Reproductive Health and Poverty in Photographs

A Project on Photo Analysis for the course Visual Literacy 259.4 under Miss Isabel Kenny, Ateneo de Manila University

If population is like a ticking bomb, then the Reproductive Health bill in Congress is one thing that could probably diffuse it. Alas, mainly because of pressures from the Catholic church that opposes it, it appears the bill will suffer the same fate as it did during the last two congresses.

RH bill aims to institutionalize family planning and reproductive health as priority national policies to provide a comprehensive approach to family planning that is rights-based, health-oriented and development-propelled. It promotes both the natural and modern method of family planning in an effort to curb the country’s ballooning population, which now stands at about 90 million.

The five photographs presented here try to show snippets of the issue, why the church’s gain in burying the bill could be the children and women’s loss.

A wonderful way to convey mystery and mood in a photograph, this image uses silhouette as a technique. Done in

broad daylight, though, the outlines of the silhouetted subjects appear as gray rather than the usual black. Here the silhouette shapes are distinct and uncluttered and thus are easily recognizable behind the thin white cloth serving as cover. The photographer also made it a point to shoot a portion of the sign “RH Counseling” to help convey the message that the subjects could be a woman of reproductive age seeking check-up from what appears like a doctor or a nurse (the one standing).

Shot ordinarily, it would simply show a woman being examined by a doctor or nurse. But shot from behind a very thin white cloth to give the silhouette effect conveys a certain mood of mystery, anticipation even fear of what could be going on during the check-up. Is the woman okay, or could there be serious findings about her health?The natural light used enhances the mood and the effect of the ruffling of the cloth makes it look like the rays of light all focused on the two women.

Without the sign on the right field, the photograph would look heavy on the left, but the sign, which defines the activity going on, gives it an asymmetrical balance. The position of the subjects on the left also gives the eyes what they expect, as they naturally gravitate towards that side (left) where they expect to see something. The sign, however, positioned on the right side of the field creates a bit of tension, especially if one is aware of the controversy hounding the issue of reproductive health in the country.

By AGENCE FRANCE PRESS

Published online on October 30, 2009 in Inquirer.netURL: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20091030-233096/UN-committee-to-RP-Pass-reproductive-health-bill

Caption: A silhouette of a doctor (R) and patient at a reproductive health counseling booth on World Population Day in Manila.

On World Population Day, this photograph gives prominence to the importance of women’s reproductive health by giving free check-ups and counseling on how to better manage one’s family and improve the well-being of women and children.

By LYN RILLON, Philippine Daily InquirerManila, November 23, 2007(Rillon said this was published in the paper in 2007, but we could not find it online)

Caption: POOR FAMILIES LINE UP FOR MEDICAL SERVICES. One year old Christopher Timoteo suckles on his mother's breast as she and other parents with their own youngsters line up for free medical check-up at the Padre Gomez Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

There’s no story accompanying this photograph. Rillon said she was made cover the event, a medical mission, which was organized ahead of a visit of a politician in the area.

S hooting slightly from atop, the photographer gives the situation a perspective, a unique visual approach, which the

viewers may not see if shot from an ordinary linear angle. Shooting from the top angle also enabled us to see clearly the vertical lines created by the standing people in queue that shows unity.

Having a dominant foreground, which is also the visual emphasis – the mother and the suckling baby – the picture shows a story-telling point, supported by a background of people holding paper like leaflets or brochures queuing up for something, probably some free service, as the common scene in indigent communities.

The suckling child on the left visual field would commonly be seen first and once such scene would always evoke a mood that is trouble-free and comfy in the midst of the hardships that poor families like them endure just to get a free medical service. But again, as the eyes move toward the right plane, there is tension, with the boy and his woeful stare (as he may be feeling the brunt of standing for hours in the queue), giving the shot a perfect juxtaposition. And, training our eyes closer near the boy, we will see the surprise – a small space in between the arms of the mother and the boy is the face of a little girl with an innocent stare.

The black-and-white photography employed helped add drama and perspective to the visual image.

By AGENCE FRANCE PRESSEVatican, July 9, 2009 Caption: Pope Benedict XVI (C) greets to US President Barack Obama (R) and US First Lady Michelle ObamaImage appeared online with the article with the URL: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iZofCcJ-sLl6Lacl5o_wDamuYVNw

The photograph was during the Obama couple’s visit to the Pope, where they discussed among other things, abortion and reproductive health rights, issues where the US and Vatican differ in view. Obama, according to the report, vowed to reduce the number of abortions in the US.

A first glance at this photograph will make us see that the field can be divided into visual thirds among First Lady Michelle

Obama, the Pope and President Barack Obama. In the context of the story behind the photograph and applying it to issue of reproductive health in general, each subject represents something. The Pope, of course, would always take the pro-life stance and would therefore be against any form of birth control. President Obama is the President of a country that allows abortion. And Michelle Obama is a woman advocate of reproductive health. Because of this, we can say this is a balanced photograph, as each subject in the field carries the same weight or importance.

The rich color of the Pope’s suit and the black attire, the required attire when visiting Vatican, adds to the intensity of the mood. The Obama’s can be seen intently gazing and listening to the Pope, who appeared to be giving his last wishes to the couple. The foreground showing a room gives the image a sense of place of a formal meeting.

The photographer chose a good angle, shooting the Pope’s back and foregoing his expressions and choosing to capture instead the mood of the Obama’s. Even with his back facing the viewer, one could not be mistaken that he is the Pope, while if shot the other way around, with the Obama’s back facing the audience, there could be chance they would not be recognized.

By LYN RILLONManila, January 2010Image not published, from Rillon’s photo bankRelated story with URL:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100126-249473/5000-Catholic-priests-start-retreat

I n a sea of white as seen in this photograph of Catholic

priests, easily the point of entry is the deviant shade. The part that immediately draws the viewer to the image is the person in black. Shot from atop, the priest in black becomes more visible, the eyes rest there first before noticing the bottom portion where the leader of the flock is, the cardinal in pure white.

The image is essentially flat because it is almost colorless. Aside from the priest in black, the red paper bag carried by one priest also stood out. But even if essentially flat, there’s emphasis from the implied motion in the image that makes the eyes move continuously along seeming diagonal lines created by the priests in the march.

Because they subjects are grouped together in their nearness and similarity, we can see a closed, united and dominant figure, fitting for the Catholic church’s standing and influence in Philippine society.

In the retreat, the 500 priests who attended issued a statement that among others, advises voters not to vote for candidates who are in favor of the Reproductive Health bill.

By ASSOCIATED PRESSManila, August 25, 2009Caption: A poor Filipino kid looks on as others line up for free food given by a non-government group at Manila's slum district of Tondo, Philippines, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. About a third of the Philippine population of 90 million wallow in poverty, living on less than $2 a day, according to officials. Image to the story with URL: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Philippines-unlikely-to-climb-apf-4157793640.html?x=0&.v=1

The photo depicts the children in Tondo’s slums, one of Manila’s poorest areas and one with a big population of children. Without a national policy on population management, Tondo is likely to continue being a “factory” of kids.

T his photograph is one that immediately elicits mood from the viewers.

Looking at it, one will be endeared to the child, sitting by his lonesome, holding a big plate while looking at the queue of bigger children. Or, one may pity him for being in such a state of being poor.

Although they come from one community and are all awaiting free food delivery, the juxtaposition becomes very much evident between – the big and small, the clothed and topless, the one with slippers as against the barefoot kid. In a world of the poor, some are still poorer than others.

The field is balanced with the kid on one side and the children in queue on the the ither, although it is an asymmetrical balance, with each visual having the same weight or importance.

The graphic quality showing vertical lines of children standing show their dominance over the small child slumped on the soil. The photograph showing the queue also gives a linear perspective that directs one’s gaze to a direction that seems infinite, no one knows when the queue ends, no one knows when hunger and poverty would be over.