another day in paradise
I believe this image has somehow created itself out of my subconscious…it seems to represent my childhood in GDR (East Germany) where I’ve been living a simple and happy life blissfully unaware of the restrictions that lay ahead and the lack of freedom…. It was not until later that I’ve realized how trapped I felt. Speaking your mind was dangerous and critizing the regime was certainly the quickest way to get locked up. Trying to leave the country could easily turn into a death sentence but obeying was too.
Interesting documentary about the German wall on YouTube here
I created this image for the Texture challenge in the Fine Art Composite group. I used four of my own photographs and various textures. Two of the textures (Splatter and Crystals) were kindly supplied by RavenSoul to be used for the challenge.
- Featured in the European Everyday Life group on 15 Mar 2009.
- Winner of the Texture challenge in the Fine Art Composites group on 16 Feb 2009.
- Featured in the Experimental Photography and Editing group on 07 Feb 2009.
Browse Dorit’s gallery by print format:
~ Landscape Format
~ Square Format
~ Portrait Format
~ Panorama Format
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Dana DiPasquale
wonderful mood you have created with both your POV and editting!
Dorit replied
Thank you very much for the comment Dana… I appreciate it a lot.
Larry Butterworth
very powerful statement
Dorit replied
Thank you very much for the comment Larry. I appreciate it.
Karin Taylor
his is fantstic, i love looking through the wire
Dorit replied
Thanks Karin…. as long as you’re looking through the wire from the right side it’s ok :)
Tom Vaughan
this is powerful… well done!
Dorit replied
Thank you very Tom. Really appreciate it.
George Swann
This is a really powerful Image Dorit…It has a real Decayed and Claustrophobic feeling to it. It reminds me of the old newsreels of the 50’s and 60’s of people being shot trying to escape from East to West over the Berlin Wall!!
Dorit replied
Thanks for the comment George. I really appreciate it.
Yes, it was like this especially around the time the wall was just built and people on east side realized that there’s no way out anymore. Stuck in GDR :) Although I must say that I’ve had a happy childhood and didn’t really miss much, thanks to regular birthday and christmas treats by parcel from relatives in the west. When looking back the only things that really got me was the restriction to travel and the constant worry of saying the wrong thing in public. It was save to speak your mind at home, at least this was the case with me. My mum used to say “You can think what you want but you must not speak what you think”. After the wall came down 1989 quite a few shocking stories came to light where relative denounced each other for favours from the state.
The state, the houses, the infrastucture was decaying and I’m glad that came across in the image and you’ve pointed it out.
Gosh, what a reply.. and I just wanted to say thank you. :)
Julie Thomas
wonderful work, love everything about it!
Dorit replied
Thank you so much Julie… I really appreciate your comment.
Murray Swift
very good, excellent work!
Dorit replied
Thank you very much for the great comment Murray… it means a lot.
Anthony Mancuso
a stunning piece Dorit! exceptional! To me it conveys that someone has broken out and left it all behind!
Dorit replied
Thank you so much Anthony… I really appreciate the comment and I’m glad the image conveys what I wanted to bring across.
And yes, I have brocken out… well, we all did eventually in 1989 :)
On the emotional side there are still mixed feelings but as times goes by more and more is being forgotten.
Miron Abramovici
Fantastic artwork, Dorit!
I recognize those feelings – I know them very well !
Dorit replied
Thank you so much for the comment and fav Miron. I really appreciate it.
So, where are you from orginally if you don’t mind me asking?
Braun1973
this is outstanding
Dorit replied
Brian, thank you so much for the wonderful comment and the favorite. I means a lot to me.
Dorit replied
oh… I’ve only just seen it.. thank you so much for the feature in the Experimental Photography and Editing group. What a honour.
Joanne Bradley
What a powerful statement both visually and in text! That little child’s face in the window speaks so eloquently of a prison atmosphere. Love the treatment on image but particularly love the broken fence! There is a sense of hope here, that escape can be made through that breach! An inspired thought provoking piece!
Dorit replied
Hi Joanne. Thank you very very much the wonderful comment. It means a lot.
Yes, the broken link is supposed to represent hope… showing that there is a way and it can be done. I’m glad you’ve seen it like this.
Have a good holiday!!
Ashley Justiniano
stunning image !!!!!
Dorit replied
Thank you so much Ashley… I appreciate it.. muchas gracias
Rosemary Scott
What a powerful image! It speaks volumes, even without your explanation of how you felt.
Desolation, oppression, & absolute aloneness are just some of the feelings this evokes in me….
Well done!
Dorit replied
Rosemary, thank you so much for taking the time visit and the wonderful comment. It means a lot to me. I’m glad the image conveys what it it was supposed to convey.
All the best.
ElRobbo
This is a masterful image, Dorit!
I only just noticed the little boy in the window!
A profound and poignant statement!
Great work!
scarlet james
Great picture/story .. Your Mum!!!! – very wise woman .. love her saying“You can think what you want but you must not speak what you think”. (if only I could do that!!:)
raymondo
Congratulations….............great pic.
Simone Riley
Congratulations for winning the challenge – it was one of the ones I voted for – really atmospheric
Cathleen Taraw...
Congratulations for winning the texture challenge, especially with my favourite pic :))
Moshe Cohen
Congratulations for winning the texture challenge.
A very powerful image, well deserved.
Reena D
Congrats!!! Great job!
RavenSoul
Congrats on Winning the texture challenge!!! b-mail me = )
wdphotografics
Fine work Dorit…....it works well and tells a great story.
Congrats on winning.
roy skogvold
great work
Steve Chapple
Wonderful work. Powerful when reading your words!
“A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety.” ~Ansel Adams
Pam Ullman
a really powerful image.
Shoaib .
the texture makes this photo
Dave Higgins
absolutely stunning, digital imaging provides us with the opportunity to take what we call photography to a whole new place. I looked at the image and had my own emotional reaction. Then after reading your text understood where you are coming from. The beautiful thing about an image like this is everyone can bring their own story to it.
David Robinson
I was in Berlin in 1989 (Sept) and this image conveys wonderfully the sense of what it was like in the East of the City. Great work Dorit!
sugargirl
Beautiful work.
Colleen Milburn
Absolutely fantastic work, Dorit – well done!!!
Mike de Lange
Wow, Ma’am, this is great. A truly inspirational shot.
FA Photography
Great work and great writing along with it ;-))!! xxx
enno2009
Fabulous- thank you Dorit!
Waleska Luker
Stunning, it fits perfectly in our First Things Group!
Adrian Donoghue
Terrific shot Dorit, so well seen.
Antanas
great job
Scott d'Almeida
excellent.
Antanas
great job
Alessandro Pinto
Excellent work !
FireStar
love this! I just noticed the little boy in the picture..breath taking!
Silvia Ganora
Powerful image! Great work
Aimelle
oh yes, it definitely is a picture that has a meaning, but that we can all interpret differently… which is for me the best pictures =) well done
BlaizerB
awesome – really well done – cheers
Ric Alexander
Brilliant work. Quite powerful and touching.
Fordham
love the grit. awesome work.