Last Sunday

Rubbish man, you need to contextualise photo essays, otherwise its less impactive, and detracts from your obvious intent … this is like someone’s FB page, just posting photos up, and well, that’s that, smacks of the ubiquitous SA ‘slacker’ mentality, that is just about laziness, and a lack of finesse … that’s how this particular representation, comes across … up the ante, if you want to be legitimately recognised.

0    0

Margaine

Here’s the context. It happened Last Sunday in the Jhb CBD at 14:30.

And here’s a question or two. Why does the intent have to be obvious? Why does there have to be an intent? If this was a print magazine, a picture essay of this nature would be perfectly legit. Why do people who access stuff on the internet need everything dumbed down and explained to them?

0    0

Look, I know it’s a Shembe ritual because I am based on Joburg. But does everyone else? And whatI was curious about was its location in the CBD since most of the Shembe rituals take place in sacred spaces like the Melville koppies. Just a few words would have pacified the anthropologist in me. Roger, this has nothing to do with the medium, and print magazines DO put captions and do proffer some explanations; it deepens the experience. You’re the dumbass, go cover a gig or something instead of muttering aloud online.
I don’t care what the photographer’s “intent” is, but asking your subjects what they are up to is a matter of courtesy and detracts from the voyeurism that is so intrinsic to so much photography.

Thanks Andy, was not aware of the Sunday series

0    0

i’m sommer homesick now. miss jhb.

0    0

Caption: “Zulu Christian warriors attack pedestrians in Joburg”

0    0

and you do not have to be in joburg to know this is a Shembe church service. do not doubt the power of human knowledge and interaction beyond your own… then proceed to lay the burden of education on the photographer/editor. I could be wrong, totally wrong and pardon me if I am, but are you one of those people who feel everything about non-mainstream culture has to be explained and classed within a less complicated, appeasing frame of reference for “those of you who may not know or understand their/our weird ways” … sort of like Tyra Banks and Chris Rock? Its not that serious, just asking.

0    0

Super tyt pics-keep up the good work.

0    0

and its not about turning people into an anthropological study, its giving them the right to be represented from their p o v, let the subject shoot back, dont just take take take all the time.

0    0

i really didn’t know who these people were and the ritual that they were performing if it is a ritual. 1. The pics are cool
2. the discussion your all having is very interesting
3. i’m looking forward to the next sunday pics
4. if your on this site then you know what your in for so if you want something with caption i’m sure you guys can find another site. i like what i see and it is what it is. like art – you have to decide what you want it to be. i mean i would have said it was ‘The Lamondeville Durban Mens Choir’ whatever… does it matter… Justin did you know what this was?

0    0

fabulous ! I love the contrast of animal skin instruments against the concrete and it’s great to see our vibrant culture expressing it self on the street.

0    0