photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Sixty Six: Using political iconography to express ideas > Doubts, Sousse, Tunisia, 2008
previous | next
08-NOV-2008

Doubts, Sousse, Tunisia, 2008

This portrait of Tunisian president Ben Ali, clasping his hands in pleasure while surrounded by cartoon figures of worshipful children, reminds me of a Soviet era propaganda poster. It was the most primitive example of political iconography I saw during my visit to Tunisia. The poster was badly crinkled, and by shooting it from the side, I’ve found incongruous reflections that create a surreal image, more fantasy than reality.

(Looking at this image a few years later, after Ben Ali was driven from power in a January, 2011 revolt, it appears even more ominous and a portent of things to come.)

Leica V-Lux 1
1/100s f/3.6 at 40.2mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time08-Nov-2008 07:29:54
MakeLeica
ModelV-LUX 1
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length40.2 mm
Exposure Time1/100 sec
Aperturef/3.6
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias-0.33
White Balance
Metering Modemulti spot (3)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programprogram (2)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
Phil Douglis01-Dec-2008 00:01
Thanks for the metaphor, Tim. This image can trigger multiple meanings, and that certainly should be one of them.
Tim May30-Nov-2008 22:04
Even idols sometimes have clay feet.
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment