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RAY CHARLES
{K:2731} 3/5/2003
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Nice capture, good details and colors, just a tad underexposed.
Just a short comment on this heated subject. We all can this and that about what this war is about, and who's in the right, and who's in the wrong. 20 year from now you will have all the information, ( Public records, by Law)on what this is all about, unless they change the law and deside to disclose all information. But remember this, money makes the world go round. Sad but true.
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Donna Lauritzen
{K:542} 3/5/2003
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Julien,
It's not that difficult to "set fire" to the US, really... all you need is a little ingenuity, maybe some money for some tickets on a couple of commercial flights in the US, a little bit of training how to fly a plane (a couple of lessons will do), and the ***** to fly them into tall buildings, killing yourself and thousands of other people.
Of course, that's called terrorism.
I find it ironic that people protesting for "peace" would want to set fire to the US.... not very peaceful, huh?
As I sit and watch these "peace" protests (which often contain a lot of anger, and a lot of references to things that are definitely NOT peaceful!) I wonder... do any of these people have a CLUE about what peace is?
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J
{K:2647} 2/18/2003
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Well I dont think it's about making fun of national symbols... but it's kind of difficult to set fire to the US, so they take a flag... I mean people need some way to express their opinions... sure burning symbols might not be an elegant one... but in these times people have a hard time talking and listening to one another. A more radical form of showing discontent through protests and using symbols might be more effective.
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Donna Lauritzen
{K:542} 2/17/2003
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Megan,
First, a comment on your photo. I think you captured your subject very well, although some of the faces are a little dark (I stress "a little") which makes them somewhat difficult to see. Of course, when you're in the middle of a protest, I think you get what you get.... I'm sure you didn't want to be trampled, just to get the "perfect" shot... and I don't blame you! The darkness really doesn't take away from the quality of the photo.
Now, with regard to the content... I'd like to explain why I think you've gotten some of the responses you've gotten. The citizens of the US (many of us, anyway....not all: there are those here who would like to burn our flag!) take our allegiance very seriously. To see two of our national symbols defaced as they are in this photograph is very disturbing (the eagle with blood on the beak, and the stipes of our US flag, which looks like the stars have been ripped off). It's much like seeing our flag burning at an anti-US protest in Iraq.
I don't know if you can relate to the feeling... but imagine someone insulting your mother in the worst possible way they could... that's about how it feels for some US citizens to see our national symbols defaced. Whatever your intent, you posted an inflammatory photo.
Writing this, I just realized something.... I've never seen any photos of any protests in the US in which symbols (flags, etc) of other nations are defaced. After 9/11, and even after a group of foreigners burned a US flag in a neighboring town, the only public displays I'd ever seen in the US were that of patriotism to our own nation... flying flags, etc. Not once did I see the flag from another country burned, nor a picture of Osama Bin Laden, or Saddam Hussein. I would be very surprised to see such a thing. I guess this is why it is disturbing to me that people in other countries have no problem making a mockery of our national symbols.
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Becky V
{K:9699} 2/17/2003
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I've been reading your comments, Megan, and I have to say I really like how you've approached the subject. I think when one goes to an event like this with an objective focus (just photographing/recording the moment), your photo comes as close to a truthful document as you can get. I like this photo out of your series the best. It's the faces that make it. I'd like to see the bottom third of the photo brightenend or with less contrast, just to see the faces better and perhaps get a bit more detail in the man's black shirt.
I also liked your Movement of Conviction photo. It's sharp and well composed. It overwhelmed me a bit to see so many people crammed into a relatively small space. Good eye; nice job.
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jan martin petersen
{K:356} 2/16/2003
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Quite a discussion you've started! :-)
It's a true documentation you've posted shoving the commitment of the majority.
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Clara Showalter
{K:663} 2/16/2003
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Of all the images you shot/posted I think this is the strongest. The simple black and white sign draws the eye and very quickly conveys the message. There is a very strong range of emotion through the scene. This one image brings you to the protest. That's the goal of photojournalism. If you didn't you should really consider submitting this to a publisher. You captured an amazing moment. Keep getting into the middle.
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Mike Marcotte
{K:3948} 2/16/2003
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Everything in this photo is interesting to me. Every person in the photo is worth looking at & it's very sharp. No matter what your political views are, it's a good photo.9
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J
{K:2647} 2/16/2003
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Well I think that the comments here show perfectly well how important photos of yesterdays demonstrations are. They have great journalistic value. Otherwise this photo wouldnt have started such a heated discussion.
I attached a photo that pissed some people off elsewhere on the web. They say it isnt journalism... well maybe not, but it does show how people feel. Eventhough I have to agree on the low quality of the photo.
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Megan Forbes
{K:4617} 2/16/2003
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Scott, you ask why I posted this shot (and the others in the series presumably). The answer is - because it happened. I am an amateur photographer, the camera does not lie. Although I am a South African, I was in London when this huge protest took place, and went along to see history in the making. I expected photographic critique on this shot, as I have recieved for the others I've posted on UseFilm. I am very surprised to find other photographers turning this into a pro-war / anti-war flaming contest. However, whether you find it relevant to the site or not, this shot will remain in my portfolio. It was a true, undoctored event, and I hope I captured the spirit of the marchers in my shot.
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Joe Smith
{K:352} 2/16/2003
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Touche'...
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Heidi Dehncke-Fisher
{K:504} 2/16/2003
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A brief history lesson...we empowered Sadam back when Bush Senior and Regan were presidents because "we" wanted Sadam to attack Iran.
9/11 was Al Quaida(sorry about spelling)...not Sadam... there in lies the protest -- when you consider the fact that Iraq holds the world's second largest (after Saudi Arabia's) oil supply.
Bush's administartion and cabinet are comprised of people who have worked for or presently hold strong connections with oil companies (no small coincidence).
As far as posting this photo goes --- there are photo journalists on this site -- so it is relevant -- it is also relevant because of the world we live in right now.
I'm not going to say anything more about this...
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Steve Kompier
{K:4629} 2/16/2003
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Paul,
I said it, beleive it and don't appreciate your comment.
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Joe Smith
{K:352} 2/16/2003
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The shot is as ridiculous as the protest. Everyone protesting thinks it's about the oil...wake up...how quickly we forget 9/11...IT'S ABOUT TERRORISM! Sadam is a known terrorist supporter. Do you really think that if we go in and oust Sadam that they're just going to let us take whatever oil we want. They'll probably sell it to us at a higher rate. We don't get oil from there now. As for Korea...we'll take care of them too but that situation is a little more complicated because N.Korea is supported by China...now you are talking about a war. Like it or not we have troops in the middle east and they need our support! They need to know that we as a nation are behind them for they don't have the choice to fight or not. Countries that don't support us should think about the support we give them. Who do you think buys Iraqi oil? Germany and France, the two loudest protestors in Europe.
If Sadam (a man bent on destroying god fearing people) develops a nuclear weapon or a biological weapon, then the people of Europe better watch they're backs and who then do you think they're going to ask for help from. People who publicize these protests make me sick...let me ask you Megan, "why did you post this pic?" along with your other posts? Are you trying to make a political statement? Doing it here shows a lack of taste.
As for you, Andy, using the term "weenies" usually is only used by "weenies".
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Megan Forbes
{K:4617} 2/16/2003
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Thanks for the comments all. I didn't expect such a passionate political debate to start over it. I went along hoping to keep an open mind and record the moment, and hope that's what I achieved. Unfortunately I couldn't get any better shots than this of the US eagle with blood spattered all over it's beak, but was quite happy with the way this came out with the child in front. Unintentional but lucky I guess. Thanks again.
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Andy Eulass
{K:13435} 2/16/2003
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I personally think its quite relevant as well and certainly not funny. I just wish I had been able to participate with the 10,000 who turned out in Chicago yesterday. And Greg, ask yourself something. If Saddam is a latter-day Hitler, why the hell did we proverbially stop at the Rhine River in 1991 and let him continue on? And where are our priorities when we act like weenies in the face a true Stalinist maniac in Pyongyang who certifiably has nuclear weapons? Hmmm, could it be that there ain't no damn oil in North Korea? Don't believe for a minute that President W has some deep abiding love of democracy in this game. Believing that will just get your ass put on the firing line by a government that fundamentally does not care whether you live or die, just whether the country's abstract interests in security and wealth are served.
Good work with the shot, Megan.
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paul durrant
{K:1047} 2/15/2003
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steve, i just can't believe you said that!
there are a lot of concerned people out there at the moment.
whether you agree with this war or not - it certainly isn't funny. nice shot by the way - possibly a little tweaking with the levels might brighten up the faces etc in the foreground.
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Heidi Dehncke-Fisher
{K:504} 2/15/2003
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Irrelevant comments aside -- it's a meaningful shot. And people who live in places where this is "real" appreciate it. I'm not laughing.
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Greg Smereczynski
{K:2278} 2/15/2003
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yeah, right...not kill him now, he'll kill us later, do you guys remember one gay named Hitler?, nobody had wanted war that time, everybody had given him everything... and what; I know, the war always makes victims, but everything has the price...I'm sorry, I have to say that...; it's very easy to go somewhere and shout a little bit..., try to make a real peace on the world this time...it's not a game in the garden...; regards
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Steve Kompier
{K:4629} 2/15/2003
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This is too funny. Protesting a non-existant war. Thanks for the laugh.
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Heidi Dehncke-Fisher
{K:504} 2/15/2003
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I just came back from the anti-war march in NYC, so it meant a lot to me to see your pic. Besides the intensity of the faces, the composition of the signs, flags, and paraphernalia really help give the feeling of being there. I like how you entered the crowd too.
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Anindya Maity
{K:7880} 2/15/2003
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I like the way u entered the crowd to capture the scene.There is a sense of involvement.I'd like to see other angles too,and a wider version(you must have clicked a lot of pix),specially if u have one with the eagle more prominent.
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