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This is the second last release from the silver series. This shot was taken at a volcanic lake about an hour's drive south from Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.
People were forbidden from swimming in the lake, yet they took full comfort in playing in the water and relaxing on the beach. I'm still uncertain whether there was real physical reason to this warning or whether it was purely ideological. Either way, it was clear that no signs or authority figures could stop people from having fun in the water.
Lakes tend to be very rare in Ethiopia (especially during the dry season), so I certainly don't blame them for using the opportunity to cool off and having a little fun on the side! After all it's the small things that matter and help us get through the day. Life can be very harsh, especially in Africa. And to have these few places where people can go and share a moment of ecstacy is not too much to ask in my opinion.
Some people want to escape reality, while others chose to embrace it and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead of them. Some of us are born into different type of lifes, and each of us have to deal with our own set of problems. Yet after having seen what I saw in Ethiopia, I realise now that we in the West are so much better off that it's almost discusting to think we can still find things to whine about.
We've got everything we need and so much more, yet these people hardly have drinking water. It's true that we westerners take things for granted. Worse part is that we've already forgotten what most of those things are. We're constantly looking for more, while others have nothing or very little. Something must be wrong at the core of our way of thinking.
Instead of sharing, we take. In fact we take so much, we throw the rest away as waste when we could have given it to others. What ever happened to ying and yang? Keeping everything in balance? Right now we're in the Titanic and the West is holding on at the top of the ship. But like the ones underneath, the West will eventually sink to the bottom with the rest of the boat and leave nothing else to salvage except a few lucky survivors who haven't got a clue of what just happened.
AFRICAN EXPOSURE 2005 | See more from the same collection [link]
PS Edit: Levels, Contrast + Blue/Gray hue
People were forbidden from swimming in the lake, yet they took full comfort in playing in the water and relaxing on the beach. I'm still uncertain whether there was real physical reason to this warning or whether it was purely ideological. Either way, it was clear that no signs or authority figures could stop people from having fun in the water.
Lakes tend to be very rare in Ethiopia (especially during the dry season), so I certainly don't blame them for using the opportunity to cool off and having a little fun on the side! After all it's the small things that matter and help us get through the day. Life can be very harsh, especially in Africa. And to have these few places where people can go and share a moment of ecstacy is not too much to ask in my opinion.
Some people want to escape reality, while others chose to embrace it and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead of them. Some of us are born into different type of lifes, and each of us have to deal with our own set of problems. Yet after having seen what I saw in Ethiopia, I realise now that we in the West are so much better off that it's almost discusting to think we can still find things to whine about.
We've got everything we need and so much more, yet these people hardly have drinking water. It's true that we westerners take things for granted. Worse part is that we've already forgotten what most of those things are. We're constantly looking for more, while others have nothing or very little. Something must be wrong at the core of our way of thinking.
Instead of sharing, we take. In fact we take so much, we throw the rest away as waste when we could have given it to others. What ever happened to ying and yang? Keeping everything in balance? Right now we're in the Titanic and the West is holding on at the top of the ship. But like the ones underneath, the West will eventually sink to the bottom with the rest of the boat and leave nothing else to salvage except a few lucky survivors who haven't got a clue of what just happened.
AFRICAN EXPOSURE 2005 | See more from the same collection [link]
PS Edit: Levels, Contrast + Blue/Gray hue
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600x950px 126.64 KB
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Comments8
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My father was an immigrant and would often say that if you are in good health, have a full stomach and a roof over your head you're doing well.
I think people are inherently opportunistic no matter the culture. Granted, you'll find plenty of exceptions especially in regards to religous orders and charitable organizations. However, as a group we are given to self-satisfaction.
I think people are inherently opportunistic no matter the culture. Granted, you'll find plenty of exceptions especially in regards to religous orders and charitable organizations. However, as a group we are given to self-satisfaction.