photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Three: Expressing human values > Authority, Liberty Boulevard, Bucharest, Romania, 2009
previous | next
21-OCT-2009

Authority, Liberty Boulevard, Bucharest, Romania, 2009

An Orthodox Catholic nun raises an authoritative hand to hail a taxi outside the city’s massive House of the People, the second largest building in the world. Her fellow sisters dutifully follow her lead. Authority and duty are both human values, embodied in this image.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
1/250s f/8.0 at 166.0mm iso125 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
Phil Douglis20-May-2018 21:14
Bucharest's "House of the People" is indeed colossal, intimidating, and now quite obsolete. The nun's commanding gesture is forceful and intended to get results. Her costume gently suggests spiritual authority as well, while Ceausescu's architectural monstrosity was intended to forcefully symbolize his political authority.
Merri 19-May-2018 21:57
I had to take a second look at this photo for the human values and resulting incongruity to register. The (very religious) Catholic nuns outside freely and overtly moving about their business at this colossal (obsolete) monument to Nicolae Ceausescu and Communism - The House of the People! It is evident to me which authority won in the end, even without knowing about this building and its country's history.
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment