"In the Shadows", a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

There are 11 million of them in the US. They come like shadows across the parched land, braving intense heat in the summer or frigid cold of winters, snake bites, and drug smugglers. They come across several borders, fleeing desperate poverty, grinding despots, leaving their children and their parents, to work, to send some money home so their children can stand on their feet. They live in cramped rooms in skeletal motor-homes. They walk to work, the lucky ones ride rusting bicycles through gleaming motor ways. They pick our tomatoes and strawberries, back bowed in penitence, they launder the yellow stain off our one night stands--they are 'in the shadows'.

We will deport them. We will keep our last night's beer bottles, our soiled sheets.

hgupta, michiels, luisafonso, ninaL, prantik, ramesh_lalwani, bantonbuju, bnallama, nicoz, zmfactor, xramm, woozbman ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

Stepan (27210) 2007-07-18 23:25

There is style here. And a great technical realization. Well done.
Stéphane
PS : Why did you cut the upper side of the window ?

hgupta (1323) 2007-07-19 0:53

Loved the POV and very classic yet modern blue window frame.
Very interesting picture.

Hemant

donluicu (24741) 2007-07-19 1:07

eheheh
i see good references...
wine, corona...good stuff

excellent idfea of framing..

congrats

michiels (4170) 2007-07-19 1:20

hello ANimesh,

THis is awesome !!!! Not only the photo at itself but surely with the explanation. Real good !!!! In my favs for sure ! Everything is perfect here, everything ....
greetings, inn

luisafonso (862) 2007-07-19 1:31

Great message Animesh... Not only your words echo this reality but your photo gives it a greater scale. Very emotive, very sensitive. Wish I could make more images like this... Like it a lot.

ninaL (21348) 2007-07-19 1:43

Hi, Animesh.
Strong photograph and note.
Very good one...no need more words.
Best wishes. Grazyna.

Furachan (0) 2007-07-19 3:25

Great job, Animesh. A strong "nature morte" feel to both sides of the window, all frozen and painterly. Nicely balanced too.
Top work,
Francis

j4uvikram (57) 2007-07-19 9:56

Great style and great story Animesh da.
The note you have put sounds too good.

greg (2835) 2007-07-19 15:04

That's really nice. The top is a little awkward, though.

prantik (1136) 2007-07-19 15:06

Brilliant note and equally brilliant picture Animesh. After I finish writing my critique I will hit "add to favourite" button. The "incompleteness" due to the missing frame at the top adds to the feeling of uncertainty and anxiety that all these migrant workers face. What ever happened to "Send us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses..".

Best
Prantik

ps: Thought you might enjoy this hilarious satire from The Onion

bantonbuju (51815) 2007-07-20 3:02

a poetry...this photo is exceptional...it sings the poetry loudly...love it, animesh, simply love it!
bw, j.

bnallama (3763) 2007-07-20 16:02

Hi Animesh, you have captured a strong moment here... Somehow it is very "cold".... reflecting the sadness of your capture and the issue. TFS. Bala

prezntime (3946) 2007-07-20 20:24

Hey Animesh.
I think this is some great timing here in your photo. The blurry likeness of the perrson framed on the right side is a metaphor (visual) for the unseen workers and inhabitants of the United States. Good dark frame...nice and moody.
Chris.

happypoppeye (4819) 2007-07-21 7:09

Great photo Animesh. The colors and composition are excellent. Sharp and detailed also. The "ghost" image of the person behind the glass really looks great and makes one think. The alcohol bottles along the window sill opposite the figure creates some interest also.

I don't like the note though. There are no "mis-truths" or anything like that in the note and you are, by all means, entitled to your opinion. I just think the note makes it sound like the US is doing something bad in deporting them. They are illegal people in US, the US can't take care of everyone. Now, you don't say this in your note but this is what I get from it. You don't say how US citizens are losing government benefits because of the cost of taking care of non tax paying people. They walk to work because they have to. Even if they had the money they couldn't get a license to drive. They pick our tomatoes and vegetables because farming jobs are one of the only jobs that will hire illegal aliens. Yes, America has alot more money than Mexico, but there has to be another answer. As long as people try to get in the country illegally, than these are the jobs they are going to get. And I know the US is probably the richest country in the world but that doesn't mean that millions of people can just come in and start doing whatever they want. That would probably lead to 311,000,000 people having problems. It's just my opinion.

On that note, I do also believe that the US should be doing something to help these people and I believe they are. The question is if it is enough. I would say no but I really can't say. I am 3000 miles away on the east coast and the only thing I see is on TV..so I don't know. I have never been to Mexico either, and although you don't say you are talking about Mexico, you have taken the photo in Inverness, California and with the statistics and things going on with along the border of Mexico I am going to guess and take from the statistics that Mexico and "Mexicans" (for lack of the proper term) are the majority of the 11 million.

Now, I respect your opinion and hate when people turn photos on the site into a political thing. I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and this is yours. I don't like the note so oh well, it's still a great photo.

Nice work. It's only great photos that create reactions and although I may sound like I'm all pissed off by my critique, I'm really not. That's what makes, or actually one thing that makes, America so great - everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
John

polter (7239) 2007-07-21 10:28

Great photo of unique beauty and splendid composition. Don't know much about immigrants in US, but I think there is a poem at the back of the photo. Greetings T.

yanseiler (20) 2007-07-22 5:25

Hi Animesh, superb compo, the bottles are the little which makes it... superb, a look through the window would have make it something even stronger I think, very good work...
Yan

sayan (2617) 2007-07-23 2:44

A poetry Animesh da. Wonderful.. I like the way you picturised the problem through your image. A strong one..

regards

sayan

nicoz (1979) 2007-07-23 6:13

Hi Animesh,
This shot really stands out. There is some emotion here, and it's well suported by you note. Good shot!
Nicolas

zmfactor (294) 2007-07-23 9:36

What a strong stance eloquently expressed both by the image and the note! Regardless whether some agree or disagree with your opinion, it is indisputable that this post embodies TrekEarth's motto of "Learning about the world through photography." And although this post is listed under California, the issue of immigration really is relevant in many other parts of our world.

I just think the title, the photograph and the note fit perfectly together. Thanks.

kalparupa (0) 2007-07-31 2:09

Hello Mr. Ray

That was privacy hijacked. How are you keeping?I will be in touch

ALSOM (6616) 2007-08-17 2:24

A natural diptyque ;o) !
What is great is the mood, the ambiance ... I cannot tell where is from maybe from the photog ;o) ! Interesting to see how the window seems to reveal & hid only a small part of the interior life. The warm touchs of color are relly nice from the cold blue and black frame. Very inspiring.

delnaja (2056) 2007-08-17 2:29

a superb one Animesh... strong message and photo... a perfect capture. Brilliant!

xramm (1831) 2007-09-30 4:32

Hi Animesh
Excellent frame, good composition to tell about ambiance.
Excellent POV

p.s. I wonder which scanner you used to make digital ?

Hakki

sayeed_rahman (6461) 2007-12-21 8:31

Hello Animesh..long time..this one very descriptive with a powerful theme..the elements very aptly presented..it is a socio-political issue that might be debatable to a million words but this one shot is quite the "closing"..

The subject with hands folded looking away through the frosted glass gives the right message and visual effect.

Great shot again..well seen and a relevant post :)

Cheers
SAyeed

DonGusti (942) 2014-10-16 1:50

Hello Animesh,

I love the picture :) the pov and the placing... well done.

regards,
gusti

Photo Information

Copyright: Animesh Ray (AnimeshRay) (9089)
Genre: Persone
Medium: Colore
Date Taken: 2007-07-04
Categories: Vita quotidiana
Camera: Leica M6, Summicron 50mm/f2.0
Esposizione: f/4
Versione Foto: Versione Originale
Tema(i): JB's favs 2007, Second Cut, My Stylesheet, Kasia's Favourites 7 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-18 23:24
Preferiti: 5 [vista]