Gabriel O’Shaughnessey, of Dundalk Photographic Society, has won the Photographic Society of America (PSA) Pictorial Print Division Monochrome “Print of the Year” with his image,”Orphans.” This is a very special achievement as the competition consisted of an invitational contest between all of this years PSA Medal Winners in PSA recognised international salons throughout the world. Gabriel is the only Irish author to win this award. To have one of our own come out on top is outstanding. It is a great achievement just to win a PSA Medal; but to be the best of the medal winners is truly remarkable. Gabriel’s print will go into the PSA Permanent Collection and will be displayed at the PSA Conference in Colorado Springs, USA, in September.
The winning image:
Links:
Dundalk Photographic Society
PSA
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I have looked at this photograph several times since it has first appeared and noted that it has failed to generate a response. I have held back my own feelings and response but now feel that I should voice my opinion. I know Gabriel and recognise him for the the fine photographer that he is and congratulate him for winning this award.
However when I look at this photograph what unsettles me is its lack of integrity. I cannot accept that these children are ‘orphans’ but are in fact daughters of Gabriel or friends of his and are made up up to look poor and destitute . A learned fried once said to me that the difference between a poor person and an actor playing the the part was that the actor was enjoying playing the part.
I freely admit that in my younger days I made up photos beyond reality in order to compete in club competitions. Nowadays I find that I have scant regard for those photos and prefer instead the more or less genuine photo that I saw in front of me at the taking stage.
It is not my intention to hurt Gabriel’s feelings but to express perhaps the feelings of an analog worker as he makes way for the newer generation of photographers.
Its very good to see a comment as honest’s as Vincent. I also have similar feelings. Gabriel’s photo is technically excellent (would love to see it in real life), great light and shadow. It lacks soul however and appears to be quite an artificial set up. These children are not in reality orphans, they are acting the part. I’ve seen this now a few times in award winning photographs in Ireland. A child is dressed up to look like something old fashioned. To an outside audience it may look authentic but to an Irish person its looks artificial. Its a tricky area because alot of photograph is taking the real and making it look better. Maybe this is how some American’s still view how the children of Ireland look like. I congratulate Gabriel on his success but it does make me wonder what judge’s are looking for in photographs. Surely authenticity is also important.