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Things I don't Understand, Part 1


Things I don't Understand, Part 1
Photo Information
Copyright: richard james (Kilted-Arab) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 975 W: 92 N: 1995] (8416)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-12
Categories: Daily Life, Event, Decisive Moment, Friends/Family
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon 24-70 mm f 2,8 L-USM, Hoya 77mm circular-polarizer
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/800 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-08-19 3:30
Viewed: 542
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I'm really not sure what to make of this shot, it was a curious incident that happened on our holiday and looking at this image I actually feel a little uncomfortable about the situation. I shall try to be as objective in this note as I can. It's really just a family snapshot with an added interest of social commentary :-)

We were in a beach resort in Phuket - reputedly one of the best hotels for families in Asia. It was our first proper family holiday and the first full week of vacation I've taken in 18 months - our first real family holiday. We had a great time there - rooms, food, facilities, staff - all excellent and the kids club was superb. Our little ones had a whale of a time.

This afternoon we spent on the beach doing the usual things - splashing in the water, building sandcastles, throwing sand at daddy. All great fun. Then this group of Muslim girls came and stood watching us - they were there for maybe 10 - 15 minutes, just watching. They knew my camera was out and I was taking photos so I have no qualms whatsoever about posting this shot. Plus, they are unrecognisable anyway.

Two things struck me - firstly, the fact they stood so close and watched our family activities for so long. And secondly, I felt incredibly sorry for them. The temperature was in the 30's, it was very hot, they were in a beach resort and they were dressed like this.

We saw several Muslim families and the story was always the same - any females in their teens or older were covered from head to toe in the baking heat while the men were in shorts playing in the pool amongst bikini-clad women from other cultures.

I just don't get it at all.

Shot in RAW, JPEG conversion, slight crop, resized, sharpened.
Helkoryo, joopschotsman, wenqing, nainnain has marked this note useful
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To Helkoryo: Hi...Kilted-Arab 1 08-19 04:42
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Richard

Just saw your image in the Gallery and on reading your notes I felt compelled to comment. Last weekend I came accross exactly the same situation at Skegness. The beach was fairly quiet and there was one family with two women dressed completly in black.. men and children sunbathing in shorts. I overheard someone commenting about "the letterbox ladies sunbathing" I guess I could see why they found it amusing but to be honest its really quiet sad. Even more so that from thier body language they seemed to be having a really nice time, couldnt tell of course if they were smiling or not. I wonder what must go through their minds. I found your image particularly moving and I am pleased you chose to post it. I still cannot decide wether to postmind or not as it cant really be classed as a holiday snap as such, none of my family or freinds are present in the image.

TFS regards Helen

Hi Richard,
I think they felt sorry for you !! You must have had it very warm .... while these women where wearing isolating clothes ! ;-)
What keeps out the cold, also keeps out the heat. Have you ever seen people in the dessert, wearing shorts? No, they also do wear long dresses.
greetings,
Joop!

maybe one day we can truly be equals...

hannah looks like she's having a good time being buried in the sand :P
i also reconise the purple barney bag :) a funny and sad photo at the same time...good catch

Well, I'm at a loss too ...

But the one thing that strikes me about this photo is the oddness of it being two utterly different moods in one shot.

The lower half is a moment of holiday bliss - relaxing in the sand with, I might add, great POV and good depth of field, I like the slightly-blurred toes bottom left.

The upper half, again out of focus and with somehow slightly washed-out colours and that concrete building in the far background, seems like a glimpse into a completely different world, maybe somewhere in the Middle East.

Your photo illustrates well the gap that exists between cultures ... let's hope that even without understanding, that there will be tolerance.

Rew

bonjour
photo agréable nous aussi aimons faire la même chose avec nos petites filles lors de nos vacances a la mer, bonnes couleurs nettes
bravo, merci du partage
edith

Hi Richard,
I don't understant it too... I live now in Bonn - Germany and here we have everywhere girls dressed like this... It's really something that it's maybe to strange for us to understand... Nicely seen and presented!

Have a lovely day!
Ioana

ps: I'll come back soon with :)

  • Great 
  • Dawn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1219 W: 110 N: 3172] (15769)
  • [2007-08-21 2:23]

Maybe they had their eye on your camera bag there Richard.. ha ha.. just a thought.

Sounds like you and your family where having fun, in the sun and sand.. good photo of Hannah, she was keeping cool too under the sand!

Cheers Dawn.

Interesting photograph Richard!
I too feel sorry for those women dressed like that.
Here in Toronto it was 39c yesterday I saw one woman dressed in black from head to her feet.
I hope her God rewards her and those like her greatly.
Thought provoking composition!

Elton

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