No Comment, a photo from Atlantique, South

Photographer's Note

While walking by the streets of Cotonou, I was stunned by the contrast between some ads and the reality of the country. I wonder the use of such advertising when I see the rarity of new cars in Benin. For your information, Benin has got the 161th position (over 177 countries) in a study of HDI (Human Development Index) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)... but no comment.

That's another picture i took from a bus, I cropped it and decided to use that little effect of colours to enhance the contrast I wanted to show. This picture is really meant to show that reality I saw in Benin, not to outstanding artistic qualities.

En me balladant dans les rues de Cotonou, j'ai ιtι frappι par le contraste entre certaines affiches publicitaires et la rιalitι du pays. Je me demande l'utilitι de telles campagnes de pub lorsqu'on voit la raretι des voitures neuves au Bιnin. Pour information, le Bιnin figure en 161θme position (sur 177 pays) sur lindicateur du dιveloppement humain ιtabli par le Programme des Nations Unies pour le Dιveloppement (PNUD)... sans commentaire.

Voilΰ encore une photo prise depuis un bus, je l'ai recadrιe et ai dιcidι d'utiliser ce petit effet de couleurs pour souligner le contraste que je voulais montrer. Cette photo est lΰ plus pour montrer cette rιalitι que pour ses qualitιs artistiques.

mlopes, wgreis, Elise_d, Janice, Niglo, pridel, bibiweb, bliard, xevi, alainh, Albrecht, manub, CliffW, haijekov, Xalkida, n3xo, marieaude, richwm, Julian_K, matt_harris_42, Prop, flatwin έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη

Critiques | Translate

mlopes (494) 2005-08-18 20:16

it's really impressive... i really can't understand also... it's almost rude imo.

You did well in PP... it punchs even more your message.

Mario

cgrindahl (6113) 2005-08-18 20:31

This is a fine composition Anthony that makes a distinctive point which you highlight in your note. Thank you for both. I appreciate your wish to use post processing to dramatise your point, but, personally, I think you could have achieved the result you were seeking simply by converting this to a black and white image. Your instinct that color is too much here is right on, but I believe you could have drained out ALL the color to good effect. The more cluttered the image, the less useful is color, in my opinion. Here you needed the clutter to make your point.

You produced a surprisingly good image considering you were driving past on a bus. Good camera work. And thanks for including a note in English.

[2] [workshop] [compare] +

Elise_d (1943) 2005-08-18 21:03

L'image en elle-mκme est trθs forte et artistiquement, assez puissante. Le PP me dιrange un peu. J'aurais prιfιrι tout noir et blanc mais ca demeure personnel. J'ιtais tout de mκme curieuse de voir l'effet de la photo sans retouche, je l'ai postιe en workshop. Et ΰ mon avis, ca marche... Merci pour cette belle image.

[workshop] [compare] +

poulinp (4530) 2005-08-18 21:14

Bonne observation Anthony, et la post-ιdition nous permet de vraiment apprιcier d'avantage le contraste (et le ridicule) de cette situation. Bravo!!!

Janice (4403) 2005-08-19 0:00

Yes, stunned is a good word to use Anthony. I wonder if they would even sell ONE car there. Actually it is quite gross / upsetting really, seeing the poorness of the people living there, and the opulence the poster shows. Thank you for sharing this with us.
And excuse me - I just realised that I have a Honda Accord! It's a few years old now. But I haven't changed what I've written!

Niglo (181) 2005-08-19 5:48

Oui on ne peut qu'κtre choquι. On s'ιtonne ensuite que l'Occident soit de moins en moins acceptι en Afrique ! Pour info, au Niger, tandis que sιvit sιcheresse et famine, qui exploite l'eau ΰ Niamey ? Une sociιtι privιe : Vivendi.No comment...

bibiweb (8) 2005-08-19 10:22

Salut Anthony,
C'est vrai que c'est toujours assez surprenant de voir ce genre de pub dans des pays en dιveloppement. Je ne connais pas l'Afrique, mais on vois des choses semblable en Amιrique du Sud et en Asie.
J'aime le choix que tu as fais pour le traitement de cette image pour renforcer le contraste entre rκve et rιalitι. Pour une photo prise sur le vif depuis un bus, c'est trθs bien vu!
Amicalement, Brigitte

NEC (8) 2005-08-19 15:41

Hello Anthony,
fantastic scenery and composition. Good colors and sharpness. The contrast between new technology on the billboard and the reality of this country is very visible.
But Accord this is really fantastic car!
salut,
Marek

bliard (1120) 2005-08-20 9:20

Tres bonne photo encore! Vraiment tres fort... C'est probablement les gens riche qui paye ces pubs dans le but d'etre remarque au volant de leur voiture!

;)

J'aime beaucoup les tons de bruns que tu as utilise!

donluicu (24741) 2005-08-20 12:15

tres belle prise anthony.
forte en sens....revez , revez, mes amis, oncle Sam est dans le coin, et des que tu auras quelques sous il te la vendra....

ciao

loic*

xevi (591) 2005-08-22 11:51

This picture talk the history alone. But your comments are extremely accurate. Great Job!!

AiresSantos (56155) 2005-09-02 7:09

Simply exceptional!
A good angle, pleasant tones. Two technologies in confrontation....
Congratulations
Aires dos Santos

alainh (33209) 2005-09-02 15:28

salut Anthony

Une photo forte, un message, un post-traitement efficace. Que dire ? comme toi, j'ai du mal ΰ comprendre ! le sans commentaire va comme un gant.
je la trouve profondement indιcente.
enfin, tu nous montres une rιalitι, mais ta ^photo reste, en plus de conditions de prise pas evidentes, tres belle, en particulier, ce petit coup de zomom qui ecrase et mιlange les differents plans.
reellement une superbe image
amicalement
alain

rbcy1974 (20758) 2005-09-22 7:34

Salut Anthony,
Tu parles! Ta composition n'ai pas dedes qualties artisitques? Moi je pense qui el en a plein. LEs coleurs ajaunies de l'environs contrastes avec le panneau ainsi que la character desorganize de la vie de la rue. Un photo surrealist et tres bonne compoese.
A+
Daniel

jsec (2154) 2005-09-22 7:43

This is the story of the world we live in. Great picture, sad subject.

Haymotion (2761) 2005-09-22 7:51

Excellent le contraste entre les voitures de la population locale et cette publicitι pour Honda !!
J'aime beaucoup ce style de photos qui parle d'elle mκme..
Bein vue
Vince

Facsi (212) 2005-09-22 8:12

Very good shot, No comment is good title.
I miss the parts of motorcycles.

[2]

kourosh (2346) 2005-09-24 9:38

A masterpiece! what i most like about it is the color contrast between the billboard and the rest of the image. great work antho!

PixelTerror (0) 2005-10-06 4:09

Bonjour Anthony,
TRes bonne photo, le decalage entre le monde reel et le monde de la pub est en effet spectaculaire et tres bien mis en valeur par le PP. Bravo !
Bonne journee,
Jean-Yves

yesyuvraj (151) 2005-10-06 12:26 [Comment]

Show Comment +

mckee (53) 2005-12-05 11:29

Congratulations. I agree with you.

maurazos (0) 2005-12-05 12:02

Impressive social picture, that shows the big contradictions of the world we are living in. Regards.

Nikola (61) 2005-12-09 10:20

Bravo hai evidenziato l'enorme contrasto che cμθ tra la realtΰ e la fantasia!!

Albrecht (11283) 2005-12-09 10:24

Hi Anthony
So well chosen title; wonderful job you did on theis one; the colourmode sepia and the billboard in colour. It tells a story and I like that.
greetings Albrecht

flydragon (0) 2006-03-05 13:21

Anthony
NO COMMENT
ben si quand meme
sur la stupiditι des hommes des fois
cette image me fait penser a une photo que j'ai fait a bkk
le long des voies de chemin de fer, la ou vivent des familles
dans des constructions de bois et de tole ici
amicalement
simon

gsimon (387) 2006-04-21 9:21

Excellent picture
I was in Malawi a couple of years ago and had similar experience. New cars were a rarity and a sight to see. I remember when I returned home, it was the sight of all the newer cars that struck me as the main culture shock.

Xalkida (11744) 2006-07-03 5:25

Hi Anthony

Indeed a very fine and interesting contrast. Excellent idea to make a dualtone and keep color the ad! Nice work.

markogts (1130) 2006-12-31 6:28

YOU ARE A GENIUS!

sepia for the real world, the frame that recalls the frame of the ad, and the self-explaining title. Great, absolutely. I think Honda should think about its commercial department.

andeweg (139) 2007-03-14 3:35

Very good picture showing the contrast between what is really needed and what some companies think that is neccassery. Thanks for the note and the good picture.

regards,
Hans

Julian_K (1055) 2007-03-14 8:36

Hello Anthony,
Excellent composition and interesting subject matter. The contrast between the advertisemnt and the surround scene is what makes this photo so special. Thanks for sharing,
Jules

jackart (6702) 2007-06-27 9:29

Hi Anthony!

Very good shot!
Excellent shot excellent contrasts:

old-new
rich-poor
colorful-grey

Regards

Jacek

matt_harris_42 (151) 2007-06-27 9:33

I know that TrekEarth pictures are not supposed to be 'political', but really it is impossible to "learn about the world" without taking politics into account. And it is impossible to convey a political issue without somehow conveying your own opinions. So your posting of this picture is highly commendable, in my opinion.
Regards,
Matt

kwekwekan (1078) 2007-10-24 13:03

brillantly captured for being on a bus. the irony of 'sans commentaire' is beyond description.

i've enjoyed looking at the workshops on this photo too. in particular, its interesting to see how viewers interpret the scene by colour choice.

left in your original version, the contrasts between 'modernity' and 'underdevelopment' are very clear ...

black & white might make the viewer work harder to see the contrasts, but when they emerge they are powerful in a different (perhaps more sombre) way

i'll propose two more (and maybe if i get a chance, i'll post two workshops of my own):

1) leave it all in colour. the contrasts remain (how could they not), but it might give a sense that life goes on in Cotonou without giving the disparities a second thought

2) highlight everything but the ad (put the ad in black and white, and reduce the contrast maybe). here, your picture gives a sense of modernity encroaching on the aspects of Cotonou that make it so unique... the colourful jemijans, roadside stands & wrickety old vechiles that - and god only knows how - still actually work

portojo (235) 2007-10-30 5:09

Seul trois mots: Maξtre d'oeuvre!
Rien plus ΰ ajouter.
Merci bien pour en partager
Javier

rajhema (1873) 2012-01-24 13:50

the Irony right? reality strikes hard. Your tone around the advertisement is really nice. it adds more flavor to the perspective.

flatwin (2181) 2013-01-04 13:00

Bonsoir,

excellente idιe que de nous faire parvenir ce tιmoignage

Flatwin

Photo Information

Copyright: Anthony DUPONT (antho) (412)
Genre: Τοποθεσίες
Medium: Έγχρωμο
Date Taken: 2005-07-05
Camera: Konica Minolta Dimage Z3
Έκθεση: f/4, 1/1000 δευτερόλεπτα
More Photo Info: view
Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση, Workshop
Θέμα(τα): A shot to remember. [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-08-18 19:21
Αγαπημένα: 6 [view]

Viewed: 9950

Points: 68

Discussions

To Elise_d: Re: workshop (1)
by antho, last updated 2005-08-19 05:35
To cgrindahl: re: No Comment (4)
by antho, last updated 2005-08-20 01:43
To yesyuvraj: Sans commentaire (1)
by antho, last updated 2005-10-06 12:48
To kwekwekan: Thanks (1)
by antho, last updated 2007-11-02 03:33

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Photographer's Note

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