Weekly Photo Contest Challenge: A Moment in History (January 18 - January 24 )

[StrollerEd]

This relates to what could be regarded as photo-journalism, accidental or not. When reviewing past photographs, which in retrospect captured a moment of history, personal or of wider importance? A minimal title, and date, is allowed although backstory at the end of the exercise is encouraged.

I'm attaching one I took at the National Library of China (Beijing) in September 2009, with title 'Serious Intent'.


Standard rules apply.

Follow all relevant local laws regarding stay-at-home orders. If you can't go outside, try and take a photo at home or grab one from the archives.

• Do not comment, vote, react or click “like” on images prior to the winners being announced.
• The photographs must be your own work.
• You may only submit one photo per contest.
• This contest runs for one week. If in doubt, check the dates in the title.
• At the end of the week, The Judge will choose a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place photo, providing as much feedback as possible.
• If the Judge is unable to complete the selection within 48 hours of the deadline, then last week's 2nd place has to step in. 3rd place takes over should 2nd place be similarly unable to officiate.
• The 1st place Winner will start a new thread with the topic/theme of their choice, and act as the Judge for that contest. (Winner has 48 hours to create a new theme, after that it defers to 2nd place).
• Be sure to update the Contest Master List as soon as you post a new theme.
• Contest ends at the end of 1/24/21, Mountain US time - whenever that is

 

[anotherscotsman]

Give us a chip... by another scotsman, on Flickr

 

[deep diver]

"Find the cost of freedom.........." (Crosby, Stills, and Nash)

 

[Clix Pix]

A heartfelt moment in history, June 2006: three women joyously hug as they connect at the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure walk/run in Washington, DC.

 

[oblomow]

Outdoor light near Dresden

 

[OldMacs4Me]

A warning shot ignored. 10th street Bridge, near Downtown Calgary 2005.

 

[tizeye]

Special Delivery

 

[StrollerEd]

Submission of photographs for consideration now closed. Conclave now on progress

 

[StrollerEd]

First, an acknowledge of appreciation, and apprehension, in being asked to do this week’s competition. And, of course, my thanks to those who contributed their images on this week’s theme of photo-journalism during a week of amazing happenings in Washington DC – truly moments in history having global significance.

I am a newbie on this Digital Photography, less qualified to judge technical quality than most. Nevertheless, I must pass judgement, and today, a photo’s a photo, for all that


@anotherscotsman With timeless unspoken question, this image has momentum, requiring the viewer to want to know what happened next. The excellent use of black and white imagery should promptly place this in anyone’s Sunday newspaper.


@deep diver This speaks to the moment we are at. The stars and stripes of the Union fenced and estranged. What next will happen is unknowable. It’s a lovely photo, lots of competing lines and that clever trickery with the colour – I need to learn how to do that


@Clix Pix Difficult to escape the depth of emotion. An infectious image of joy captured in the moment. It is tinged in my mind with the agonising prospect of loss.


@oblomow Re-purposed shaped metal hangs against everyday background of wood, glass and concrete. An image that prompts a collision of thoughts about moments passed, made more complex with Dresden in its title.


@OldMacs4Me Is this the opening shot which launched a long running Canadian Noir TV crime series, based perhaps upon some known tragedy? I like this image. The sepia works for me but I’m confused by the title.


@tizeye A moment captured which begs an explanation, foolish behaviour or the segue to a mysterious back story of the high life? I like the angle chosen to capture both the lines of the post office and the boldness of the yellow car.


Deciding places on The Podium has been tough, and I’ve checked that we can do multiples, so with Honourable Mentions awarded to @tizeye, @oblomow:


3rd @Clix Pix, @OldMacs4Me

2nd @anotherscotsman

1st @deep diver
That top spot awarded for an image that stands to remind us of momentous events we surely all hope will be resolved peaceably.


Many thanks again to you all.

 

[deep diver]

Wow. Thank you. These were all worthy photos (as always).

StollerEd -- you did a good job with the judging. Every judge uses their own criteria. I think that is one of the things that adds richness to this forum.

I'll be back in 3 days with a new topic. That way anotherscotman will have to step up and do it.

On the other hand, I am afraid of what the payback will be.

I'll have something up tomorrow.

 

[Laird Knox]

I'm I too late?

Michigan went live with online casino gaming Friday so last week was a busy one. Then again I miss more weeks than I participate in.

 

[Clix Pix]

Ooh, thank you for the position in 3rd!!! Congratulations to my fellow third-placer on the podium, OldMacs4Me, and to AnotherScotsman, plus everyone else -- but especially to Deep Diver for that poignant, meaningful image which so rightfully belongs in first place.

Oblomow: your image gave me chills....instantly evoking reminders of a terrible time in history which was extraordinarily painful for so many people, and which from which scars still remain, even in 2021.

 

[tizeye]

@tizeye A moment captured which begs an explanation, foolish behaviour or the segue to a mysterious back story of the high life? I like the angle chosen to capture both the lines of the post office and the boldness of the yellow car.


Deciding places on The Podium has been tough, and I’ve checked that we can do multiples, so with Honourable Mentions awarded to @tizeye, @oblomow:


3rd @Clix Pix, @OldMacs4Me

2nd @anotherscotsman

1st @deep diver
That top spot awarded for an image that stands to remind us of momentous events we surely all hope will be resolved peaceably.


Many thanks again to you all.

First, congratulations to Deep Diver and others. Looking forward to next weeks.

The back story. I finished a photo shoot of some real estate in a neighboring town and swung by the Post Office on the way home. Had my camera sitting right beside me. This had just happened when I arrived and was probably an issue of hitting the gas instead of the brake. Would have been hard to have been speeding as parking lot entrance at corner and this was mid building. One way lane with angle parking street side and building side. Technically that wasn't a parking spot but the open ramp up to the door, not having to step up to a sidewalk.

Skipped going into the Post Office. The fire station was 3 blocks away and heard their siren approaching so after quickly taking a phot, I returned to the car and quickly got out of the parking lot before I got boxed in.

Looking at the license plate, It is a specialty plate noting U S Army, but the round blue placard doesn't appear to be anything issued by the DMV...at least not on their website. "Disabled Veteran" simply start with "DV" and wheelchair handicapped are either metal stamp in plate or the square blue placard. Enlarging in Photoshop, appears to be some sort of whimsical smiling clownlike figure.

 

[deep diver]

First, congratulations to Deep Diver and others. Looking forward to next weeks.

The back story. I finished a photo shoot of some real estate in a neighboring town and swung by the Post Office on the way home. Had my camera sitting right beside me. This had just happened when I arrived and was probably an issue of hitting the gas instead of the brake. Would have been hard to have been speeding as parking lot entrance at corner and this was mid building. One way lane with angle parking street side and building side. Technically that wasn't a parking spot but the open ramp up to the door, not having to step up to a sidewalk.

Skipped going into the Post Office. The fire station was 3 blocks away and heard their siren approaching so after quickly taking a phot, I returned to the car and quickly got out of the parking lot before I got boxed in.

Gives a whole new meaning to "door-to-door service."

 

[Ish]

Congratulations to all! @deep diver I love the poignancy of this photo. I think to many, freedom and justice have never felt more precious

 

[anotherscotsman]

First, an acknowledge of appreciation, and apprehension, in being asked to do this week’s competition. And, of course, my thanks to those who contributed their images on this week’s theme of photo-journalism during a week of amazing happenings in Washington DC – truly moments in history having global significance.

I am a newbie on this Digital Photography, less qualified to judge technical quality than most. Nevertheless, I must pass judgement, and today, a photo’s a photo, for all that


@anotherscotsman With timeless unspoken question, this image has momentum, requiring the viewer to want to know what happened next. The excellent use of black and white imagery should promptly place this in anyone’s Sunday newspaper.


@deep diver This speaks to the moment we are at. The stars and stripes of the Union fenced and estranged. What next will happen is unknowable. It’s a lovely photo, lots of competing lines and that clever trickery with the colour – I need to learn how to do that


@Clix Pix Difficult to escape the depth of emotion. An infectious image of joy captured in the moment. It is tinged in my mind with the agonising prospect of loss.


@oblomow Re-purposed shaped metal hangs against everyday background of wood, glass and concrete. An image that prompts a collision of thoughts about moments passed, made more complex with Dresden in its title.


@OldMacs4Me Is this the opening shot which launched a long running Canadian Noir TV crime series, based perhaps upon some known tragedy? I like this image. The sepia works for me but I’m confused by the title.


@tizeye A moment captured which begs an explanation, foolish behaviour or the segue to a mysterious back story of the high life? I like the angle chosen to capture both the lines of the post office and the boldness of the yellow car.


Deciding places on The Podium has been tough, and I’ve checked that we can do multiples, so with Honourable Mentions awarded to @tizeye, @oblomow:


3rd @Clix Pix, @OldMacs4Me

2nd @anotherscotsman

1st @deep diver
That top spot awarded for an image that stands to remind us of momentous events we surely all hope will be resolved peaceably.


Many thanks again to you all.

Thanks for the contest - difficult to enter and to judge but well done on your commentary. Thanks for the podium but the winners for me are certainly @Deepdiver and @oblomow, both very thought provoking images.

 

[StrollerEd]

Thanks for the contest - difficult to enter and to judge but well done on your commentary. Thanks for the podium but the winners for me are certainly @Deepdiver and @oblomow, both very thought provoking images.

I agree that the image from @oblomow was provoking, and well crafted - I confess that I was knocked sideways by the mention of Dresden. Straightaway I recalled my first reading of Slaughterhouse 5 and that complicated my judgement.

 

[oblomow]

I agree that the image from @oblomow was provoking, and well crafted - I confess that I was knocked sideways by the mention of Dresden. Straightaway I recalled my first reading of Slaughterhouse 5 and that complicated my judgement.

`So it goes'

 

[deep diver]

The new contest is up and waiting for you:

Weekly Photo Contest Challenge: PEACE (January 26 - February 2)

This week's theme is prompted by StrollerEd's final comment on my image from last week's contest. He wrote, "That top spot awarded for an image that stands to remind us of momentous events we surely all hope will be resolved peaceably." I firmly believe that when we are facing troubled times...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[OldMacs4Me]

I agree that the image from @oblomow was provoking, and well crafted - I confess that I was knocked sideways by the mention of Dresden. Straightaway I recalled my first reading of Slaughterhouse 5 and that complicated my judgement.

I will pass along something my uncle told me. He was the chief gunnery officer on a wing commanders B-29 during the Tokyo firebombings. He said the official story that they flew at 5-8000 feet was a lie. Once over Japan they came in just above treetop level, then struggled to gain sufficient altitude to release their bombloads.

Because it was the wing commander his plane then flew back over Tokyo taking photos. He then mentioned seeing many human torches and would say no more. After the Tokyo raids General Curtis LeMay decided that gunners were no longer needed. Leaving them and the ammunition on the ground allowed each plane to carry an additional 1000 pounds of firebombs. I believe about 60 Japanese cities were attacked in this manner. Official fatalities for the combined raids were claimed to be just under 1 million, but more realistic estimates are at least double that.

According to a German neighbour, the nightbombers in Germany used similar tactics. In a way it was a brilliant tactic. They were simply too low for the flak gunners to hold them in their sites. Not to mention the psychological impact of those planes just 100 feet above your head. I can recall an old B-17 flying past our place on its way to an air show. The ground actually shook and that was a single plane which was about half a mile away.

 

[OldMacs4Me]

So the backstory on the flooding shot and the reason for the title. Calgary is a fairly major city which started near the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, not too far downstream from the Canadian Rockies. The Elbow river has a single dam in the southwest part of the city that is used primarily as water supply for part of the city. The Bow River has several dams up river from Calgary. Bearspaw Dam on the Northwest edge of the city is both water supply and power generation. Above that is Ghost Dam which catches water from the Bow and Ghost Rivers. This dam is supplemental water supply but primarily power generation and recreation. Above Ghost on the Kananaskis River are several smaller dams; Barrier and the assorted Kananaskis Lakes. These are primarily power dams. Water flows down from Upper Kananaskis Lake through the various other dams generating power along each step of the journey.

A secondary but non-profitable purpose to these dams is flood control. Obviously the power company likes having power dams at or near capacity. The higher the head the greater the energy being harnessed and the better the reserve, should there be a few years of drought. Mid June is when snow runoff tends to peak. Ideally from a flood control perspective these dams should be fairly low at this point, especially if there is good snow pack remaining.

OTOH power companies want to hedge their bets and like to see the levels just below the flood gates. Which usually works pretty well unless we get heavy rains in the mountains about that time. This will cause much of the remaining to snow to melt all at once and adding that to the rains causes flash flooding. This was what happened in 2005 and as you can see the Bow River in Calgary was well above safe levels. Minor damage happened along both the Bow and the Elbow that year.

In 2013 the snow pack was heavier as was the rain. The reservoirs were all nearly full. The result was major damage to some communities in the flood plain of the Bow, along the Elbow River and Downtown Calgary, mainly because nothing was learned from the 2005 flooding.

Which should I hope explain the title.