Saturday, May 3, 2008



Lurlena was a candidate for Sturgeon Carnival Princess, and lost in a process that was wildly unfair: parents bought votes as a fundraiser, so whoever had the most money could buy their daughter the title. Needless to say, that wasn't an option for the Furlongs. Lurlena was, hands down, the most beautiful, well behaved girl there, in a perfect new dress.

This is taken in the back of the car on the way home.

13 comments:

cindyphoto1 said...

my darling litle girl. you will always be a princess to me. and thank you amanda. you are a god send you will photography the movie stars. our what ever is your hearts desire. your photographic skills are. top notch. love you and will greatly miss you cindy

cindyphoto1 said...

i hope to see your photos in national geographic. someday soon

::: Eddie QuiƱones ::: said...

This breaks my heart and really pisses me off at the same time. I don't know of any fundraiser that is worth making some little girl cry like that.

Isabelle Roughol said...

Beautiful, heartbreaking photo. Way to teach kids about ethics and justice. That system is revolting.

Steve Bartel said...

This is one of those ever-so-rare fusions between a beautiful photo and a moment that truly needs one.

And Lurlena, nothing important in life is ever decided on a stage. Keep your head up.

ParkerMB said...

i often forget that the simplest stories, simplest images and simplest captions are capable of having the strongest impact.

this feels like a one-shot gem, did you make many frames in the car with her?

very well presented

Jenn said...

A- mazing! But this makes me so deeply sad. I want to hug her.

Emily said...

Eyelashes and tears... lovely.

w said...

it may be for the best that she learned about this early in life. it took me twenty years to figure out that we don't live in a meritocracy.

now that she knows the rules of the games she'll be better able to play. you can still win a rigged game, you just have to scheme harder than the person next to you.

great shot.

Amysue said...

This photo makes me remember the feeling I had when I realized that life is completely unfair! Beautiful.

cata said...

long ago some troubled souls started the symbolist movement. the aesthetics of the ugliness was one of their legacies. the picture itself is beautiful. the moment is as ugly as human nature can be sometimes.
i want a print. i'll pay in beers.

cata said...

correction: the moment is not ugly, but what generated it is.

katie said...

and to think, a few months ago you were wracking your hard drive for "moments"...