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kodak_challenge | all galleries >> Kodak Challenges >> Challenge 9: Contrasts >> Exhibition Gallery: CLOSED - Results > 5th Place (Joint) - "Survivor" by John Hill
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24-AUG-2003

5th Place (Joint) - "Survivor" by John Hill

Sony Cybershot
1/500s f/2.8 at 12.2mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time24-Aug-2003 03:58:50
MakeSony
ModelCybershot
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length12.2 mm
Exposure Time1/500 sec
Aperturef/2.8
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Modecenter weighted (2)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Programprogram (2)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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kodak_challenge12-Jan-2005 14:42
Briliant. That is all the words I have. dupies
kodak_challenge11-Jan-2005 19:44
Paul, I agree with your reaction. I think the brilliance of John’s shot is that it has the power to provoke the sorts of thoughts we would often rather ignore, and which people are stating in the comments. If we spent less on killing each other and more on righting the unequal balance of wealth in the world, it would be a start. I suppose one of the ironies is that the we rely on equipment the cost of which would feed a third world family for an age, to bring their plight to public attention. Conversely, the Tsunami has shown the basic decentness and generosity people tend to display towards each other in times of crisis.
Well done again, John, for this deeply disturbing and important image.
Flick.
kodak_challenge10-Jan-2005 12:55
Well said Flick, I wish I could praise your talent John, but the emotion of this shot makes that feel oddly inappropriate. And now the Tsunami. What a shocking start to 2005. - Paul
kodak_challenge09-Jan-2005 12:38
A powerful image, I agree with Flick on this - Quentin
kodak_challenge08-Jan-2005 21:32
Thanks Flick, I totally agree with you. I have traveled a lot in China and India and unfortunately this reality is visible there all the time. Kim, to highlight the boy I did a selection around the boy, put him on a new level and did a curves ajustment to lighten him. The feathering of the selection intentionally gives him a little halo. thanks, John
kimberly borchardt08-Jan-2005 21:06
I just wondered if you used a bit of Gaussian Blur to highlight the little boy? --Kim
kodak_challenge08-Jan-2005 18:59
Hi John, I agree with Flick....a fine social commentary photo, and an always needed reminder of the stark "contrasts" we humans permit in the social order. DF
kodak_challenge08-Jan-2005 17:10
John, I'm glad you've posted this (and the earlier one). I remember in Afghanistan seeing a boy whose parents had broken his back so that he could beg, because that was the only way they could afford an extra child. We need to see this sort of image. To me this picture portrays the theme of contrasts perfectly, with the affluence of westernised lifestyle, as seen in the passers by and the opulent car, set against extreme poverty, as seen in the boy's condition. Funnily enough, I'd intended to photograph some of Oxford's homeless for this challenge. I did a photographic record of this some years ago, when my husband was working at Oxford Night Shelter. Nowadays it's harder to do this - the problem of homelessness hasn't been alleviated, but simply hidden (the local police deport homeless from our city centre). Your photo is a very apt and needed social statement and a very good documentary style image.
Flick.