Tom Tauber, APSA, MPSA
March 2021 - Beggar at the Hill of Crosses, Lithuania
About the Image(s)
Data: Nikon D200, Nikkor 12 - 24mm @24mm, f/8, 1/160/ ISO 320.
The hill of crosses is a pilgrimage site in Lithuania. Someone, a few decades ago, put a crucifix there and since then countless people are visiting the hill every year and leave crucifixes and rosaries. There are now hundreds of thousands of these items on the hill. I photographed the lady who sat there quietly with a cup in her hand begging for alms.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
11 comments posted
(Group 5)
Very powerful image. The human factor and the face of the lady added emotional attachment with the background. Posted: 03/01/2021 12:57:25
I totally agree, the message is so strong and the moods were well expressed. I am just wondering if a B&W will make it sadder? Posted: 03/15/2021 07:41:18
I took a look at b&w but found the background gets very busy. Posted: 03/19/2021 10:44:49
Tom, this image has all the characteristics for a culture and a region. The outfit of the woman is typical for the culture of the people as is wearing the scarf on the head/hair. Of course the presence of all the crosses and rosaries gives the location. From the standpoint of Travel Photography has all the necessary components. From the technical point of view is a petty that her feets were not included in the frame, and her location on the frame is too centered. Her face language indeed depicts her sadness. Perhaps creating the image from a lower vantage point would have included the whole body and give a greater depth of field of the landscape and allow you to place her somewhere else in the frame. Interesting image nonetheless. Posted: 03/01/2021 13:27:16
Yes, I agree with you Isaac the image can show some details of a region, but I can't define which region. Definitely as Pinaki, rightly so, defines the image "Very powerful." Indeed, it is. Although, I'm not sure if that fills the PSA standard definition: "A Photo Travel image expresses the characteristic features or culture of a land." In my modest opinion there are no specific elements that define the "...characteristic features of a culture of a land..." the lady dress it doesn't seem to me Lithuanian, but more Western Europe kind, perhaps Italian, Spanish, Serbian or even Greek. As far as the crosses they are the unmistakable signs of the Roman Catholic Religion. And it could be coming fro the Holy Land, or at least one of the Western country above mentioned. The writing above the crosses I do not believe is enough to define a specific language. Honestly it will be very hard for a juror to make up a decision. I just did a light touch up of the image, mostly light and composition. Posted: 03/02/2021 10:54:12
Gabriele, It is not necessary to know where this photograph was taken. What the definition means is that if you find the place or the kind of people that are pictured you would recognize them from this photograph. If it were necessary for you to tell where this place is, you would have to reject all photographs that show places or people you have never seen before. "Characteristic" means different from anything else, definable, specific. It does not have to be characteristic for a country or region but can be characteristic for a culture. WEBSTER'S DEFINITION OF CULTURE: the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group. In this case, the culture is catholic religion. Posted: 03/02/2021 17:02:39
Tom I think that the more we talk or write about this subject, the murkier it gets. Let's get things rest the way they are, it will not get better with the time but al least it will rest quietly. Posted: 03/19/2021 12:04:11
A wider image showing more crosses perhaps would be more powerful, but including the beggar woman as your subject adds to the emotion/sadness of the scene. I'm not aware of the Hill of Crosses. I find this image very interesting.
I wish her feet weren't cut off and I'd like to see her a bit more off center. Posted: 03/04/2021 16:38:13
I wish her feet weren't cut off and I'd like to see her a bit more off center. Posted: 03/04/2021 16:38:13
Tom, This question must be way off on my part as no one else has mentioned it- but why is it not important here for the photo to be level? And in post development you could have set the woman more on a third? The story of the setting and the
plight of the woman do remain central. Perhaps the hillside slant adds to the upheaval of the woman's life. The whole scene makes the story!! Thanks for sharing.
Posted: 03/19/2021 09:06:43
plight of the woman do remain central. Perhaps the hillside slant adds to the upheaval of the woman's life. The whole scene makes the story!! Thanks for sharing.
Posted: 03/19/2021 09:06:43
Julie, I am a real stickler for level horizons in seascapes and landscapes (if applicable). When it comes to people shots, less so. In this case, if I had leveled the horizon (which is really hardly visible) I would have had to crop out too many of the crosses. As for the rule of thirds, I wish I had more good shots of her. This is really a grab shot with no time to compose. She looked up at me and then turned her head away - no second chance. I tried to crop more on the left to get her more into the one/third position, but I feel I lost too many crosses. I console myself with the thought that in this case she really is most of the story, so the fact that she is close to the middle works for me. It's more of a story than a pictorial image that needs to follow composition rules. I think this is true of a lot of Photojournalism - no PJ photographer pays much attention to the Rule of Thirds. Posted: 03/19/2021 10:55:59
Thanks, Tom, for the explanation - it broadens what I understand about certain rules etc. Always learn from your remarks. I am REALLy taking the plunge for a new camera NOW. You made several suggestions two years ago - any new thoughts?
-- lightweight, canon line, not too many new features - present camera is Canon EOS 40D. Thank you for your time!! Julie Posted: 03/20/2021 07:45:27
-- lightweight, canon line, not too many new features - present camera is Canon EOS 40D. Thank you for your time!! Julie Posted: 03/20/2021 07:45:27