 09:13:30 PM
Wry commentary! 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM
 07/12/2004 06:59:28 PM
I decided I really don't like the comment I left, and since we discussed it, sort of anyway, I'm just gonna remove it. I hope it's okay. If not, just let me know and I'll put it back in here.

Message edited by author 2004-07-22 03:13:20.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-10D
 07/12/2004 02:46:58 PM
Not free? Pretty color
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II
 07/12/2004 12:42:35 PM
Irony? Maybe you could have helped one escape!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon PowerShot G10
Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon
 07/12/2004 05:44:53 AM
How is a bird in captivity freedom?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 07/12/2004 02:04:02 AM
Hmm, don't think I'd want to be as free as that bird.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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