In Kiev, residents left carnations in memory of those who were killed at Independence Square.
I chose this photo mostly due to how different it is from the majority of the image that are coming out of Kiev right now. There's an extreme difference between the images of violence, rebellion, and death that are being mass produced due to the uprising, and the soft-spoken--but still incredibly powerful--image of people mourning the loss of people they may--or may not--know. The photographer shows that you don't need images of a bombing to show the turmoil.
The image first captures your attention with the bright line of flowers in the center of it. Overall, the image has a grey cast to it--a feeling that matches the mourning the people are experiencing as well as the turmoil that the country is facing--but is stuck with a bright red and green line of flowers that goes through the center of photo until it disappears from view. In the image, the flowers represent hope as well as sadness--sadness at the rebellion and the loss of their loved ones, but hope that it all will end soon.
Even though the photo lacks violence, it is still as powerful as many of the other images coming out of Kiev; it contains the sadness and exhaustion of a country plagued with war and violence. Instead of outright showing the war and violence, it shows the effects of it. The photo breaks up the monotony of bombs exploding and people getting beaten with a less surprising, but still interesting alternative.
The photo accomplishes what it sought out to do: make the viewer aware of the common people suffering in Kiev. Although it works well alone, it could also work well in a series of other photos also focusing on the common people. The image made me realize how many people are actually suffering in Kiev; even if they weren't actually harmed themselves, they are still affected by the deaths' of loved ones.
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