The Electroblog
Diet Pepsi & Fries
Posted by Damon Schreiber (Toronto, Canada) on 14 September 2007 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
High-res here.
[Halifax Boardwalk, Nova Scotia]
Ian Bramham from Manchester, United Kingdom
I felt sad looking at this photo but its a great social commentary on our time.
(I think that in 50 years time this photo will be seen as one of those great zeitgeist images that defined the spirit of the time in which we now live in the Western world)
14 Sep 2007 7:39am
@Ian Bramham: Thanks, Ian! I think one feels sad looking at this photo because she looks rather downcast. But then again people's expressions become magnified when people are looking at photos. So many people interpret blank expressions in photos as 'angry'. In this case, I think she was just impatiently waiting for her son to get back so that she could pass him his French Fries.
But no, I don't see being overweight as sad.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Hi Damon, it's a great photo, her eyes, they speak volume, having been fairly slim all my life and swearing that I would never get fat, well, I shouldn't have judged, for what you judge you will experience if only to know. A lot contributes to weight gain and food isn't the culprit. I look at myself, I look at people around me, and we're all the same, we're all overweight, very overweight. I know that when my soul hurts I get fat...Like Ian said, it's a comment on our time.
14 Sep 2007 9:28am
@Lorraine: Thanks, Lorraine! As I mentioned to Ian, I think her expression may mislead the viewer, and I don't know that she was in any way sad.
I've probably also done wrong by titling this photo as I have. It was just laziness, really, and I never meant to imply that what she's holding at this moment is the cause of her large size. Actually, I thought the fries looked delicious. Not so much the diet pepsi. Anyway, I believe it's a mistake to think that all skinny people need more food and all fat people need to go on a diet. Life is far more complex. I don't judge her.
@Dimitrios: Thanks, Dimitrios!
@Craiger: Judgement is for the viewer, not the photograph. Thanks for the comment, Craig!
Dawn Sutherland from Phoenix, United States
Damon, I just found out about your accident. I hope you are okay, have a wonderful weekend. I love your commentary on this shot.
14 Sep 2007 6:40pm
@Dawn Sutherland: Okily-dokily! Thanks, Dawn!
JosefQ from Quebec City, Canada
Like Ian say, this is a great social commentary. I don't think that the photo is judgemental. I think it just points out one of the problems our western society faces.
Its a great photo!
14 Sep 2007 7:41pm
@JosefQ: Thanks, Josef! This woman was out having fun with her family. I see nothing problematic in that.
Nick Passantino from Bronx, United States
great portrait. agreed that it shows off a common problem of the era. really well actually.
14 Sep 2007 9:05pm
@Nick Passantino: Thanks, Nick!
@Angry Buddha: (!) Actually I don't quite follow you. Thanks, though!
Markus from Reading, United Kingdom
Looks more like exasperation to me, but hey, so much can be interpreted into ones facial expressions!
However I think it captures perfectly the clichéd perception of fat people slim people have (I know, it's a bit of a generalisation, but regrettably true), and it's true there is Diet Pepsi + fries, just on the person fitting the cliché.
14 Sep 2007 10:45pm
@Markus: I'll buy that. Thanks, Markus!
Alfredo J. Martiz J. from Tokyo, Japan
Great portrait, her expression is so strong. We should learn not to judge people for how they look like, we should accept people as they are for what it is important is what comes from their heart. Have a wonderful weekend!
15 Sep 2007 1:33am
@Alfredo J. Martiz J.: Thanks Alfredo! I'm with you there. I was frankly surprised that people responded so overwhelmingly to this as a portrait of a fat woman rather than just a portrait of a woman, as though her size were necessarily the subject. Obviously this is a theme very much in the common consciousness these days, and it strikes a nerve.
Actually, I believe her expression holds a lot of mystery. It's impossible to know what she's thinking or what she's like based on her look, but it's intriguing enough to cause us to wonder. I'm certainly enjoying the dialogue that's arising from this photo.
Dave MacIntyre from Toronto, Canada
This is an excellent portrait...you really captured her expression very well and the photo instantly sparks reaction/emotion in the viewer. Well done!
15 Sep 2007 2:58am
@Dave MacIntyre: Thanks, Dave! I'm enjoying the reactions.
Natalia from Louisville, United States
The image you captured speaks volume. It's powerful to say the less. Very bold statement, not just from the photographer but also from the person on the shot. Well done!
15 Sep 2007 4:47am
@Natalia: Many thanks, Natalia!
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
PS, no, no, I wasn't at all judging you for taking the photo, I would have done the same. Photographers are here to capture moments, events, life...you evoked a lot of passion with it, so that's fantastic! Make no mistake my comment was purely a statement of life, not a observation of your photo. Life is to be photographed in all its aspect...Actually the fries do look totally good :)
15 Sep 2007 9:16am
@Lorraine: Don't they?
I'm enjoying the feedback this photo received tremendously. Thanks, Lorraine!
@pedro alexandre: Thanks, Pedro! (but I wonder what people find ironic about this.)
Pentax K10D
1/320 second
F/4.0
ISO 100
53 mm