Drought in Ethiopia

[kiley9806]

This photographer, David Blumenfeld, has really captured some story-telling photos here. I stumbled across this site while researching Ethiopia, and wanted to share it...

Drought

[Marko]

These are some very powerful images. They are not always easy to look at but they are well done.
thx for sharing - Marko

[AcadieLibre]

Great link, glad they are not easy to look at. Might get more people after the Government to step up and do more and things in that region. They are just going to get worse with the cost of food and fuel out of control.

[kiley9806]

thats a great point - photography can be used as a great means of communication. the world is a rather large place, and we can't normally see it all first hand. my first big eye-opener was our trip to Thailand & Cambodia. makes you realize how good we've got it. i found this site while doing some research on international adoption. my husband and i are considering it, as we recently found out we will not be able to have any more biological children. i'd take any of those babies in those pictures home in a heartbeat.

[tegan]

To take a different point of view, I see a camera used for social commentary, or the documentation of some tragedy as more photojournalism that rarely rises to the high quality, iconic, level that gains acceptance and admiration from all viewers.

There have been some war shots from WWII to Vietnam that have reached that level but a considerable number that haven't. Despite all the digital cameras in Iraq, Afganistan and the Middle East and the number of images I have seen from soldiers and base commanders, I can't say that I remember ONE that has reached beyond the limited documentary level.

It seems that charities and organizations need the quality, iconic, high level shot that shouts poverty, tragedy, hunger, terror, war, etc. in an extremely effective manner that relates to all viewers. Some image is needed that no one can forget because of its visual impact. I don't think we have got there yet.

In the area of social commentary, I remember hearing of a professor in the Photography program at York University who considered that taking pictures of drunks in the gutter was his conception of great photography. None of his students took him seriously. I suppose it comes down to: Are you a social worker with a camera or a photographer shooting the homeless?

Photography is more than social commentary and more than simply documentation. One heck of a lot of talent, skill, knowledge, and experience is required and that needs to show through in the images. To make things even more complicated when it comes to this kind of photography is that there is a fine line between creating an effective image with visual impact and desensitizing the viewer to tragedy.

I suppose I see a lot of this as sociologists, charity workers, or soldiers with cameras documenting the problems they see and their efforts, as opposed to a serious effort at high quality photography.

Tegan

[cdanddvdpublisher]

great looking shots; thanks for sharing the link