remembrance sunday

[devilgas]

first attempt at covering such an event. it's been given the velvia treatment, hence the high contrast

[coupekid]

Re: remembrance sunday

Hi Dave,

I hope you dont mind me being blunt here, but for me it doesnt work.

The high contrast has lost a lot of the textures, especially in the uniform.

I would also have not cropped the shoes, and the bottom of the gun off.

I do however, like the angle of the shot, the inclusion of the poppies and the soldier, head down in a moment of thought and remembrence works well.

Cheers,

Ben

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: remembrance sunday

I find that the lighter colours are blown out & my eyes are constantly drawn to the ghostly devilgas watermark, which spoils the rest of the photo!

[Stephen]

Re: remembrance sunday

With due respect to Ben and forgetting the watermark thing, this is not really what the photo is about. I would argue that the photo is about the emotion of the event and the concept of remembrance. If we look beyond the textures thing and the high contrast etc, we see the emblems of what we should be concentrating on. The Glorious Dead who died for Freedom, the Cenotaph, the poppies and the soldier, albeit a cadet by the looks of it, but bowed in respect and thought about the events we are remembering on the 11.11. I think it conveys this emotion, so in my eyes its a good picture. The rest is personal preference.

[Pops]

Re: remembrance sunday

While I have the utmost respect for the true nature of the occasion the photograph has been offered for critique and the occasion, no matter how serious, should not cloud that.
The pose is a touching one and captured nicely but missing out the lower section of his legs/feet has spoilt it. It's already been said that the brightness of the memorial has taken away the texture of the stone and I agree. I think I would also have left a wee bit more space on the right.

[coupekid]

Re: remembrance sunday

With due respect to Ben and forgetting the watermark thing, this is not really what the photo is about. I would argue that the photo is about the emotion of the event and the concept of remembrance. If we look beyond the textures thing and the high contrast etc, we see the emblems of what we should be concentrating on. The Glorious Dead who died for Freedom, the Cenotaph, the poppies and the soldier, albeit a cadet by the looks of it, but bowed in respect and thought about the events we are remembering on the 11.11. I think it conveys this emotion, so in my eyes its a good picture. The rest is personal preference.

Hi Stephen,

I totally understand what your saying, but I also believe that each photograph is subject to the individual looking at it. As such, I can only say what my opinion is, and what I would have prefered to see.

In this case, and as I said in my original critique, I like the angle, and what the photograph captures in terms of the poppies, and the bowed emotional head. It captures the moment very well. But I just would have loved to see more detail in the uniform, which has been taken away by the high contrast effect, and seen the soldiers (sailors?) highly polished shoes, and gun tip.

So, if I may, let me put this to you Stephen, do you think that the inclusion of the feet, and gun, and being able to see the textures of the uniform would improve the shot, or spoil it bytaking the focus away from the moment?

[Stephen]

Re: remembrance sunday

So, if I may, let me put this to you Stephen, do you think that the inclusion of the feet, and gun, and being able to see the textures of the uniform would improve the shot, or spoil it bytaking the focus away from the moment?

As I read your reply I was ahead of you and considering the question already. I'm not going to be dogmatic about it, but to be honest detail such as you mention can take the attention away from what the picture is trying to convey. You are thinking in terms of photo technicalities that normally you would like to see. But this is more about symbolism for me. What we see are symbols of the great wars and associated things, the cenotaph, poppies etc don't need to show technical excellence. A wreath means something in our minds and the poppy wreath reminds us of the servicemen who fell on the killing fields of Northern France and Belgium. Seeing the boys feet and the tip of the gun are not going to help in this, it is enough just to see what the boy is doing and represents. Well thats my opinion any road up.

[coupekid]

Re: remembrance sunday

As I read your reply I was ahead of you and considering the question already. I'm not going to be dogmatic about it, but to be honest detail such as you mention can take the attention away from what the picture is trying to convey. You are thinking in terms of photo technicalities that normally you would like to see. But this is more about symbolism for me. What we see are symbols of the great wars and associated things, the cenotaph, poppies etc don't need to show technical excellence. A wreath means something in our minds and the poppy wreath reminds us of the servicemen who fell on the killing fields of Northern France and Belgium. Seeing the boys feet and the tip of the gun are not going to help in this, it is enough just to see what the boy is doing and represents. Well thats my opinion any road up.

Thanks Stephen,
I certainly dont disagree about it being a symbolic image. However, i would still maintain, possibly through ignorance, lack of imagination, experience, or otherwise, that the image would be improved by a wider crop, and to drop the high contrast effect.

We'll agree to differ me thinks!

[devilgas]

Re: remembrance sunday

thanks for all the replies guys. high contrast velvia was chosen to accentuate the red of the poppies. there are reasons for the framing, but sound like a lame excuse, so i won't bore you with them
i did revisit the original last night. to get detail from the black uniform of the sea cadet, significant lightening was required which totally killed the "for freedom" lettering on the really smooth stonework of the cenotaph.

the aim of the photo series was for capturing the poignancy of remembrance sunday for submission to the local press.

the rest can be found at http://www.devilgas.com/remembrance.asp

if you're a watermark hater than ya may want to give them a miss