ASURA, a photo from Istanbul, Marmara

Photographer's Note

Every year on the 10th of Muharrem (Muslim calender) ( 10 Muharrem 61 = 10th of October 680 ), Shi'i community gather in Halkalı Square (the biggest ceremony takes place here but it alse takes place in some other special points where they live) for the Kerbela event . This day as a whole is called 'Aşura' (meaning 10th)

Kerbela event is a massacre where Hz Hьseyin (the grandson of Hz Muhammed (Prophet)),his family and close friends were killed by adherents of he Umayyad Caliph Yezid. 72 people were killed (including children, even the 6 month age baby of Hz Hьseyin) after being left without food and water.

It is a great ceremony, they wear special costumes for that day. The metal bowls they hold symbolizes thirst of Kerbela.

bostankorkulugu, leonorkuhn, rigoletto, OzkanSamioglu, Cretense, adores, Leconte, Dashab, Vasa, kajspice, sonkai has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

faubry (35447) 2010-01-03 19:12

great reportage image, good BW choice,
francine

jasmis (58653) 2010-01-03 22:24

Superb double portrait. Detailed note.
Regards.

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2010-01-03 23:05

зok beğendim figen... yine mьthiş ifadeler yakalamışsın... sevgiler...

sultana (2101) 2010-01-04 1:55

Зok gьzel bir kare canım. Gцrdьğьmde зok beğenmiştim. Aşura gьnьnde зektiğimiz sıkıntılarına değmiş:)Ellerine sağlık.

yquem46 (38752) 2010-01-04 1:57

What a moving shot Figen !
A la James Nachtwey, for me THE reference in photojournalism
in my favorites
Best wishes for 2010
patrick

veyselk (0) 2010-01-04 2:18

bir зocuğun masumluğu işte bцyle olur dedirten bi kare.
зok hoş ve gьzel bi kare,
ellerine ve gцzlerine sağlık

umutlu101 (13629) 2010-01-04 3:23

Bцyle fotograflar gцrьnce fanatikligim tutuyor.
kicik oluyorum зocuklarin baslarini baglayan ve baglatan zihniyetlere.
kendilerini dinin fanatizminden kurtardigini iddia eden dinci akimlarin bile digerlewrinden farklarinin olmadigi son sьrat medyatiklestirmeye зabaladiklari asure gnьnden bile belli oluyor.En bьyьk bizim dini akim baska bьyьk yok!!!!!!
insanin цzgьr olmasi gerek,hele de зocuklarin!
selamlar
цmer!
PS. nasil basardin kizla annesinin yьzьne ayri doku vermeyi. kontrast farkligigi yaratmis olmali.
Ps2: Eskiden eve gelen tьm a$ureler bana ayrilirdi;bayilirim.istanbula indigimde tavuk gцgsьnden sonra yedigim ilk tatlidir:-)

scyntilla (1844) 2010-01-04 6:00

Gьzel ifadeler, gьzeş bir kadraj yapmışsın. Dini duyguların yarattığı (t)aşkın ruh halini iyi anlatıyor annenin ifadesi. Değişik dokuları birleştirmişsin; o yьzden Feng-shui'si kuvvetli bir kare olmuş ;-))
Sevgiler,
Petek

leonorkuhn (16237) 2010-01-04 7:07

Hi Figen,

Magnificent double portrait. Excellent choice for B & W. Great contrast.

Greetings
Leonor

sayeed_rahman (6461) 2010-01-04 7:08

Hey Figen...

well balanced frame..i know what its like shooting within the processions..i have done that lately too :))

i have just started with a series on muharram..more reportage than anything else..

you image is something that engages the viewer..keep them coming..

and New Year greetings to you..your family..and your shooting partner..:))

tc

sayeed

holmertz (101980) 2010-01-04 10:28

Hello Figen,
Two very expressive portraits and an excellent combination of dark and light areas. The child's hand and the bowl seem to bind the two persons together. The sharpness and the b&W tones are perfect.
Kind regards,
Gert

cagla (4342) 2010-01-04 11:10

Nerelere gidiyorsun, bu nasıl bir fotoğraf sevdası, gene bayıldım Figen, mьthiş bir an yakalamışsın. Her bir ayrıntı nefis, saymaya hiз gerek yok, eline, gцzьne, yьreğine sağlık.

rigoletto (34279) 2010-01-04 14:43

Şiiler'in bu hallerini Suriye'de gцrdьm. Orada her gьn Kerbela'ya gidip geliyorlar. Sьrekli bir yas hali...

Цmer Bey'in bahsettiği "hassas" konulara karşı ben de hassasım. İnanз ve inanзsızlık цzgьrlьğьne sonuna kadar inanırım. Henьz reşit olmayan, muhtemelen orada neden olduğunun bile bilincinde olmayan bu kız зocuğunun da "olaya" ebeveyn "desteğiyle" gereğinden erken katıldığını dьşьnmekteyim.

Ama konumuz bu değil tabii. Konumuz fotoğraf ve anlatım ise, bu da "fotomuhabirlik" adına bence зok başarılı bir fotoğraf. Tebrik ederim Figen.

not: gцrьnmez mi oldun diyecektim, baktım 105 mm kullanmışsın. 50 mm olsaydı "pes artık" diyecektim.

not: yeşilliğim bitmiş :)

Deniz

AYDIN (5700) 2010-01-04 23:56

selamlar зok gьzel bir kadraj..Zamanlama ve tonlama зok iyi.Tebrikler.

alibasarir (15580) 2010-01-05 8:04

merhaba figen hn
зok gьzel bir kompozisyon.цzellikle dramatik gцrьntьye siyah beyazın etkiside eklenince nefis olmuş elinize sağlık.
selamlar
Ali

OzkanSamioglu (1770) 2010-01-05 15:27

Figencim,
Зok yorucu fakat ilginз bir gьn yaşamıştık.Asırlar цnceye dayanan bir mezalimi yьreğinde yaşayan bir kadını зok iyi fotoğraflamışsın,eline sağlık.
Selamlar..

Tolganer (502) 2010-01-06 0:18

Merhaba Figen,
Kьзьcьk kızları kapatan zihniyeti şiddetle kınıyorum.
Зok şey anlatan bir kare зok beğendim emeğine sağlık.

Tolga

Cretense (68709) 2010-01-06 1:43

Merhaba Figen!

Fantastic daily life scene, almost a documentary photo, one of the best portrait jobs I 've seen lately! Perfect tight framing and composition, perfect timing, perfect choice of b&w! Congratulations!

Hercules

Leconte (5795) 2010-01-06 4:35

Merhaba Figen,

a portrait poignant and very moving, this children amazes me the heart, superb double portrait, fine grain, fantastic frame,

iyi ve mutlu yillar dilerim,
Valйrie.

adores (46979) 2010-01-06 4:48

Figen,
Your portraits are usually great, but this one... it transmits so well the meaning and the emotions of the Asura. I just love both expressions here, the woman and the child. Even the presence of the bowl is incredibly perfect. Great in B&W!

pally3100 (3413) 2010-01-06 5:28

bonjour
splendide composition dans les rйgles parfaites digne d'etre qualifiйe de qualitй HQ professionelle.
h . Collard professeur de photo retraitй Liиge Belgique

delnaja (2056) 2010-01-07 6:43

powerfull photo and scene captured ... Maybe a little too much sharpness but the result is excellent anyway.

Dashab (2564) 2010-01-10 0:26

Hello Figen,
This is an excellent double portrait, with relevant content! There is so much emotion in it!
Excellent tight framing on the mother and child and superb light management!
Compliments and greetings from a white Prague,
Dasha

Angshu (56760) 2010-01-10 8:27

Merhaba Figen
I don't think I have words to describe the feeling and mood which is depicted here in this picture. A haunting capture, a benchmark of photojournalism. I am privileged to add this to my favourites for me to learn
Best Regards
Angshu

Gunes (388) 2010-01-10 23:16

Fotografin cok anlamli ve kompozisyonun cok ayricalikli olmus. Siyah beyaz tercihin de cok iyi. Annenin trans halini ve cocugun etrafinda olan bitene anlam veremeyen, bi-haber bakislarini cok iyi yakalamissin. Bu cocuklarin bu yasta oyun oynamasi, masal dinlemesi, hayal kurmasi ve hayal dunyasini gelistirmesi vb gerekirken… Sanirim kase cocukta ve onun akli sadece asurede :)

Vasa (515) 2010-01-12 11:17

Your signature is so welcome in this strong emotional image, dear Figen. Like the others pictures that you create, it is for long contemplation and deep understanding. Your pictures are the true reflection of your person: you understand people and you know to present it. You know the moment and you know the best point of view. I will put the new clothes each time I open the door of your gallery.

With all my respect for your creation.

Branko

rezon (24) 2010-01-14 3:37

Excellent scene!!! Very toughtfull

resat1972 (7586) 2010-02-03 4:49

slm

olay sembolik de olsa duygu yьklь bir drama, .зocukların belli bir yaştan sonra dahil edilmeleri gerekmezmi diye bir soru işareti geldi aklıma.

Fotoğraf ise mukemmel, bu arada demir tas ьzerinde yansıyan siz değilsiniz dimi :)

Manamo (3710) 2010-02-23 7:58

Figen,
amazing shot!! The frame is filled with emotions. The obvious and genuine pain and sadness in the woman's face as opposed to the kids face who seems to be wondering what's going on.
Amazing portrait!
Marc

KevRyan (22956) 2010-03-11 0:54

An image so rich with emotion and meaning that it is impossible for my heart to remain silent. Another incredibly powerful image that places us in the frame of someone else's life - a truly beautiful double portrait from a highly skilled, observant and thought provoking photographer.....I love your work and have great respect for you!

bw Kev

kajspice (4542) 2010-03-13 5:13

Hi Figen,

You are up there with the best on this site. This is a remarkable photograph. I do not feel that your post-processing does it justice, but this does not take anything away from the image for me.

sonkai (1105) 2010-04-15 8:51

Merhaba Figen,
This picture catch my attention at firs sight, and now that I opened it I corroborate it; it's a very expressive portrait. And you enclose it with a very util note too. I must congratulate you.
Regards,
Sonsoles

oko (239) 2010-04-23 18:34

Dear Figen,

What an amazing picture packed with emotions, with brilliant and very tight composition, and with textures that are even more pronounced on a black and white image.

You should publish a book of street portraits.

Best,

Irena

akh (277) 2010-10-23 23:31

Hi,

There's always so much feeling and human connections in your photos which impress me alot!

Thanks again and congratulation for such a nice work

azadeh