Inappropriate (1974), a photo from Bauchi, North

Photographer's Note

Taken as we passed through the village of Kari in Northern Nigeria -we were travelling in the back of a truck between Kano and Maiduguri. In 1974 when I took this photo globalisation was not a widely used term. At the time this Fanta sign seemed out of place and quite inappropriate and when I look at this photo today my thoughts haven't changed.

This photo is a scan from a kodachrome slide which was unfortunately in poor condition. It was taken in bright sunlight using an instamatic camera - and the colours had faded and there was some mould. However after desaturating the colours and just restoring the original colours to the sign I was pleased with the effect.

Vasa, shevchenko, mikeyeats, holmertz has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mozzy27 (2) 2010-01-27 2:40

Hello Marlene
For some reason I cannot reply to your critique on the Woods Point Servo photo I posted recently, it comes up and says I'm not logged in or I don't have those privaliges - what the!!!!. Just letting you know that I have posted another view in workshop.
I agree that the sign is most definitely inappropriate, I doubt whether these people can even provide for them selves let alone buy Fanta. Nicely salvaged.
TFS cheers Peter

BennyV (34746) 2010-01-27 6:28

Hello Marlene,

Technically not the best upload, but obviously that's not what you were after here. This is a picture with a strong point to make. Same feelings here, but I'm afraid Fanta has long won the battle.

Benny

saxo042 (38078) 2010-01-27 8:50

Hi Marlene,
The technical quality of this photo may not be the best, but the message inside is very strong. Some remarkable contrast here between the soft drink and the hard life!
Kind regards
Gunnar

Vasa (515) 2010-01-27 15:05

Hello Marlene,

your nice souvenir from childhood. You've born like so good photographer. So glad to see it. Thank you friend.

Branko

shevchenko (20560) 2010-01-27 19:21

Hi Marlene,
Attractive signboard against the surrounding environment in sepia color, value old photo, thought today this place will be at least a bit different and develope, thanks for sharing an old photo that older than me.
Ally

mikeyeats (136) 2010-01-28 12:34

Marlene,
I think you have done an excellent job on the picture, yes i suppose it is inappropriate, selling people fizzy drinks they don't need and can't afford to waste money on.I have to say that traveling in Nepal a Fanta was sometimes welcome because you knew it would be clean unlike the water if you had nothing else.
I have got hold of my fathers slides of Ghana in the mid 50s, very interesting scanning.

holmertz (102042) 2010-01-30 1:37

Hello Marlene,
You have saved a poor quality slide in an interesting way, making the Fanta sign shine strangely in these surroundings like something left there by aliens from a UFO.
Just by looking at this village-street I can feel the oppressive heat and dust I remember from southern Niger, not so far from here.
I am just puzzled by your combination of "Kodachrome slide" and "poor quality film". It is not my experience that Kodachromes were of a poor quality.
Kind regards,
Gert