Faces of Defeat

Remember not a long while back I wrote something about the problem with being number two? Well as if my thought had been sensed, TIME magazine in their website produces a new photo essay entitled 'Second Place: Faces of Defeat' in conjunction with the future release of a new pictorial book by Sandy Nicholson of almost the same title.

Here is how they have got to say about this exciting new book:

"2nd captures contestants and competitors following the announcement that they have not won first prize. This gently ironic and at times humorous work explores the moments after personal hopes have been dashed. The project is about expectation and failure in the world of modern competitions. Loss and disappointment are the norm for a majority of competitors, even if the discrepancy between first and second place is minute.

All the subjects were photographed moments after they had stepped down from the podium or immediately following announcement of their standings."

I am no big fan of pictorial books, plus judging by the few photos released by TIME, I must say that I am a bit dissapointed since the pain of losing was not really demonstrated by the subjects in the photos. Still, it would be nice to have this as a personal collection.