"Only One Eye ...., a photo from West Bank, East

Photographer's Note

.......is real", he told us after five minutes of asking us where we might have come from .....we had learnt the lesson - America is dodgy, Britain just about OK, Ireland better and Germany best......I don't remember what i told him - I think just the truth - we only said we were German if we had Germans with us...

He was a friendly man - very calm, as without bitterness he told me of how an Israeli rubber bullet had taken his eye in a street disturbance when he was younger......his story rounded off this curiously relaxed yet also tense visit to Hebron.......we were stopped three times by the military on our way back to Bethlehem......

At my age so many of them look like children...boys and girls with boots, attitudes and guns......

Ferrus, bantonbuju, MiguelP, marknunnerley ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

AthaPan (0) 2006-12-09 7:30

Hi Kev

Interesting story and an appropriated photo.
I do not know if "lovely" fits here for this photo, as there is nothing lovely to loose one eye.

Just that you did a great job.
Well done
Sakis

verswe (7330) 2006-12-09 9:18

Good combination of light and shadow.
I like his face!
Nice note.

MiguelP (14470) 2006-12-09 11:31

Kev in Wonderland, like the middle east movie of Winterbottom. American, british, germans... What about human been? I like the contrast inside and the burnt white outside that keep us our regard on this person with probably lot to tell. We talk in spain about good envy, literally in english we could nonsensely translate it as "Healthy envy" (envidia sana). It means when you are happy someone has a good experience in life but you would like to share it with him... Well this is my feeling everytime you post one of these photos.
Take care Kev,
Miguel

marknunnerley (2780) 2006-12-09 15:01

Kev, had to read the notes twice. I thought he was talking about his eye being real, not Isreal. It's horrible when you are in a situation like that and you suddenly have to think on your feet. Scarry stuff. Good portrait that took some guts to take it. I think I would have chickened out.
br,
Mark

Angelillo (9374) 2006-12-09 16:23

Hi Kev,

I like the shot, I enjoy reading your very well written and sometimes difficult (for me, it's my fault, my poor english) notes, and I enjoy too imagining the human touch that's behind your shots. I think many times the truth is ever inner (the humans can hide our real willing and thinkings). This is the reason I think your shots are interesting, because they emerge from the inner, from the human meeting with the others... In addition, the shots are beautiful itselves. In this I like the inner light, soft, exactly what we need to see this man smiling, proud, friendly... Outside the strong light seems a menace, a very well symbol of life in this world's area, and in many others. Thanks, Kev. Best wishes,

Angel.

Furachan (0) 2006-12-10 2:31

Extremely delicate portraiture where you more or less leave the "bad eye" in ahsdow. We can feel the brilliant suhnshine of Palestine, hot sreets full of tension an yet the man is relaxed as if he's already lived several lives.
One of your best, kev, because it is s naked, not trying to be clever, just right there: the perfect environmental portrait with a great note to go with...
Super,
Francis

wolf38 (30) 2006-12-10 6:31

Hello Kev. A professional photo and a good explaining text. Beautifully that the man old Germany likes because of its political attitude. Also without the text the photo pleases me very well. Greeting, Wolfgang.

Glint (6171) 2006-12-18 6:59

Hello Kev,
you say that this man is without bitterness. Perhaps he has learned that an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth leaves us all blind and unable to eat. Sorry if that's a bit trite but it is difficult to critique a picture like this as it is so straight forward and honest and not needing the usual tricks of creativity.
regards
Bev

Shmalex (129) 2011-03-16 10:18

piercing look, great job! regards