Comments on: brent foster – kashmir’s half widows

By: AndreaC

AndreaC — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:55:14 +0000

I think its a beautifully made project. I would like to see more. But I question what you say about bringing awareness to this problem. This is a problem that needs to be brought to the attention of the local community and can only be addressed by the local community. Our awareness – as people from the western world – will have no impact. This is a cultural problem particular to India and muslim countries. It is not only kashmiri wives who are dealing with the disappearance of their husbands or the stigma of being husbandless. But also I think Kashmiri wives do have the option of divorcing their husbands though of course that may be easier on paper than in reality.

I have been in Kashmir and I wonder how you managed to find this story. An unconnected photographer would have a hard time finding such stories. That is the problem I have. No connections.

By: Shreya

Shreya — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:38:14 +0000

hello brent,

its so tender your work… its timeless!

By: Back to Canada -with a purpose - Visual Journalist

Back to Canada -with a purpose - Visual Journalist — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:17:08 +0000

[...] from six months on the road. I plan to return to India to continue to work on a book project on Kashmir’s Half Widows, which is currently in progress, then take it from [...]

By: Kashmir’s Half Widows by Brent Foster « The Rights Exposure Project

Kashmir’s Half Widows by Brent Foster « The Rights Exposure Project — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:36:53 +0000

[...] Half Widows by Brent Foster Brent Foster photographs ‘widows’ in Kashmir whose husbands have disappeared. An interesting set, especially of [...]

By: Robert Godden

Robert Godden — Tue, 05 May 2009 08:27:52 +0000

I think the photographic representation of ‘disappearances’ is difficult. There is a need to show ‘absence’ and the emotional, economic and social impact of this. I like most of Brent’s photographs of the women, especially those that appear to show them in their daily lives, particularly where they have been forced to break social norms and seek work – I would like to see more of these, depicting the daily economic and social difficulties they face. The use of individual shots of photos of the ‘disappeared’ to me has been rather over done (not by Brent but generally on this issue) to the detriment of other types of representation e.g. the belongings that they left behind, spaces that they used to occupy at home and work (empty chairs, beds, motor vehicles etc.). A photo of a photo doesn’t cut it for me. I think it would be interesting to explore how these women are active agents for social change – how they organize themselves to seek justice, whether they themselves have become activists or whether they work with local human rights / womens organizations. In this regard I like the work of Paula Allen with women in Chile searching for their ‘disappeared’ husbands ‘Flowers in the Desert’. Although it is perfectly legitimate to show the problems they face, where possible we should show what is being done locally to fight against such violations. Human rights organizations can put these type of photos to good use. I hope Brent’s photos can be used as a force for justice.

By: Subir Basak

Subir Basak — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:57:25 +0000

Hi..
wonderful shot..Placement of element and her eyes made the photo itself a story..very well done…subir

By: Herve

Herve — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:21:23 +0000

MIKE R.

We in the West should remember the poverty of the country before we rush to judge.
——————————————–

This one has been gnawing at me for a while. Of course, there is too much indiffernec and not enough action from all corners. But Mike, take the “West” out of so many poor corners of the world, and see if maybe it should not be rather “rush to help” rather than “rush to judge”. There is extraordinary samaritanship coming from the West, only intl geo-politics, but also local corruption keeps us from helping even more. Just an idea: maybe the problem is that there is more oblivion to the plight of their own coming from these places than coming from “us”…

By: cathy scholl

cathy scholl — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:41:05 +0000

This would look great in book form.
The photo on one side of the page, widow on the other, with writing.
Keep going!

By: gina martin

gina martin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:57:36 +0000

BRENT – nice essay. i love your use of color, your simplicity and the strength of each image. i too hope you can continue this work. nice job!

By: Mike R

Mike R — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:17:24 +0000

Good work, Brent, very poignant. It is very difficult to photograph the absent ones, the disappeared. You have done your subjects proud. Masterful use of colour and depth of field. As David Bowen has already said, this conflict and its consequences seems to be continually under the press radar. The fact that the families of the missing receive little help is a double tragedy. We in the West should remember the poverty of the country before we rush to judge. Poverty is a terrible burden that makes necessary, choices that should never have to be contemplated. It is a waste of humanity and human potential. How many potential doctors, scientists etc. are being lost to the constant struggle to survive.

I hope you have the opportunity to continue this essay Brent. If you can close the circle and document the return of one of the missing – well, that would really be something.

Best wishes,

Mike.

By: Robert M Johnson

Robert M Johnson — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:02:07 +0000

The use of light here is masterful and the images all speak for themselves.

By: Carrie Roseman

Carrie Roseman — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:44:41 +0000

What Gordon Lafleur said.

By: Gordon Lafleur

Gordon Lafleur — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:59:45 +0000

Brent

Beautiful, tender, hearth wrenching.

And I do mean beautiful in that it is beautifully concieved, it is a sad beautiful story, and that your pictures are simply beautiful on their own.

I was looking at a Natchtway 9/11 photo recently that was so beautifully composed that it almost appeared to be a gorgeous landscape, and was almost feeling guilty about enjoying the sheer beauty of the photograph given the horror it depicted. I was left wondering “is it OK to make a beautiful photograph of an ugly situation?” It also got me wondering about how such photos communicate, and what kind of mindset and sensibility photographers such as yourself adopt when making such photographs. I personally cannot imagine.

I had a look at your site. Amazing, brutal, stuff. Again, beautifully done. Truthfully, I would never set foot in such places, let alone bring out a camera. Shocking stuff. I don’t know how you do it. I’m truly puzzled. You have my complete admiration.

Thankyou for bringing this to us.

Gordon Lafleur

By: Brent Foster on Burn Magazine at Moments and Light

Brent Foster on Burn Magazine at Moments and Light — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:31:06 +0000

[...] [...]

By: Ana Yturralde

Ana Yturralde — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:47:03 +0000

Oh yes, Brent. Go on and continue this project. I like the women’s photographs a lot, specially #2 and #6. I really felt like I want to see more, and that is good!!

Well done!

Ana

By: david bowen

david bowen — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:14:45 +0000

brent – you´re cooking on gas

it´s always struck me as odd that so little news from this conflict makes our press.. it´s been going on so long, so many have died since the partition of india and with the arms race between the countries peeking it makes me wonder if it is somewhere we will be seeing more of, sadly.

an excellent presentation, as with others on your website.. to the point, personal and unique as a way of illustrating the hopelessness of conflict.

i think you achieved your goal :ø)

david

By: audrey bardou

audrey bardou — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:12:46 +0000

Hi,

I also like very much your use of color, your presentation is simple and strong at the same time, the husband, the woman, and the text… I imagine the pain not to know really… very beautiful, thank you

best, audrey

By: wendy

wendy — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:02:23 +0000

GRACIE
‘the tiniest, littlest picture of my love,
shall stop my flowing tears…’
beautiful
and
oh,
so
appropriate…
xox

By: wendy

wendy — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:56:29 +0000

your use of color is BEAUTIFUL
What a compelling story,
and you being a man,
makes it even better for me…
your sensitivity
comes across strong…
These women deserve to be
honored
and
respected…
and
your photos do that..
I want to see more,
hear more..
I simply adore your use of color…
**

By: Gracie

Gracie — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:48:20 +0000

for homer bob and brent,

This plaid shelters a deep hole
No bigger than sugar spoon for coffee
But deep like the blue of eyes I once loved
There was once heart in this void
Nothing left but hope that
The tiniest littlest picture of my love
Shall stop my flowing tears