Solidarity, a photo from Victoria, East

Photographer's Note

An unusual picture, perhaps? I think it requires some explanation.

Australia's national day is simply called 'Australia Day' and marks the day - 26 January, 1788 - a British imperial fleet of 11 ships arrived in Port Jackson, now part of Sydney Harbour, with military personnel and about 750 convicts. They established a settlement and took possession of the whole eastern part of the continent.

There's always a parade of various community organisations and ethnic groups in the main street of each state's capital city. But in recent years a debate has begun over the question of changing the date. Many people - including me - now sympathise with the indigenous people who were dispossessed of their lands and way of life - and many of their lives - following the annexation of the continent; indeed there is nothing for them to celebrate. It's become common to refer to the day now as 'Invasion Day', and for demonstrations in the main cities demanding to 'Change the Date'. I went along on a very hot and humid Friday and joined the march in Melbourne of about 60,000 people. It began its march as soon as the official parade had ended, but the demo crowd far outnumbered the spectators of the parade.

My photo shows a Muslim woman holding one end of a large banner which proclaimed her group to be 'Muslims on Aboriginal land', demonstrating their support for the Aboriginal cause.

Over 160,000 British convicts and many of their family members were transported as punishment to the colonies in Australia, the last arriving in 1868. The indigenous people's experience of the colonial period and even the present period has been catastrophic and painful; ironically, the descendants of the convicts have come to be proud of their ancestry and are among the strongest opponents of changing the date. Each year, though, the momentum for change grows, and for the first time it now seems unstoppable.

Exposure Time: 1/160
F-Stop: f/5.6
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 28 mm

pajaran, holmertz, jhm, tyro, Royaldevon, Lidka, Silvio1953, jimmyjimmy, CLODO, abmdsudi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (102732) 2018-01-28 4:51

Hello Andrew,
TE should more often be a forum for interesting photos, really meaning something, than just the usual beautiful views. I wouldn't call this beautiful in the ordinary sense, but it captures a political and social issue of growing importance to a lot of people. It shows it's never too late to make amends for historical injustices.
Regards,
Gert

tyro (30513) 2018-01-28 5:58

Hello Andrew,

Your fine explanatory note and your striking photograph make a perfect example of skilled reportage.

I absolutely love this photograph (and I know Lisa (delpeoples) will too). For a photograph which must have been taken in a hurry it is remarkably well composed, the banner showing enough of its text to be clearly understandable, the dozens of people behind all walking in the same direction - and the focal point of the whole image must surely be the strong defiant stare of the Muslim woman in the immediate foreground, a stare which is complemented by her clenched fists grasping the banner itself.

And, as always, the image is technically perfect too.

Fabulous!

Kind Regards,

John.

Royaldevon (85932) 2018-01-28 6:19

Hello Andrew,

Thank you for this.
There was a news report to mention Australia Day and its origins but nothing about the demonstration.

You will often find that at any celebration there will be people of opposing views.
AS we look back on history, we become appalled at the conduct of our ancestors who were guided by different rules! I have the greatest empathy for many nations whose lands were appropriated in the name of progress. Sadly, we cannot turn back the clock but we can treat people with more respect and value them for their civilisation and traditions. I'm not sure how people could have their lands reinstated but surely some compromise should be pursued.

Your photograph shows the non-aggressive crowds stating their message and it certainly resonates with me.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

willperrett (14215) 2018-01-28 9:51

Hello Andrew

Did you meet Lisa on the march? I guess she would have been on the Sydney version. I like this reportage/documentary shot a lot, especially the faces/eyes. The expressions vary through defiance, seriousness, surprise, even joy. Maybe if you'd managed to include more of the banner, the message would be clearer to the average viewer. Changing the date would be a symbolic victory; improving the lot of the Aboriginal population must remain the real prize though.

Regards

Will

Silvio1953 (221659) 2018-01-28 10:27

Ciao Andrew, interesting reportage, lovely composition with a lot of people, excellent clarity, splendid light and onderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

emka (158198) 2018-01-28 15:01

Heloo Andrew, Thank you for this interesting mote and the photo that accompany it. I can understand the indigenous people that they do not celebrate this day, as it was the end of their world and the beginning of bad times. As these marches show they have still the reason to fight for their rights. I can see that there are mainly the young people here. It is good.

Kind regrad s Malgo

CLODO (45116) 2018-01-28 23:06

Hi Andrew

I would like to see more images like this one on TE rather than churches or castles, just showing the people behaviour in different countries, their problems and how they silve them. Discovering the world is also discovering people
Cheers
CLODO

[workshop] [compare]

maloutim (13617) 2018-01-29 2:14

Hi Andrew,
This is a very appropriate post concerning "Australia Day" ! Not long ago, I read in the news that the "Aborigines" were still refused representatives in Parliament ! How shameful !
Many of the world's ills nowadays are unfortunately due to the conquest of lands by the so-called civilised countries ! Their arrogance is topical these days withj the migrants' issue.
" We can't welcome the whole world !" they say. "Ah ! Can't we !" But we could destroy their culture, their ways of life and take advantage of them, keep them down as much as we could, in order to get fatter and richer ourselves !
Thanks for raising this issue !
Kind regards.
Marie-Louise.

BennyV (34748) 2018-01-29 3:25

Great TE post, Andrew. The note is essential here, and it does a really good job. In your picture I like how the slogan/banner isn't the real focus, it's the person behind the banner that matters.

The person just behind the muslim woman looks pretty interesting too!

A fine capture of diversity in action. Applauded!

Benny

abmdsudi (95869) 2018-01-31 21:48

Hi Andrew
Right in 'yer face' shot, Andrew!!
Expression of the woman in pudah says it all from this powerful point of view which is dramatised by her strong eye holding the banner - the winning elements of this great shot. Superb street photograph and appreciate your narrative, Congrats
Best regards