Protection, a photo from Kisoro, Southern

Photographer's Note

I debated before uploading this shot because I loved Uganda. It's a beautiful country, with incredibly warm, welcoming people, and I did not want to post anything that would make anyone hesitant to go there. However, it shows the reality of life in that part of the world, so I decided to include it.

Each group of six tourists who go gorilla tracking at Bwindi are accompanied by one ranger, three soldiers, and two trackers. Here are one of the rangers and four of the soldiers during a rest on our trek.

Why so much protection? Partly for the gorillas, but also because back in 1999 a group of rebels from Rwanda crossed into the park, and attacked and killed eight foreign tourists and one Ugandan ranger. While the attack was tragic, an equal tragedy, in my mind, was that this attack received worldwide media attention, while, at that time, there were frequent and numerous rebel attacks on local people that went unreported.

The attack in Bwindi obviously hurt Uganda's tourism industry. It is, however, becoming stronger now, and, with the exception of certain areas in the north of the country (the Gulu and Lira areas), is considered to be safe to travel.

richtersl, mitternacht, rabani, vbourrut, roconnell, irishkiwi, danbachmann, vidarom, chagovets, jmfarace, eladen, Nottinghill, Facsi, fijiphil, hajle, andante, Andre-H, Liekje, dragonslayero, touristdidi, happypoppeye, manub, MLINES, rui_seabra trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

JudyH (700) 2004-02-21 16:31

The serious and intent expressions of the people in the picture, surrounded by stunning nature, is very sad indeed. Coming from Africa myself, I understand these realities, but also the "dark side". I notice that some of their skin appears grey. This is from sun exposure for them - another thing we are familiar with. It is a natural picture though, and nice for you to include some reality. Thanks for sharing.

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jmaddocks (563) 2004-02-21 17:01

Hi Mimi. Your note is excellent and very interesting. Hard for me to imagine, living in a land of relative peace, that such measures would ever be necessary, but obviously they are.

As the men are the subject of the picture, perhaps a closer shot of them would have been better. The picture appears slightly out of focus, but stil it is quite good.

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nmess (2301) 2004-02-21 17:08

A fine piece of photo-journalism Mimi. The colors are excellent and the casual air expresses the moment well.

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Motrem (2392) 2004-02-21 17:48

Thank you for this sharing. Reality but finally lasts, if we return to your photo I like the expression of faces, dense forest and colours. Good composition.
Merci pour ce partage. Dure réalité mais enfin, si l'on revient à votre photo j'aime l'expression des visages, la forêt dense et les couleurs. Bonne composition.

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mazrul (92) 2004-02-21 19:45

Hai mimi...

as a asian people, not much we know about Uganda tourism situasion. such info bring better view and fact about it. Very good note you have there. hopefully Uganda shall be safer for more tourist visit including from asian country.

Those man wearing a rubber boot instead army gear. in asian those boot use for wet market. any way, good job!

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scalerman (26900) 2004-02-21 20:20

I think you've done well to show the whole picture of trekking in Ug. I don't think this would deter those who are really interested, and it's true life after all.

gadinga (626) 2004-02-21 20:29

I love the photo but I find the note a little confusing. Do you mean guerrillas (A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy, as by surprise raids.) Or gorillas the animal???? Great shot though and very trekearthworthy

ninadev (5377) 2004-02-21 22:41

I like it a lot and it really makes the shot to give the information in your note. I very much like the contrast of colors between these men and the green background. The pic has a 3D look that I like a lot.

PechePassion (483) 2004-02-22 0:29

Sans le commentaire très interressant je n'aurais pas noté cette photo , j'aime pas trop la vue des arme.

Mais dans ce contexte la photo prend toute sa splendeur. Merci de cette photo et des explication.

CVTJan (1244) 2004-02-22 2:41

Dear Mimi, great note and documentary shot ! It seems the one on the left doesn't need a haircut or has just finished. Seriously the picture lives from the different looks the men give you. This is one of the picture I like to look at for a longer time and make my interpretations. Well done, good work !

jhm (211736) 2004-02-22 5:20

A fine piece of photo-journalism. The colors are excellent and the casual air expresses the moment well. Congratulations!

Curioso (9271) 2004-02-22 17:03

Really interesting to have some information about the backside of this land. We really feel the exhausting, heavy atmosphere saturated of water. Deep green of the forest. This picture really conveys the local atmosphere very well !

It must be an incredible experience to look for gorillas.

orme (7219) 2004-02-23 4:35

A very interesting shot, Mimi, with an excellent note. The photo itself is well framed and has good colours. Well done.

freddd (435) 2004-03-03 1:08

This picture has both a very esthetic presentation and a strong subject. Your excellent note gives a sens to it. Thanks for sharing!

richtersl (3546) 2004-03-17 12:22

This is a stunning photograph. From the thumbnail I thought that this was a sculpture. I was astounded when I read your note. I don't think you need to see the mens' faces in order for this photo to be effective. Their posture and uniforms are what make it effective to me. Well done, Mimi.

vbourrut (32482) 2004-05-07 2:07

Very interesting picture

rabani (9645) 2004-05-07 2:24

They looked pretty tired those soldiers/rangers. And walking in the boonies with those big floppy water boots ! I guessed they were not interested in running away fast from anything.
As a matter of life, I think certain part of this world is still sitting in the ages where human life or animal for that matter, is just another game.

roconnell (327) 2004-05-28 16:40

From the thumbnail, I thought this was a bronze sculpture as there is a stillness, a silence conveyed in the photo. The need for protection, is an unfortunate reality in many parts of the world. Hopefully that will change some day.

irishkiwi (90) 2004-07-05 5:23

I like the stillness in this photo. The contract between the men and the background is nice too. The greens are lovely and rich. But your note is great, it adds a new dimension to the work and is very informative. Thank you.

Praetzer (209) 2005-01-29 19:00

Interesting note.
Picture: nice compo; well exposed. Reality picture.

abasgul (124) 2005-08-25 5:12

Hi,
I loved this photo.It is very clear and aesthetic.It's completely related with life.Good luck.

David_Marques (96) 2005-12-21 16:09

Excelente registo!!!

ngythanh (8458) 2006-06-23 6:25

Hi Mimi:
I don't discuss about the photographic value of this picture. As a former combat-photographer, clearly your shot meant a lot to me, and it deserves to be my favorites.
Thanks,

Thanh

dragonslayero (3592) 2006-08-16 6:11

Hello Mimi

I like the general idea that you came up with this motiv.
It's tragic that one incident with foreign rebels ruins most of the tourist industry for a country.
It might be seen as inappropriate by some poeple that all these soldiers and guards are neccesary to protect the tourists.
Photo quality looks good, it is not the best I have seen but it works quite well.
The DOV is far from the best I have seen, but you have achieved a good focus on the soldiers and the trackers. Nice to know that some people make a living from doing this!
Thank you for sharing.

Odd Jarle

touristdidi (8583) 2006-08-16 6:53 [Comment]

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batalay (41261) 2007-01-30 19:04

Hello Mimi,

Wht a beautifully exposed shot. For a minute, I thought it was a carving by the late Frederick Hart, one of the finest sculptors of the last fifty years. I see that it has been almost three years since you posted it, and it was taken i Uganda. Even though I did not have any points left to give, I decided to critique it so that I can come back to it, and award the points it so richly deserves. I am a scientist/artis and the author of a book on Leonardo, hence the keen interest in composition, symmetry, patterns -- in the mode of Leonardo, the finest scients/artist ever.

Best wishes from Virginia,
Bulent

MLINES (12516) 2007-11-02 15:53

Hi Mimi. A very good photograph of this group of protectors for you trip. A friend Jerry spends a lot of time there and speaks well of this large country also. Excellent contribution to TE showing us things we would not otherwise see. TFS. Murray.