Comments on: Irony in travel through photos

Question: Irony in travel through photos

nitsuj — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:27:24 -0800

I need help tracking down photos that display irony in travel.

Two that came to mind right away were the tribesman with an ipod and automatic weapon, and the "portable pedestrian."

I'd like to track down more images like these -- ones that express the irony that you see in travel: a Mongolian herdsman on his cellphone on the steppe, or a Bedouin kid in a Metallica t-shirt, or a Chinese punk rocker at the family shrine. Stuff like that.

Thank you.

By: sully75

sully75 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:32:39 -0800

maybe not exactly what you are looking for but this is a picture of a tourist trap in the off season. I think it's got some irony.

I'm not sure the pictures you mention are ironic. I think they are weird/unexpected juxtapositions. I'm not sure I spelled that right.

By: benzo8

benzo8 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:00:22 -0800

I think you need to redefine your search - you're not looking for irony, but incongruity.

By: essexjan

essexjan — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:27:10 -0800

There were plenty of pictures taken after the tsunami of tourists sunbathing amongst the devastation. Is that the kind of thing you're looking for.

By: Kololo

Kololo — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:42:14 -0800

You're looking for photos of scenarios that don't conform to ignorant stereotypes. That's not irony. (That being said, i have a picture at home of people selling chickens on the sidewalk with a big glass office tower in the background. I'll see if i can dig it up.)

By: nitsuj

nitsuj — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:43:46 -0800

Thanks for the hints so far, but after looking up "irony" in the dictionary and noticing that the definition mentions incongruity, I think I've used it properly in this situation.

Irony: "An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity."

Just sayin'.

By: hippugeek

hippugeek — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:57:06 -0800

There's a photo I saw a few years ago of a trench-digging crew in India. There's a big sign saying "Men At Work," with a crowd of men relaxing around the ditch and one woman in the bottom of it heaving a pick-ax.

I'll try to remember the photographer's name and search for you later.

By: jkaczor

jkaczor — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:33:00 -0800

I can't remember where I saw one of a little girl in tears, throwing a tantrum (possibly even an ice cream thrown down at her feet) in front of the big floral arrangement at the Disneyland entrance (y'know .... "the happiest place on earth")...

By: nitsuj

nitsuj — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:54:09 -0800

FWIW, I found a bunch by digging around Flickr:

http://flickr.com/photos/latitudes/113536540/
http://flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/565020765/
http://flickr.com/photos/tatianacardeal/3801167/
http://flickr.com/photos/44589687@N00/353820790/ (nsfw)
http://flickr.com/photos/danielygo/125148783/
http://flickr.com/photos/kendrickbrinson/489048019/
http://flickr.com/photos/kirk_thorsteinson/359904223/
http://flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/76468122/
http://flickr.com/photos/isolatediguana/106043599/
http://flickr.com/photos/lukescheminger/48624891/
http://flickr.com/photos/27047646@N00/332027054/
http://flickr.com/photos/nairoozdotcom/105799507/
http://flickr.com/photos/80695122@N00/441116809/
http://flickr.com/photos/bamassippi/38747007/
http://flickr.com/photos/lostamerica/321381684/
http://flickr.com/photos/zsofijobbagy/753088435/
http://flickr.com/photos/carmon/381933524/
http://flickr.com/photos/uselessnanhai/12534283/
http://flickr.com/photos/mariomc/221916172/
http://flickr.com/photos/73858850@N00/418599260/
http://flickr.com/photos/kk/1320154693/
http://flickr.com/photos/ebacchus/73630473/
http://flickr.com/photos/randomrules/212335682/
http://flickr.com/photos/eland/213708432/
http://flickr.com/photos/14293304@N06/2066870435/
http://flickr.com/photos/danikagoes/148371323/
http://flickr.com/photos/11613980@N08/2238303955/
http://flickr.com/photos/thepassingstrange/1550786819/
http://flickr.com/photos/crystaln/522413826/
http://flickr.com/photos/cobraphil8/180559283/
http://flickr.com/photos/kellyharmon/2098797571/