There but for the Grace of God

I originally posted this in the Lounge, and it was suggested I post it here. I'm not much of a photographer, even though I try, but I liked this one.



Original post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4972201

I'm glad you posted it here, I missed it in the lounge. The Vietnam Memorial offers a plethora of photo opportunities. It is truly striking in its simplicity.

:cry:

you for sharing.

Pulls at my heart.

It may also qualify for our current contest. The theme is "Juxtaposition",
and I believe your photo provides a powerful one.

was killed August 29, 1968, panel 46 West, Row 56. :cry:

Depressing as hell.... but still very good.

You took what I would (sometimes seriously, sometimes not) call a Zen photograph. You waited to capture a moment in time that had considerable significance to yourself... which you conveyed in a way that would make others (like myself) "see" your moment.
:thumbsup:

Don't.Forget.That.Moment.

I like that description.

As mentioned, I'm not much of a photographer. I don't have the photographer's mindset. I think in terms of words and phrases and clauses. I rarely allow the photograph to speak for itself, but I suppose sometimes I should. My original point in posting the photo, to the Lounge, was to offer the accompanying text, which was constructed to do what you say the photograph does all by itself. I should take a lesson from the fact this got more comments here than in there.

Thanks, all, for the comments.

.. I don't have the photographer's mindset."

It's really quite simple. Or, to steal a popular quote; "Vision is the art of seeing things invisible."
:D

I'd say that you are indeed a photograher and you do have the mindset. When you think in terms of words (write) it really isn't any different. A little tougher... but no different. With a photograph you try to capture an image that tells the same story you see to others, piques the same emotion that you feel, or causes one to pause-think-wonder-imagine.

To steal another popular quote; "A technically perfect photograph can be the world’s most boring picture." I'll always contend that the techno-crap is secondary to "seeing". I struggle with both because that's just me. I'm an anal ol' bastard.

Thanks for sharin' this. Have fun... post more when you can.
:hi:

Geez... I'm getting waaaaay too fuckin' heavy lately. I need to post some cute puppy snaps or sumtin' to get off this track.
:crazy:

And why it is such a powerful place. The names, of course. The reflection of the photographer who wants to "memorialize" it and what it means. The person shading his eyes to "see it" and its import more clearly. And how their presence makes the names, and the lives they represent, more visible.

I was there a couple of weeks ago, but didn't have time for it. Had to catch a plane, but next year.

Good shot! Watch out with this group. Your posture in that reflection may cause some learnin' if your the one on the right.;)

We were in DC last week for the blossoms- many good photos resulted
ds took this one- similar to yours- that is dd with the red bag over her shoulder. Almost as if she were walking right through the wall:


The Wall is so sobering... and we did all the others, WWII, Korea...the experience DRAINS you- as it should...

The morning of the day that shot was taken we were shopping in Borders in Chevy Chase when I looked up to see a recruiter accosting ds. I swear- I am NOT making this up. It felt like I time traveled over 3 or 4 aisles because before I knew it I had placed myself between the jerk and MY CHILD. Son handled himself admirably and quickly dispatched the jerk without me adding a single word. Jerk picked the WRONG boy to try to send off to a tragic death in an illegal war. Son reads DU constantly- he knows the truth.
Here he is last Summer at a Peace Rally:

I know you're not making it up. I've seen recruiters eye my daughter as well.

Which brings to mind a brief story, if I may be allowed it in this forum.

My daughter is at the age where she gets tons and tons of military recruitment literature. She has a step-father who thinks it would be a good idea, but a mother and a father who think otherwise. I recently discovered she also has an "uncle," who is actually one of her step-father's best friends, who thinks the fact the step-father thinks it is a good idea makes him an idiot.

My daughter was sorting through her mail, and her "uncle" was there. She opened a piece from West Point, and the first thing she saw was an 8x10 glossy of Fearless Leader. As though she were picking up a dirty diaper, she lifted the picture and the literature, using the envelope to prevent her from getting "germs" and tossed it in the trash. Her "uncle," watching this, suddenly slapped his leg, shouted Ha HA!!! and said in the direction of the step-father, "See there, she is a smart one, no thanks to you," then turning to my daughter finished, "You're a good girl. You might want to take that trash out now before it poisons something."

I like this guy. :-)