Man and Cows Head

Posted by Richard_Irwin (Belper, United Kingdom) on 1 March 2008 in People & Portraits.

From a scan of a long lost negative I found buried in amongst piles of old work thats been in my loft for more years than I dare remember. I have a feeling I took this one in Lee Markets in Karachi.

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Comments (11)

Daniel from Stranded in Kenmare, United States

poor cow!

1 Mar 2008 1:51am

Sujit Sudhi from Hyderabad, India

Oh My God. I get a strange feeling when I look at it.

The image is fabulous as always. I like it in B&W. Your exposure is superb.

1 Mar 2008 2:37am

@Sujit Sudhi: Thankyou, this image will evoke strong feelings I think. Here in the UK most people buy meat wrapped in cellophane, it is so far removed from the living thing it was, and its death is hidden from view. Although I don't eat meat, or use animal products, I have seen animals slaughtered, and seen different customs of sale and display in different parts of the world. The head is a powerful symbol of the animals identity, and evokes a different feeling to seeing its leg, or rump, or flank once slaughtered.

Ron from Saint Louis, United States

It really does evoke a strong initial impression. The cow's head is so immediately identifiable and, yet, there is so little of it ... very odd.

1 Mar 2008 6:09am

@Ron: Thanks for your comment. When I took the shot, what struck me was that the ghostly brightness of the severed cows head somehow seemed to enhance its sentient nature.

amarjit from hoshiarpur, India

is it the real picture ???

1 Mar 2008 6:10am

@amarjit: Yes, this is the whole shot, uncropped, and the meat seller was proud to show the cows head. I have left none of my own judgments in my title or commentary, thats up to you to do in viewing it, but I guess that all of this poor animal would be used for some purpose, and not just discarded as waste. And I'm saying that as someone who is a lifelong vegetarian who avoids all animal products in my daily life.

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

it's a great shot and yes it hurts...

1 Mar 2008 7:29am

Porcsin from Debrecen, Hungary

It is too realistic to me!
Moreover you did nice work!

1 Mar 2008 7:42am

yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece

great portrait Richard - I like it a lot

1 Mar 2008 7:48am

Scotfot from Kabul, Afghanistan

Yes, its a very good if unusual portrait! I don't know about Pakistan but its is just like this in Afghanistan today, one can make the direct link between living animals and the meat that is eaten.

1 Mar 2008 8:59am

@Scotfot: Thanks for your comment. Although I don't eat meat myself, I am offended by the supermarket 'hidden from view' cellophane culture, and not by the openness of the market or butchers shop as is on offer here. At least you know what you are buying, and in this case, looking at.