I see strength, innovatively displayed in that multi-ribbed condom..."enhanced strength and sensitivity" perhaps?

Where is VZ hiding the "power"? Maybe the condom is a little fuzzy 'cos it is thrusting powerfully...

[And...what's that goddam rusty chain doing...imposing itself so rudely...]

VZ: I don't see the world through the prism of condoms, Ray. Speaking of condoms, I often wonder why you are always in a good mood. I think now I know why.

VZ, you've captured it nicely here.
Love the contrasts.

P.S. I don't see condoms..

Cheers
Rob

VZ: :
RB: I don't see condoms...
VZ: What happened, Rob? Have you misplaced your glasses?

or perhaps the illusion of power Viktor?

VZ: Perhaps, Bill. In some cases it's the delusion of power. I like the topic. I might explore it a bit deeper in my photography.

Great tension Vik

VZ: Great tension usually happens, when we see the difference between what we are and what we want to be, Chris. (if you want to be philosophical, of course )

Condom or biberon or termometro....

VZ: You have to choose one, Ms. Stef. Don't disappoint me by choosing one of the last two.

a true photographer...

VZ: you must be thinking aloud, Ms. Tony

i like the pic, despite i don't see the contrasta between strength and power....they are complements rather than contrasting values....

a contrast could be simplicity vs esthetic ....but both powerful and strong...(that's my humble opinion, i'm a teacher and you're an architect...(and that's a contrast)

VZ: The world is much more complex than our conventional thinking of it, Ms. K.A. Strength and power could be a complimentary pair, or they could stand on the opposite sides of a barricade, as it has happened in our country for the last 8 years, or as it’s happening now in Iran.
I can’t believe I teach a teacher about the semantics.

My first impression is one of panic and claustrophobia. I guess that's the girls take vs. the boys.

VZ: You don't have to panic, Erika. Don't be fooled by the phallic symbolism that some folks see in here.

What an erection wrapped with a Guinness world record condom! I see both power and strength in it to look down upon that little guy next to it!

The chain? It's a constrain to me and can easily be removed and disappears without a trace...but try that on a fully erected building like this?....

VZ: It's easy to follow the beaten path, Ti. If I were you, I would apologize to Ray.

Nicely captured and executed.

VZ: What the hell is this, Ken? I thought we agreed not to use cliché on Nostalgia.

For grown up old farts like us I think we should be able to differentiate a joke from insult. But, I'd be happy to apologize to Ray if I ever insulted him.

Remember, English is not my first language either, and I seem to remember "someone" made fun of me when I wrote "sandwitch" one time... Relax, enjoy your vacation, Viktor, and bring me a sheephead if you could catch one! Now that's a challenge!

VZ: There was no insult in your reply, Ti. The condom path was too easy one to take and was already explored by Ray.
Can't guarantee you a sheephead, but I'm sure I'll catch plenty of sea trout and maybe, if I'm lucky, a redfish. Here's from last year:
http://nostalgia.shutterchance.com/photoblog/237007.htm

and i can't believe i can learn something from an architect, Mr. VZ hahaha just kidding you know...

well, remember that the 'semantic' of words is closely related to the context of the 'reader'....i wonder when you said in 'our country' did u mean USA or Russia???

and again 'i loved the picture' and my reading from it...

VZ: :
KA: i wonder when you said in 'our country' did u mean USA or Russia???
VZ: Of course, I meant the United States. I'm a US citizen and this is my country now with all its pains and glories. At the same time, nothing can squeeze the russianness out of me. Seems, I'll take it with me to hell, when time comes.

superb dof/comp Victor, what is Ray like lol. I think the two in hand are about to deliver a hammer blow in some hills far far away

VZ: more often than not the two work against each other, Tim.
Ray... he worries me at times

Thank you Viktor for bringing the issue of Iran.

I'm so proud to be an Iranian. And I want the world to know this. I'm proud of the strenght of Iranians. There's almost no way we can stand against their bullets and so called power. But we are creative. We are strong. We are the beating heart of the society.
They managed to get away this time (apparantly),but they can't go on like this forever. It has been very costly for them, and will continue to be.

Masses of people in unity can strongly win the power struggle.
There's no going back.

We, Iranian children of the 80s grew up whem nobody didn't even notice. And we shall overcome someday. There's no stopping us.

V

VZ: There is no going back, Shirin. You're absolutely right. The Supreme Leader crossed the line by casting his support for Ahmadinejad. Moreover, the whole experience turned Mousavi from a moderate reformer who wanted to work within the system into a real leader who want to blow up the whole system.
The entire world supports you and your generation, Shirin. I want you to feel it. But I want you to know as well, that there is no place for depression. The fight has just started, and a long way ahead of you. Mousavi, or whoever is the nest leader for reforms will need all you can offer.
"No pasaran", said Dollores Ibarruri back in 1936 Spain. "They shall not pass", people of Iran can repeat today.

Power is a delusion. I find more strength in fragility than might or force. My take on it all for what it is worth.

VZ: Throughout the history of mankind women have always found strength in their weakness and fragility (with rare exceptions) and used them wisely. Sri Chinmoi once said "...a woman’s strength is in the beauty of her tears..." I could not agree with him more, Dr. Kathryn.

Strength vs. Power well interpreted. (Huh, my spelling is now corrected - must be the reason why I had difficulty with SC the last couple of days).

When I opened the pic I first thought the city is held captive in some ideological sense.

Dunno why you ever wondered about Ray His comment about the wrapped dildo really got a lot of reaction.

VZ: :
Louis: ... I first thought the city is held captive...
VZ: A captive city... That's a hell of a concept, Louis.
Louis: His comment about the wrapped dildo really got a lot of reaction.
VZ: Sex sells. And Ray knows it.

Maybe, it is a repetition for you- the first lines of Bert Brecht's political song, The Moldau:

"At the bottom of the Moldau,
the stones wander.
There are three emperors
buried in Prague.
The powerful don't stay powerful and the weak don't stay weak. The night has twelve hours, then the day comes."

- but they express my opinion:
Hardly anything stays powerful, often weakness and fragility becomes more powerful!(I agree with Kathryn!) I like you - symbolic- pic that might evoke some thoughts about that question and that experience, just in our changing times, and I like this strong but surely rosty chain, but- that is essential- a chain has been built up from many details working together and forming one chain!

The comment of Shirin Moosavi is very moving- with my admiration, my compassion, and my best wishes for these "Iranian children..! Brecht's song could just have been written for them!

VZ, you are the most philosphical photographer I know- and while reading all the comments and your replies I have to say you are able to provoke so many interesting thoughts! That is your special and that should/might (oh, the modal verbs!)remain!