Karl Leck
July 2020 - Raining for Change
About the Image(s)
I'm departing from techy, arty photography this month to go out in the street. We went to the Black Lives Matter rally in Wilmington recently. The heavens opened and a downpour occurred shortly after the rally began. While some protesters went home early, most stayed and gave voice to America's big problem. I walked around for awhile photographing interesting people with a small, quiet Sony a6500 mirrorless camera in the late day fading light. This image shows one wet protester sitting on a wall, still holding her homemade sign with the BLM slogan and names of people killed by police. Her eyes above the Covid face covering tell the story of frustration with America and the rain.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
6 comments posted
Love the protester's expression that is particular fitting with the rain and with the somber event. Very photojournalistic. Was this a cropped photo? It might be just me, but I don't like the head in the lower right. I'm thinking if the other girl were also in the picture, that it could possibly show the young ladies united for the same powerful cause. This looks like an image for a news agency. I also took protest pictures here in Denver. Posted: 07/10/2020 03:55:44
I like your foray into photojournalism Karl. Your protestor looks as if she is in total despair. Hardly surprising in the circumstances. I realise you can't change the image with it being photojournalism, so would crop that head a bit......you would still see the protester's fingers holding her protest sign. Great image...captures a moment! You're a very versatile photographer! Posted: 07/10/2020 06:00:35
The image is cropped. The expression of the person at lower right did not contribute to the feeling of the main character. Actually, I think their presence even as the top of a passing head adds to the story of a crowd of protesters. Photojournalisn and street photography are rarely as clean as open pictorial images. Let's keep protesting and working for equality, safety, and opportunity. Karl Posted: 07/10/2020 13:59:58
Great expression on her face!!!!!!!! The rain just adds to the frustration and sadness of it all. I like the raindrops on the sign, and the clarity of what it says. If I had had this photo, I would have tried to either include the African-American's face at the bottom, or somehow erased her (I think it's a her) in post-processing. Cutting off her face somehow rings wrong given the context . . . . Posted: 07/19/2020 01:35:33
Powerful reflection of our times. The eyes that rise through drenched hair above the mask and faceless crowd present a feeling of frustration and dismay. The sign places the image historically. A wonderful example of photojournalism and street photography. Posted: 07/19/2020 01:49:32
Here's the original image with just a bit if dodging/burning. Do you like the extra people? Since I cannot remove people in PJ other than by cropping, I'd like to know if you see a better story with the whole frame. Karl Posted: 07/19/2020 17:07:50