et in Arcadia ego

Posted by Wayne (Melbourne, Australia) on 23 January 2007 in Cityscape & Urban and Portfolio.

Goa, India has a culture of susegad (a sense of being carefree and relaxed)...but even here...in this paradise of beaches, the arabian waters and coconuts...where the tagline's 'It's better in Goa'...there's a trace of sadness and a darker underbelly of something else...
This photo to me...brought to mind the phrase 'et in Arcadia ego'...a personified death saying I too am in Arcadia (another veritable paradise of yore).

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Comments (13)

Chris Sullivan from Melbourne, Australia

Great shot mate, you've seemed to capture the underbelly of Goa - the missing poster a perfect personification of this. Very nice shot

23 Jan 2007 4:05am

@Chris Sullivan: Cheers! It was taken right next to a busy market street so I had to wait for the crowd to thin out before I took it. I always wonder what happened to the boy in the photo and his loved ones who were searching for him.

Helen from Melbourne, Australia

Sadly, you have captured one of the sad realities of life. Not only Goa's!

23 Jan 2007 5:20am

@Helen: Yeah. =(

Myst from Bologna, Italy

I second Helen. So sad, but so powerful.

23 Jan 2007 6:15am

@Myst: thanks!

Still from Valence, France

So hard...

23 Jan 2007 8:30am

@Still: Hmm was that good or bad?

susankritha from Bristol, United Kingdom

@Helen n Myst:
I concur...strong picture

23 Jan 2007 8:36am

@susankritha: thanks!

Francis from Hong Kong

A sad shot of something which in unfortunately very common around the world.

23 Jan 2007 9:47am

@Francis: yeah it is

Carol from Turkey

Thoughtful shot. I keep wanting to see more of the street to the left to get a sense of the space in which he's missing. But still very powerful.

23 Jan 2007 10:18am

@Carol: Hmm thanks for the advice I'll keep that in mind when I frame up my shots in future. I think that sort of a framing would work better though if the street wasn't as crowded as it was then. In this case I was just lucky to have a relatively blank wall =D

kurt from Austria

powerful image - absolutely (the kid looks a bit like young Michael Jackson btw)

23 Jan 2007 10:54am

@kurt: hmm now that you mention it....=)
thanks for your comment!

Fred from Easton PA, United States

Very strong photo . Good framing too, by allowing a small section past the side of the building you've opened up the photo giving it more depth.

23 Jan 2007 11:52am

@Fred: Thanks! Really appreciate your feedback =)

Alborz from Tehran, Iran

Semantic shot!

23 Jan 2007 12:50pm

@Alborz: glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting and visiting

chiquitafilipina from United States

a very emotional shot! There is life yet continuing in this sadness by portraying the side of the wall with activity. Very powerful portrait.

23 Jan 2007 5:56pm

@chiquitafilipina: thanks! I really appreciate your comment!

Jo'an from Singapore

i'm impressed my fren.. you have a neck for photography.. keep at it.. love the shot... you manage to show what you felt.. well done... can't wait to see more from you ...

24 Jan 2007 9:09am

@Jo'an: Thanks Jo'an...really appreciate that compliment.