Political power battles fought on poster campaigns compared to the far more pressing battles fought by those with no power whatsoever.
Photographs from a small group of islands
Political power battles fought on poster campaigns compared to the far more pressing battles fought by those with no power whatsoever.
Günter says
Very strong work. You haven this in Japan but it is a universal problem.
Lee says
Thank you, and yes, that’s sadly all too true…
Sean says
Man this is a sad picture. Poor guy…… 🙁
Lee says
Yeah, definitely not the jolliest of photos, and his life did seem like it was a real struggle. Just hope it isn’t as hard as it looked.
Renita says
And sadly, the men on the right do not do much for the man on the left. Probably not even on their radar.
A good juxtaposed composition and the strip of awning tying it together.
Lee says
Yeah, people living in completely different worlds.
Thanks a lot. Good to hear as I was happy with the way it came out.
Once an Expat says
There’s a saying of mine that one can judge citizen interest and participation in the affairs of state by the level and amount of political humor. And in Japan the amount of political humor is near zero.
Lee says
That’s a very good way of looking at it, and yes, that pretty much sums up Japan. Sadly I’m not surprised that interest and participation is low either. All too often there are no real alternatives. Well, not alternatives that have a genuine chance of winning, or a shot at making real change.
My wife always voted, but it was generally an exercise in frustration rather than genuine democracy.
Richard says
Poverty is practically invisible in Japan. It is a sad example of ‘blame the victim.’
Lee says
Yes, it really is. Out of sight, out of mind. And if it is seen, it’s seen as a ‘choice’…
john says
A very RGB (rust, green, blue) image that through an interesting rabbit hole led to a version of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band’s ‘Frownland’ ..with accessible lyrics and less ‘fishy’ time signatures…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuBRD50tnvk
from rusty rabbit to ‘Golden Birdies’ to The Golden Seals; one from Story Book Endings.
Lee says
That was quite a journey, although Frownland definitely works well as a title for both the song and photo.
cdilla says
I like this photograph. It doesn’t speak of hardship or poverty to me.
It’s a pleasant sunny day, the guy is looking up and ahead, I doubt he even registers the posters. Just noise.
The wheelchair looks in in good nick. Likewise his clothes. His shoes look comfy and his cane tip isn’t worn.
He does look thin, but clean and dignified, his tan speaks of getting out in the sun a fair bit.
For me the story is the divide between the fresh, clean, straight road, and the rotten, tawdry and crumbling shutters, path and politicians beyond.
The man is clearly on and part of the former.
Yes. Today I am an optimist 🙂
Lee says
That’s very interesting. Wonderful how a photograph can be seen so differently. One of the reasons why I like the medium so much.
You make some good points. Very hard to disagree too. I think I need some of your optimism!