Jesus Mendes came to Mexico from Guatemala with the intention of crossing the border to USA. When the coyote explained the plan he panicked, the trek involved crossing the Rio Nuevo between Mexicali and Calexico. "I am not a strong swimmer" he told me, besides he was aware of the level of pollution of the New River; he knew it was loaded with chemicals from the local factories plus all the sewage from both cities. He escaped the human traffickers and decided to cross on his own. He hoped on a freight train but lost his balance, when he woke up he learned the wheels had mangled his right leg. Now he stays at the "Mana" house where is taken care of by volunteers. He awaits for an answer from the Guatemalan consulate. I am in limbo he said, I just want to go back home.
I would appreciate any input.
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A very strong image captured under challenging lighting. I like it a lot.
Without your text, a careful viewer may still conclude that the right leg is missing, for the following reasons.
- There are only a few well lit spots which draw a viewer's attention. The left leg is one of them, and may raise the question why the pants' right hem ends without a leg.
- The left hand is also well lit, leading the eye again to the right hem.
- The top left shiny metal may suggest a crutch.
If the intent is to emphasize the missing right leg, the image can do the following:
- Wait until the face is turned to the left, and the eyes down cast to the right hem.
- And/or include more of the crutch, if indeed there is one.
As a viewer, I much prefer that the photog tells me nothing about an image, at least at the first viewing. I can then view it with an open mind, and pay close attention to unearth what are in it and what it is trying to say.
I have found that different photographers handle this differently. Some go to great length about the locations and gears, but have nothing to say about the intent of their work. Some, mostly documentary type, write essays to complement their photos. (I think in the past I suggested that your work is well suited to this approach.) Some only answer when asked. (I belong to this group, most of the time.) Some say not a word, even when asked.