Realities of life, a photo from Vilniaus, South

Photographer's Note

Since Lithuania became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991 the country has gone through a huge and painful reconstruction, moving from a centrally controlled planned economy to a liberal market economy.

A small urban elite has gone rich, and a fairly well off middle class is growing in the cities, but for the vast majority in the countryside and also in the cities life is very hard, maybe especially so for older people. They spent their active years during Soviet rule, when life was hard but a basic social security was guaranteed. By the time they retired the security network was gone.

The monthly pension in Lithuania can be as low as about 120 Euros, or 160 USD. Since the cost of living is not much lower than in Western Europe, many pensioners find it hard to make ends meet.

Although poverty didn't look quite as grim as further south, like in some countries of the Balkans, this woman that I saw in the hip, graffiti-sprayed central part of the capital Vilnius seemed quite typical.

mohammad_H, AROBN54, Graal, worldcitizen, tyro, KristinsCamera, rychem, romanaa, ourania, jhm, kasianowak, kato, williewhistler, bukitgolfb301, macjake, ayferaldanmaz, Royaldevon, zoomer, zoomer, saxo042, agjika, bayno, mirosu, annjackman, adores, Miguel82, imageme, mcmtanyel, COSTANTINO, ikeharel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mohammad_H (10178) 2013-08-12 10:27

Hi Gert
Perhaps one of the difficulties of human society, of life, and often governments around the world want's to class, to create prosperity, but in practice it's not, we will get to this stage of aging, if the financially rich we do, emotionally, life or sense of compassion and humanity, is important to the elderly
Have a good evening

AROBN54 (11475) 2013-08-12 10:55

Hello, Gert,
a very stark and compelling view into the daily life of one of the many elderly left behind by society when they are no longer considered 'productive'. Not peculiar to any one country, either. I am fairly certain US politicians would love to forget ours exist, as well. Excellent note, great exposure, wonderful color and clarity, sharp detail, well composed. Pretty sad commentary on human beings in general. Many thanks and kindest regards,
Shelly

Graal (103040) 2013-08-12 11:47

Hi Gert,
interesting informations and photo with theme about the hard life in Lithuania. Good composition. Gate and walls are ugly with graffiti. Well reportage and shot.
Have a nice evening.
Aleksander

worldcitizen (15960) 2013-08-12 11:49

Hello Gert,
Life is certainly a struggle for so many people. It's even worse when they are completely alone. Maybe this woman has some family, but she looks lonely in this photo. This is a strong daily life scene, with the bold graffiti next to the woman. Here in NYC I have noticed an increase in young people begging on the street. Who knows what story they each carry with them...

pajaran (114971) 2013-08-12 11:49

Dobro vece.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst, sa datim podacima ...
Lep pogled na gospodju i grafit ...
Dobar trenutak snimka, kontrast, lepe boje.
Velika je ekonomska kriza u svetu i bivsim socijalistickim drzavama.
Prijatno vece i sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Srecno.
Paja.

Good evening.
Very interesting and good text with the given data ...
Nice view of the lady and graphite ...
A good time recording, contrast, beautiful colors.
The great economic crisis in the world and former socialist countries.
Good evening and all the best in the new week that started.
Good luck.
Paja.

mesutilgim (0) 2013-08-12 12:20

Hello dear Gert,
Very nice capture from Vilnius ! That's the life !
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

limielski (0) 2013-08-12 13:11

Hi Gert!

YES! Realities of life, a social stratification, a poor people. It's a problem of many societies. One can say - C'e la vie, but it's sad and I feel sorry for them.
This picture is a shrewd observation of these problems. TFS

Have a nice week!
Leszek (Les)

I would like to give you 2 point but it's a problem ... I have achived a limit today :-(

chrisvek (7003) 2013-08-12 13:37

Hello Gert

Awesome photo with sad but true composition.Splendid colors and contrasts on this capture.Great POV and lightning usage.Very good details too.

All the best
TFS
Chris

tyro (30513) 2013-08-12 17:45

Hello Gert,

It is indeed a dreadful paradox that those who probably suffered the most and the longest under Soviet rule should be those who have to suffer the most severely once it has gone. Both your informed note and your photograph illustrate this perfectly.

A very well composed and balanced photograph with more than a little sadness, the poor elderly lady being quite small in the picture and set rather pathetically, with her meagre possessions, beside a huge archway filled with modern graffiti.

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

KristinsCamera (2384) 2013-08-12 19:14

Three voices with the same message -- the street artist protests with spray and attitude, vandalizing the walls; the old woman just tries to get by but her appearance and clothes tell her story; and the citizen journalist documents all of it with his camera.

A nice balance of colors, characters and stories, effectively captured and shared.

Kind regards,
Kristin

abmdsudi (95869) 2013-08-12 20:28

Hi Gert
A poignant picture of life that has been sympathetically taken and her desperation far away distant look leaps off the page. You notes help set the scene and describe what the viewer is looking at and this does seem to have evoked emotion and interest. This type of photograph can break our heart too, but is so very necessary in terms of bringing awareness to how really blessed we are, where we could all be but for good fortune.

As for the image itself, there is a lovely clarity, an immense amount of detail and the gate gives this image a 3D with the bg adds a more interesting feel to the overall shot. This is a powerful photojournalism at its most potent in conveying a pertinent observation and this makes a successful shot. My congrats.
Best regards

rychem (72187) 2013-08-12 21:20

Well observed street scene of daily life, good reportage photo with great quality and composition
regards
Ryszard

romanaa (8430) 2013-08-12 22:47

Hello Gert,

this is a picture of strong contrasts. The graffiti - element of present and the old woman seems to be like from a different century. Well seen and composed.
Good note as well.

Best regards

Romana

dkmurphys (79209) 2013-08-13 1:14

Hi Gert,
A simple scene of real life indeed. I like the spot of colors of the grafitti work.
Enjoy a nice day.

Daniel

ourania (51103) 2013-08-13 3:46

Hello Gert,
things are getting harder and harder for Greek pensioners too and there are many people who don't even get a pension, either because they did't have any insurance during their working years or have lost their jobs a little before getting to retirement age. It's a very sad situation and your picture describes the heartbreaking reality of several European countries. The simplicity and straightforwardness of composition, sharpness and colours are striking. Both the lady and the building must have started their life with aspirations very different from what they got. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great day,
Ourania

jhm (211734) 2013-08-13 4:35

Hello Gert,

I have a lot questions about the city Vilnius through the different girls that come to Belgium out of these city.
Work in the prostitution in commissioned by traffickers.
You write about the poverty, thereby people be derailed.
Technical perfect, your angle choice excellent.
Depth and perspective excellent done.
Very well done, TFS.

Warmest regards,
John

Sergiom (117241) 2013-08-13 6:00

Bonjour Gert,

Il semble y en avoir de plus en plus et c'est dommage.La composition est excellente avec la mendiante en premier plan qui nous laisse bien voir son environnement qui laisse а dйsirer.

Amicalement

Serge

eldancer1 (36343) 2013-08-13 7:50

The realities of life even in the 21st century is very sad. Lots of people are poor and starving, especially the older generations, yet governments spend a lot of money on weapons of war. Why? This is a great documentary. Good pov and dof with nice details. Well done, tfs.

Fis2 (169791) 2013-08-13 9:02

Witaj Gert!
Curious scene from street Vilnius.
Good reportorial photo.
I like frame and colors.
Well done.
Nice afternoon
Krzysztof

kasianowak (17672) 2013-08-13 11:42

Hi Gert
This image sends a strong message by combining the old age and hopeless condition of the begging woman with her surroundings - the graffiti and the torn adverts on the wall (among which, I'm certain, there are quite a few offering jobs and English language lessons - not useful for this lady though).
Best wishes
Kasia

kato (11630) 2013-08-13 13:53

Hello Gert,

You're capturing well this scene by a good composition and excellent tone/clarity, so it's impressive to see the spectacle in which the elserly woman is sitting on roadside lonely, the poster which separated on wall and scribble to door next. It's hard to see this scene a little, it's sad for the reality in which the good citizen was left behind by rapid change of social organization. It seems to have suggested having the difficult problem how to distribute of wealth more better in future, and we must think its solution spending long time.

Kind regards,
mikio

williewhistler (16606) 2013-08-13 14:07

Hello Gert,
it says a great deal about your ability to portray such situations that there are a great many interpretations made of this very poignant scene.
A street scene that is being repeated throughout many areas of the Western World.
Great photo journalism.
Best regards Les.

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2013-08-13 20:10

Hi dear Gert, sorry for my late reaction.

You did get so significant and meaningful image.
I wonder what she is thinking. Great compsoition and well balanced framework is as usual as your masterful skills.

Thanks a lot and have a good day! Takero

macjake (98262) 2013-08-13 22:19

Hi Gert
a well informed note.
lots of useful information there.

When i spent those 4 days with Malgo, it was extremely interesting to hear her talk about the communist rule she lived under for decades. I certainly don't want to put words in Malgo's mouth, but basically she said there WERE some positives - similar to what the seniors in your photo/note are experiencing with the shortfall of their pensions, which probably they wouldn't have had to worry about it under the soviet rule.

alot to think about there.
fine post, fine note, it all fits as one.

PS
you commented on my latest post about seemingly posting alot of photos from Europe but not so much from Chile/Peru.
You're exactly correct!!
I wouldn't go as far as to say I was disappointed by Chile (not chile, but more specifically Santiago), but I was expecting more photo opps in Santiago.
and you know ME! I want lots of cool shots in the major city, lots of architecture etc....Santiago just didn't do it for me I guess. Again, i'm not putting the city down, its more so of what you said...warsaw and prague were just SO amazing, its hard to compare to that! :)

thanks
craig

ayferaldanmaz (1085) 2013-08-13 23:01

hi dear Gert,
quite an impressive photo of this elderly woman.. in many parts of the world mostly live in remote areas, many of them with bad health and aging without any proper public services for the elderly.. some willing to sacrifice millions of human beings and some willing to peacefully stand up for their human rights.. as Charlie Chaplin said; “We want to live by each other’s happiness, not by each other’s misery”...
great composition and informative note, thank you for sharing.
have a nice week, all the best
ayfer

fabbs99 (17179) 2013-08-13 23:10

Hello Gert,

This is a classic shot of the lady sitting on the street corner.Sad story about poverty in Europe.Nice work done.TFS.

Regards
Farhat

Urs (14082) 2013-08-14 3:12

Hi Gert

The modern graffiti on the door set a bold contrast to the elderly women, which was born in a completely different world then today. Modernity has its price. Good documentary shot

Warm regards
Urs

marabu61 (11587) 2013-08-14 5:48

Hej Gert
For us living in the security of modern well fare states such as Switzerland or Sweden, the obvious poverty in other countries allways comes as a big shock.
At least I myself get never used to see the beggars and homeless even in countries such as France or the US, not even speaking of the former Sovjet satellites.
It is simply a scandal that the elderly that have spent their lives in hard work, are left with nothing after their pension. But the carelesness of humanity seems to be just to strong for us to learn ....
A sad picture that tells it all.
have a great day
Daniel

Nicou (193806) 2013-08-14 10:52

Hello

quelle vue touchante de cette dame au bord du mur sur le trottoir et cet arche avec le dessin quelle vue et captage sueprbe vue et image.
Bravo et amitiй
Nicou

Royaldevon (85638) 2013-08-14 11:51

Hello Gert,

Your photographs and your notes certainly make us think! The photograph shows the stark conditions that is the reality of many a poor person's life. In this case poor and old. When care should be forthcoming, austerity is the reality of the day!
A very well composed and detailed shot.
It could certainly be used as a poster to awaken the social conscience.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

zoomer (6) 2013-08-14 16:04

Hi,great contrast between the orderly woman and the disorderly graffiti.Meaningful subject well illustrated.Friendly regards,Wolf.

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2013-08-15 8:55

namaste, an excellent composition here. Sorry, I missed it. Like the composition with the old lady nicely placed in the frame. Great colour tone and very nice depth. Like the mood of this shot. Very well done. Tfs.
S

Glint (6171) 2013-08-15 12:47

Hello Gert,
another of your interesting and informative posts. It is a sad state of affairs that the elderly suffer when others do well economically. Here in the UK we have the widest gap between rich and poor in Europe if not even further. I don't believe that can be good for a society.
But back to your photo. Like many of yours, it is one to take time over, peruse the little details.
best regards,
Bev

rbassin (27472) 2013-08-15 13:12

Hello Gert,
C'est la dure rйalitй de vie que tu nous prйsente ici. A part зa, la compo est intйressante avec ce graffitis rouge qui contraste avec la scиne de la dame.
Bonne soirйe
Roland

nikkitta (17070) 2013-08-15 13:48

Hola Gert

Interesting note and sadly note about what happens in these countries, where old people has suffered with the soviets and now with freedom, is there a solution?
While visiting the URSS I saw this same scene at the sides of a church
Concerning the capture, like the balance obtained with red graffiti on both sides of the woman
Well composed, congrats
Maria

saxo042 (38078) 2013-08-16 9:05

Hej Gert,
En bra bild, som lika gдrna hade kunnat vara tagen i Gцteborg. Bra och intressant text dessutom.
Hдlsningar
Gunnar
(skrivet med bеda hдnderna)

UlfE (14641) 2013-08-16 12:54

Hej Gert,

Mycket intressant bild. Damen ser definitivt ut att vara frеn landet. Дven om hon ser ut att tigga pengar finns ett stort mеtt av vдrdighet hos henne. Klдderna ser hela och rena ut och hon дr vдl utrustad med paraply och sдkert en hel del andra nyttiga saker i vдskan. Bilden gцr en vдldigt nyfiken vem hon дr. Tack fцr titten och ha en bra helg!

Hдlsningar

Ulf

wolf38 (30) 2013-08-17 0:07

Hello Gert. The title says it all. Simple, humble, poor. That's life - especially the older people. With such a photo, this can be expressed exactly as good as a long text.
Rgds, Wolfgang.

agjika (3177) 2013-08-17 10:28

Hi Gert,

I didn't need to look at the name when I saw this photo!

You do not seem to want to go away from your profession? This is a great you get what you see photo. There are always and everywhere old people caught up by poverty pretty much everywhere.

Thanks for sharing

Aleks

bayno (18348) 2013-08-17 12:21

Hello Gert,
I do not know if the old lady is asking for alms, the scene is still very sad but tells a story, excellent reportage, this is life also, excellent framing and details...poor people!!!
Valter

emka (157280) 2013-08-18 10:19

Hi Gert,
very sad photo and sad note that accompany it. You could find the similar situation everywhere in the countries of former East Europe. Earlier all struggled with everyday problems - you couldn't buy products you needed. Now there are very rich and very poor. The differences are colossal. So for many it is maybe worse, elderly have small pension, many educated young people cannot find a job.
In Poland, minimal pension is 190 euro.
how I hate the vandals who make these graffiti!
Warm regrads
Malgo

mirosu (16313) 2013-08-18 21:37

Hi Gert,
Superb street photo in excellent light. The composition with the poor woman sitting next to big colourful gate is outstanding. You have selected excellent lower, direct viewpoint. Very well done indeed. Greetings, Miro.

annjackman (23019) 2013-08-19 23:33

Hello Gert,
This is an interesting social documentary picture, which together with your interesting note, shows that life can be hard here. I like the positioning of the woman within the frame so that we can see some of her surroundings. A very well balanced composition with good colours and sharpness.
Kind Regards, Ann

ACL1978 (7511) 2013-08-26 21:00

Hello Gert - I'm back on TE after a little breather, and happy to catch up with people here.

In the US, a lot of people don't really like talking about how hard the transition to a capitalist system can be (or, really, how hard maintaining one often is); the temptation is to focus on the runaway wealth and success of some, and ignore the plight of many others. So thanks for this reminder here.

Andrew

adores (46979) 2013-08-29 18:29

Hi Gert!
A very good daily scene and a good note also! Guess this is getting more and more common in other countries too. Our lowest pensions here are not much more. I like the way you framed the old lady alone in the street and also the graffiti. The colourful clothes and umbrella make her stand out but the scene transmits loneliness. Well done!

Miguel82 (47110) 2013-10-06 10:29

Dear Gert, your photo comment is an excellent synthesis about the situation in Lithuania nowadays, it's a country I'll like to visit as soon as possible to find sincericity and meet other cultures. It's sad to see a lady of that age in the street, great report. The grafittis are not beautiful and depreciate the building
One more value contribution, all the best, with respect

imageme (1790) 2013-10-27 20:50

Hi Gert,
This image represents society problem exits in any part of the world. The helpless lady is the mirror of poverty. The graffiti is the expression freedom of art. You have sent a strong messages to the world. Nice presentation of what is happening in this world
Anna

Cricri (176) 2017-10-18 11:12

Hi Gert
des graffitis de plus en plus prйsent, quand il sont bien fait c'est une belle њuvre d'art, ici c'est moins rechercher....la dame pauvre aussi est maintenant de plus en plus prйsent partout dans le monde....c'est bien malheureux!!
Belle soirйe
cricri

mcmtanyel (67709) 2021-11-27 19:52

Hello Gert,
A splendid photo summarizing the situation in Lithuania, and perhaps other ex-Soviet countries.
Regards,
MT

COSTANTINO (115583) 2021-11-27 22:58

Hello my dearest Gert
the difficulties of the life...
sometimes one shot is one
thousand words...
but your information is really
the best explaining in details
what happened in this country
regards
costantino

ikeharel (112475) 2022-02-10 1:26

Hello Gert,
I'v learnt that such a sight was over many towns left to turbulence after independence from the USSR back in the early 90th.
Well spotted on the streets of the city.
My best regards,
Ike