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Our New Currency


Our New Currency
Photo Information
Copyright: Benedict Jaeschke (Benjo) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 18 W: 0 N: 11] (83)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-01-17
Categories: Macro
Camera: Nikon D50, AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f3.5~5.6G ED, 52mm HAMA circular polarizer
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-01-18 6:39
Viewed: 622
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is my ironic political statement. It outlines my feelings towards the current state of one aspect of modern Western politics.

I have used it to highlight any of three points:
Firstly, the wrongful and immoral sale of arms and munitions to selected countries by our Western governments. Such sales allow an uneven and biased distribution of power in these states.
Second is the use of war as a means for financial development of a country; through either land-grabbing or resource acquisition.
Third is the exploitation of warring states or wartorn countries. Kicking them while they are down. Taking advantage of unstable economies and people's desperation.
Bullets are given far too often where money and aid is needed.

For those who want to know: the coins are Pounds Sterling, (although UK currency is shown this is not to say this problem is exclusive to the UK). The ammunition shown is the 5.56mm NATO round, as used by the majority of armed forces in the Western world.

Now for the good part: Photography!

I gave this picture a rather harsh halogen sidelight which gave the picture this wonderfully stern yellow glow.
The cartidge was placed to just slightly overshadow the coins to create the story, showing what "comes first".
I got as close to the subject as possible. I think i got a reasonable macro with a standard Nikkor 55m lens. You can see the focus is starting to go on the top right of the bullet, which i'm not too happy about. I can't wait to get a macro lens.

Sharpened top right edge of bullet slightly.
Increased contrast a little.
Added border.
Blurred inside edge of border.
Tintin, Biance- has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Biance-: Thankyou BianceBenjo 1 06-06 20:46
To ballyna: PolarizerBenjo 1 01-20 09:08
To Tintin: Worth a thousandBenjo 1 01-20 06:28
To Yug: Thanks GuyBenjo 1 01-18 16:07
To skielgroove: Meaning.Benjo 1 01-18 16:04
To irishsunflower: BulletBenjo 1 01-18 16:02
To tournesol: TiltBenjo 1 01-18 15:58
To agea0: Thankyou AgnesBenjo 1 01-18 15:56
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • agea0 Gold Star Critiquer [C: 73 W: 0 N: 0] (269)
  • [2006-01-18 7:36]
  • [+]

Hi, very interesting composition.
Agnes

The light and setup convey a very strong message here. The The composition is a wee bit tight, however, and there's a bit of a tilt. Having said that, I like your creativity in this image! Good job!

Hello,
The focus on the coins is brilliant, and I really like the contrast between each side of them.

It's a shame the top of the bullet is a little off, but I don't think it takes away from the composition all that much.

Good shot!

Excellent composition! Full of meaning, benjo.
C U,

Skiel.

  • Great 
  • Yug Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 168 W: 0 N: 89] (1864)
  • [2006-01-18 12:53]
  • [+]

Strong composition Benedict with a strong message. Nice shot!
Guy

Very powerful message with the perfect image to represent it. I could see what you wanted to express even before reading your note and that is a sign that you have succeeded when an image is worth 1,000 words. Maybe not fully technically perfect as you indicated in your note as Pierre mentionned but it does not take anything away from the message. Excellent!

Benedict,
I like this kind of political messages,and yours is well telling the story.
it has a special light and color scheme just right for this strong message,well done .not so sure if using the pola added here.
regards

Over-all this picture is sensible, it makes sense in the image section and the logical section. And I agree war always become before help, regardless of how many of us want to help there are always five who want to continue with the war.

I think the lighting you chose is perfect, I think anything else would have been innapropriate. The subjects you chose (even if you forget about the purpose of the photo) are wonderful, they are similar in the sense of how different they are. If that makes any sense at all! :P

Over-all, like I said, very sensible in all the aspects. But mainly, just a (in my opinion) beautiful piece of work!

Biance.

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