fotofonics

DO NOT FEED WILD ANIMALS

WHERE’S THE DEVIL AT?

WHERE’S THE DEVIL AT?

Photograph: Thomas Hoepker/Magnum In light of the first year anniversary of the Japanese earthquake disaster, I wanted to share this picture which, despite the fact that it has very little to do with Japan, it does however illustrates disasters in general and the feelings they trigger - How do we embrace terrible news? How do we react to it? As they say, a picture paints a thousand words. This one has lead to many controversies.  I posted it one day on Facebook because I found it fascinating and really enjoyed Jonathan Jones’ article about it in the Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/02/911-photo-thomas-hoepker-meaning).  What was I thinking??? Immediately, some of my American friends reacted by expressing their disapproval. They found the picture to be misleading, they felt attacked, betrayed in a way - because in their mind it is not possible to think that any American would have or could have enjoyed the beautiful weather on the day the twin towers were attacked, in the most horrific act of terrorism we have ever witnessed to date. The reason why I find this picture interesting is because it portrays a different angle to a well known tragedy. It opens a broader scope of questions and has many different layers you could read into.  For instance, one could say the people who are apparently enjoying the sun in the park could represent the rest of the world observing the disaster from their window seats, just like I did on that unfortunate day. One could also say this picture is an allegory of television – like those particular people from the other side of town watching the towers burning, we all watch horrendous news on TV from the distance and comfort of our living room. How are we supposed to react to chaos? How involved are we supposed to get when we hear the announcement of a disaster? How do we deal with the feeling of helplessness these situations trigger? I understand if some of my American friends felt this picture was not reflecting how they personally, as the rest of the world to some extent, felt on 9/11 but I don’t think it diminishes the horror of that day either.  For me the photo kind of says, not only to Americans but to all of us: “hey, I saw you on the flip side!”… Because ironically most of the time, we are sitting on the flip side.

Photograph: Thomas Hoepker/Magnum

In light of the first year anniversary of the Japanese earthquake disaster, I wanted to share this picture which, despite the fact that it has very little to do with Japan, it does however illustrates disasters in general and the feelings they trigger - How do we embrace terrible news? How do we react to it?

As they say, a picture paints a thousand words. This one has lead to many controversies. 

I posted it one day on Facebook because I found it fascinating and really enjoyed Jonathan Jones’ article about it in the Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/02/911-photo-thomas-hoepker-meaning). 

What was I thinking??? Immediately, some of my American friends reacted by expressing their disapproval. They found the picture to be misleading, they felt attacked, betrayed in a way - because in their mind it is not possible to think that any American would have or could have enjoyed the beautiful weather on the day the twin towers were attacked, in the most horrific act of terrorism we have ever witnessed to date.

The reason why I find this picture interesting is because it portrays a different angle to a well known tragedy. It opens a broader scope of questions and has many different layers you could read into. 
For instance, one could say the people who are apparently enjoying the sun in the park could represent the rest of the world observing the disaster from their window seats, just like I did on that unfortunate day. One could also say this picture is an allegory of television – like those particular people from the other side of town watching the towers burning, we all watch horrendous news on TV from the distance and comfort of our living room.

How are we supposed to react to chaos? How involved are we supposed to get when we hear the announcement of a disaster? How do we deal with the feeling of helplessness these situations trigger?

I understand if some of my American friends felt this picture was not reflecting how they personally, as the rest of the world to some extent, felt on 9/11 but I don’t think it diminishes the horror of that day either. 

For me the photo kind of says, not only to Americans but to all of us: “hey, I saw you on the flip side!”… Because ironically most of the time, we are sitting on the flip side.

COMME LA LUMIERE AU BORD DU VIDE

ALL THE PRETTY BIRDS

Look at this stare! Can you tell they’re French birds?! ;)

THE COLORS OF WINTER

France, Switzerland