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Abu Graib resemblance


palmskov

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Sometimes models do strange things; I was testing some light today and the model suddenly pulled a bag over his head.

 

I took a shot and somehow the result made me think about the Abu Graib photos that came out last year. Not that I'm a fan of those but with the resemblance and yet way different story I felt like sharing this with you.

 

Don't think the chances for Leica using this in their next promotion are great though despite the well placed red dot...

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I think that many people might find this a difficult title to engage with. The fact that you associate this photograph with torture is difficult to comment on. However, I agree with you entirely when you point out a similarity of resemblance and yet a completely different story. There's a lot of interesting ideas to play with in that sentence, and perhaps it will give us some new ideas in our photography.

 

Thanks for sharing a good photography and an interesting idea.

 

Best,

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It's got nothing to do with cashing in. A spontaneus situation occoured; Nothing was planned and my mind just driftet towards Abu Graib. The infamous photos which stirred up a serious debate last year.

 

I was kind of surprised how a resemplance can actually make you think about the real, true and horrible situation.

 

This photo is non controversiel only because we know the truth and innocence behind.

 

Consider the photo without the red dot logo, in BW and delivered to a national newspaper anomously?

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Hard to see this as tasteless or attention-grabbing with the ref to Abu Graib, a commonplace atrocity after all. A picture of an (as far as one can see) naked man with a bag over his head is bound to suggest references to many abuses -- abductions, torture, executions, etc., etc. At the same time covering the face draws attention to the torso and gives the picture a more physical charge. Funny with the Leica red dot there: smothered by the paraphernalia of luxury goods. Vaguely fetishistic. What about, as another point of reference if you like, a series of pics by Erwin Olaf called Fashion Victims (see   Erwin Olaf  -  Photography & Film ) ?

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nikolaj - this is a really good photograph... im not sure about the name trhough... man - do not over-weight your photo with names... let photo speack for itself... it is really fantastic photo and it can stand for itslef without sofisticated and misleading names.... of course some people will assosiate it that way.. but u as an artist should leave the open door for interpretation. there are many ways to look at this photo...

 

and ya - me too.. i would like to see more sofisticated ads by leaica (like this one for example)..... their new "campaign" is nice - but too modest and creativly limited and not provoking at all... i dont know whome they talk to and i dont know if they are aware that they miss alot by the fact that they do not provoke anything much...

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Thanks for all your comments and reactions; Both negative and positive. Wonderfull to see and hear about all the different reactions and interpretations. Isn't that what photography and art is all about?

 

@Vic: Couldn't agree more that the current leica promo is a bit dull. Typical fancy agency stuff targeted towards impressing consumers rather than photo pros and enthusiast.

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hope for the big future of leica they will relize that they have to talk to youngs.. they have alll - greatest products (at least in film photography) , gretest history, passion to the brand from the users etc... but the future is not in us - we are already adicted to leica... the future is in new generation, young peoples very young.. they ahve to talk to them.. to make it thought provoking etc...

 

oh - "this is part of your body..", well - i know it but not because of their ads but because i know m3 and mp..

if apple makes such ads (in this style and genre) no problems - apple has its position by now and it is different story.. it works very well with the ipods :-))) but leica needs its own strategy ...

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I don't feel offended by this photograph, just saddened by it. Priot to Abu Graib this would have been a commical photograph perhaps making a statement about materialism. Due to the power of photography to change our perception of the world we now interpret this image in a far more sinister way.

 

LouisB

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