Some background information:
The lovely lady on the right is called Maro, unfortunately I forgot the name of the lady on the left. After initial shyness, they allowed themselves to be persuaded to let me take a picture of them. Well... one was my naive plan. The whole thing then took more shots than expected, since every time I had taken a picture of them I had to realize that one of the two had looked embarrassed to the side. In the end we still managed to overcome the shyness for 1/100 second.
They both live in a small village called Nukriani, which seems to me to be the end of the world. But then again, it is picturesquely situated on a hill, with the mighty Caucasus Mountains in the background - all close to the border with Azerbaijan. The daily routine of the many old people in the village always looks pretty much the same - for decades and even more so since Georgia became independent and the subsequent transformation process (i.e. leaving the Union of the Soviet Union and the path to a market economy) has made many people – especially middle-aged/older people – unemployed: So you get up, have a little breakfast, go out into the street and meet up with others from the village. So you sit for hours on a bench or an improvised stool. Life and big politics are debated there and you realize again and again that everything was better in the past (sometimes not without reason!). You always come to the conclusion that the Soviet Union wasn't all that bad and you don't understand why young people don't want to understand that at all. I've often told people that I can't share their assessment, because what's more valuable to people than their own freedom. Today you are no longer locked in and can move freely. I was quickly asked: "What good is freedom to me if I don't have the money to use it?". It is often not even enough for the essentials. Much is left to decay.
The women of the village also chat and knit against each other. Day after day goes by and Maro and her friend are probably still sitting on their small bench in front of the house in their small village somewhere on the border with Azerbaijan. By the way, geographically speaking, they haven't progressed much in their whole life - and they've already put a few years of life behind them...
zeitlos wrote:
I was quickly asked: "What good is freedom to me if I don't have the money to use it?"
Great portrait, technical is really good and expression and difference from one to the next tells a story.
Regarding the question you were asked, my response would be "you and your family and friends and people in your circle are much less likely to be murdered by the state like the tens of millions who were under the Soviets". They might not believe you, or might say those murdered could simply have shut up (not that that would have saved all of them, but some), but there it is.
The look coming from the woman on the right seems to portray hesitation to me. I’m curious what the woman on the left is knitting. Considering the types of needles, and the number of them, it’s a circular pattern of some sort, perhaps some socks.
kaplah wrote:
Great portrait, technical is really good and expression and difference from one to the next tells a story.
Regarding the question you were asked, my response would be "you and your family and friends and people in your circle are much less likely to be murdered by the state like the tens of millions who were under the Soviets". They might not believe you, or might say those murdered could simply have shut up (not that that would have saved all of them, but some), but there it is.
Thank you! Glad that you like it.
As far as the question is concerned. In principle I agree with you. As you say, you just had to keep your mouth shut. For many of the people in Georgia, where I took the photo, that was okay. From all my conversations in Georgia I could gather that it is very much a generational issue. Young people hold freedom high because they don't know any different or have only experienced it differently to some extent. The older generation, on the other hand, says I didn't lack for anything. Not always the newest of the new, but at least I had what I needed. Since the freedom gained, people often live in poverty. There were very many losers in the transformation process. So they want their previous life in the Soviet Union back. Not always exciting, but predictable. I went to Georgia as someone who grew up in prosperity in the Western World, in West Germany under the protective cloak of the United States. I didn‘t know poverty. When I went to Georgia, I said freedom is the most important thing. I was very convinced. After seeing all the misery and poverty there, I understood the people a bit better who asked: "What does all this freedom do for me now?".
CookieDave wrote:
The look coming from the woman on the right seems to portray hesitation to me. I’m curious what the woman on the left is knitting. Considering the types of needles, and the number of them, it’s a circular pattern of some sort, perhaps some socks.
Many thanks to you too! You observed that well
Socks might well be possible. A lot of value is placed on what is necessary.
My grandmother was from Italy( my mother's family fled Fascist Italy in the 1920's)...she wore black most of the time. As did her mother.
The older female generations in many European countries wear black still.
It is a powerful image! The woman on our left has powerful hands and a weathered face. Both show that hard work and a hard life will leave its mark on anyone.
The woman on our right has the same size hands. No washing machines back in their younger days. Just a metal washboard. Her eyes show wonderment.
Hi Dan, thank you so much for your insightful and enlightening feedback. I really appreciate this as always.
Your observation that black is still worn by older women in many European countries is very interesting. I don't know if that's the case here in Germany, but for Italy (I think) I have such images in mind. Georgia is now on the very last frontier of Europe, if you will. Eurasia.
And yes, I could tell a lot about life in Georgia, especially in the countryside. It’s hard. Much deprivation, much heartache, much hopelessness. But the moment you join a family as a guest, life is colorful and the atmosphere is incredibly warm.
What you say about the washing machines etc. is also very interesting. Thank you! In the village (as in most Georgian villages) there is no sewage system, for example. For me, as someone who grew up in prosperity in western Germany, it was all very strange and not so easy to process at first.
I am still very happy and grateful that (in the end) these two ladies allowed me to portray them.
zeitlos wrote:
Hi Dan, thank you so much for your insightful and enlightening feedback. I really appreciate this as always.
Your observation that black is still worn by older women in many European countries is very interesting. I don't know if that's the case here in Germany, but for Italy (I think) I have such images in mind. Georgia is now on the very last frontier of Europe, if you will. Eurasia.
And yes, I could tell a lot about life in Georgia, especially in the countryside. It’s hard. Much deprivation, much heartache, much hopelessness. But the moment you join a family as a guest, life is colorful and the atmosphere is incredibly warm.
What you say about the washing machines etc. is also very interesting. Thank you! In the village (as in most Georgian villages) there is no sewage system, for example. For me, as someone who grew up in prosperity in western Germany, it was all very strange and not so easy to process at first.
I am still very happy and grateful that (in the end) these two ladies allowed me to portray them. ...Show more →
You are most correct about older women wearing all black in Germany.
I did not see such in many trips to Germany on business. But Italy, Greece, Turkey....saw it all the time.
And as I stated, my g'mother wore black or variations of such all the time when the family emigrated to America.
Family can take the "sting" out of much distress. I have visited Tbilisi, Georgia in 2005 but had no real time to explore the country because of my job.
Thanks!
Dan
Hi. Great photo. I would also try black & white with slightly bumped-up contrast, to give it a more dramatic and vintage feel, and give their features more attention.
Danpbphoto wrote:
Family can take the "sting" out of much distress. I have visited Tbilisi, Georgia in 2005 but had no real time to explore the country because of my job.
Thanks!
Dan
Thanks again, Dan
Wow, 2005 must have been exciting. Maybe you can go there again someday. Things must have changed a bit (in Tbilisi for sure). But then again, I‘m sure a lot of things have stayed as they have always been.
Speaking of distress. There is a Georgian proverb:
"It is the times that rule. Not the kings."
Wow, 2005 must have been exciting. Maybe you can go there again someday. Things must have changed a bit (in Tbilisi for sure). But then again, I‘m sure a lot of things have stayed as they have always been.
Speaking of distress. There is a Georgian proverb:
"It is the times that rule. Not the kings."
Thanks "Z"!
My job took me to almost every Country in the World except China and N.Norea
The proverb is dead on! Felt it everyday from 6 years in the military( 2 in combat) and 40 years in federal service.
Thanks!
Dan
Wow, must have been an interesting, but of course, considering the conditions ( in parts combat!) tough ride!
By coincident I met a guy on social media who is the most traveled German. He has been traveling all his life, visiting all 193 UN states, 281 countries in total. Always fascinating to talk to him. He was in Georgia in 2003. So basically more or less the same time period when you were there.
Btw. for everyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating country with its very fascinating people, there‘s a great novel about Georgia and Georgian lives (matching the picture, primarily about strong Georgian women in the 19th/20th century) by Nino Haratischwili. She‘s a Georgian who actually writes in German (which is then also translated to Georgian since she said she would write it again in her mother tongue ). The title of this book in English is: The Eighth Life: (for Brilka)
Absolutely worth reading. She has just released a new novel that is set in 1990s Georgia. Seems as if it‘s not available in English yet. It‘s titled “The lacking light“ (direct translation from the German title).
). The title of this book in English is: The Eighth Life: (for Brilka)