Comments for Tom Pietrasik Photography | Photographer Filmmaker

Comment on TWO INDIAS EXIST IN HEALTHCARE by Anjali Mitter Duva

Anjali Mitter Duva — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:54:11 +0000

Just discovered your site and your work. Wonderful photography, and some thought-provoking topics.

Comment on THE REALITY OF MINING IN INDIA by Lav Kumar

Lav Kumar — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:28:28 +0000

Excellent photo-work Tom sir. I belong to Laiyo, 8km walk from west bokaro colliery in east. Laiyo is too associated with Laiyo Underground Prject and Jharkhand Open Cast Project of CCL. As Dr kunal said that Jharkhand has no identity in Delhi . It is true and true with the state which is wealthiest in minerals .
Apart from illegal mining ,corrupt politics and above mentioned concerns, I want to reveal the other side of the coin.
I did my schooling from my native place and witnessed the harsh realities of exploration of minerals so called mining.
These areas are extremely backward in terms of medical , educational and all other facilities of common man.
My major concern is about the condition of youth here. Nowadays , all these collieries are associated with Local-Sell ( directly selling coal from the unit itself ) where all the nearby villagers are employed whether it is a child , men , women or youth. Youth have indulge themselves to these sells leaving their studies and all other works. It has become their daily routine to indulge themselves to activities like gambling, liquors and all other negativities.
And no one is there to help them and improve their critical condition.
So , exploration is leading to degradation of such an area which is so wealthiest in minerals. These minerals have become curse for the people and the area as well.
Central govt must be responsible for the upliftment of the people of these underdeveloped areas. Better oppertunities should be provided to the youth. Conditions should be improved so as to decrease the migration of educated and skilled youth.
All I want to say is these new industries must concentrate on development of people and area rather than development of themselves.

Comment on THE PERILS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY by paul bankole iwala

paul bankole iwala — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 01:22:25 +0000

yes i too well understand the decades of derision and ‘they don’t know any better’ attitude aimed at africans and africa in general. but, however, iv’e just taken a sharp return journey from lagos, nigeria (the country of my origin).
where the idea of street photography seems not to exist as concept or practice, indeed, picture taking seems only to be a private social affair.
There was the occasion when I photographed a church in the outskirts of Lagos and was confronted by an extremely aggressive and physical crowd of church elders who forced me into the church. Then proceeded to force me to remove the ‘film’ from my camera: scrutinised my passport at length, questioning me all the while. One elder even said that I would be lynched by the group of young men who seemed to be ever-present outside.

I now wonder at this experience. Lagos and it’s environs everywhere bears the mark of its colonial past in its still standing relics. The church in question is what from a lay point I would describe as classic missionary catholic; now the seat of african born again Christianity.

Comment on THE REALITY OF MINING IN INDIA by Auro Bhattacharya

Auro Bhattacharya — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 08:29:41 +0000

I am just back from Ledo which seems to be 50 KM away from Digboi. Ledo is a open cast coal mine and beautiful picturesque site. I could see pilferage of coal by locals/ villagers assisted by security personnel guarding the railway sliding. I am happy that the place around is quite developed in terms of India’s other villages/ semi- township.The villagers are having happy life and making life out of pilferage.

Comment on WHY INDIA’S COTTON FARMERS STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE by Tom Pietrasik

Tom Pietrasik — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 06:42:22 +0000

Thanks for writing in. I wasn't aware of the effect of subsidised US cotton on Peruvian producers. Oxfam have a good article, written before implementation of the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement, which outlines the implication of the FTA for Peruvian cotton producers. Its reassuring to know that despite a failure by their government to acknowledge the rights of cotton producers, those in the Peruvian cotton industry are working together to address this injustice. If successful, perhaps theirs will be a model that others, including those in India, can replicate.

Comment on WHY INDIA’S COTTON FARMERS STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE by San

San — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:38:02 +0000

Excelent photos and report!

You should come to Peru. You will find the exact same situation. I bet things look even worse in the C4 countries that depend on cotton exports and suffer greatly because of US subsidies.

In Peru at least there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. For the first time in history all the agents in the productive chain (farmers, ginners, spinners and textile & apparel manufacturers) are sitting down and designing a compensation fund that involves a voluntary tax paid by those who import cotton fiber, yarn or textiles that will be devoted to increase the productivity and technology of cotton growers. Let´s hope it works out since US subsidies will not be removed, or at least not in this century!

Comment on THE PERILS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY by Tom Pietrasik

Tom Pietrasik — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 10:12:18 +0000

You raise an interesting point which may well explain the reaction I met in Lagos and Delhi. As I acknowledge in my blog post, photography certainly has the potential to exploit. Photography also very much has the potential to humanise and illuminate our understanding of people's lives and experiences: See here.

Comment on THE PERILS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY by Maduka

Maduka — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 17:19:34 +0000

Probably, the Lagos and Delhi crowd are weary of a hundred years of Western photographers portraying them in the worst possible light.

I actually live in Lagos and I know that the man on the street is aware of the steady dehumanization of Africa by the Western media. Trust me, they did not want to be objects of derision by leering Westerners.

Comment on ILLUSTRATING A TRAGIC STORY by Shirisha

Shirisha — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:42:25 +0000

Gaurav, are you still looking for her? May God be with both of you

Comment on THE PERILS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY by Tom Pietrasik

Tom Pietrasik — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:37:24 +0000

You’re not the first to have pointed out the grey caption issue Niti. I’m working on it! Thanks for your interest.