Weekly Photo Contest - Dec 5 to 12 - HONOR

[deep diver]

Today has been declared a national day of mourning in the States in order to honor President Bush. Regardless of one's politics, there is no question that he spent a lifetime of distinguished service to his country.

So, the theme for this week is HONOR. Interpret and represent the theme as you choose.

The usual rules apply:

· The photographs must be your own work.

· Be creative and have fun.

· You may only submit one photo per contest.

· Please do not comment on photos until after the judging has taken place.

· The contest runs for one week, starting NOW!

· At the end of the week, The Judge (last week's Winner) 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 for close, then a vote will be carried out to select a winner. This will be based on the number of "likes" each image has. In the event of a draw, the second place winner from the previous week will choose the tiebreaker.

· 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 new theme, after that it defers to 2nd place).

· Winners please update the Weekly Photo Contest Master thread at :
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/weekly-photo-contest-master-list-2015-tbd.1945331/

 

[kenoh]

Great theme. Here is a monument to honour the British Commandos.

The Commando Monument, Scottish Highlands by Ken OHagan, on Flickr

I will add that this is a monument in the Scottish Highlands on the A82. The monument was placed there to honour the Commandos who trained in that part of the country, a particularly bleak, harsh location with boggy marshlands and lots of tough terrain.

 

[AllergyDoc]

Memorial Day program at a local cemetery. My son was asked to sing. He’s the nervous-looking half-bald guy in the bottom center of the image.

 

[akash.nu]

India gate - considered as the northern “entry” point to India. It’s on one of the most famous roads in Delhi called the Rajpath. It’s also a war memorial. There are 3 flags right in front of the gate representing the 3 forces of India - army, navy and airforce.

This is from my last visit to India at least 10 years ago.

I really wanted to take a picture of a specific memorial called the - Amar Jawan Jyoti, which is to commemorate the fallen soldiers in all the wars India has been involved in. Didn’t get time for that. That would’ve been the perfect shot for this challenge.

 

[oblomow]

It's this bridge again. Since the opening of this bridge, it is used to honor the soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division. They crossed this river on this spot on 20 september 1940. 48 Allied soldiers lost their lives. Every day at sunset 48 pairs of street lights are lit in a slow marching pace, to honor these soldiers. The total time of the crossing of these lights is 12 minutes. More info: website and https://www.warhistoryonline.com/ar...-504th-pir-h-company-after-action-report.html

Last september 1, James Megellas, Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) en Roy Hanna, Captain (Retired) participated in the 1414th march. Both are veterans of the original crossing and are 101 years old.

 

[tizeye]

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

 

[CmdrLaForge]

New York State Fallen Firefighter Memorial, Albany

 

[mollyc]

Not going to be a winning entry, but one for the numbers, anyway. From the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (aka the Punchbowl) in Oahu, Hawaii. At least it *says* "Honor."

 

[swifty168]

Rememberance poppies. Australian War Memorial’s Roll of Honour.

 

[deep diver]

These are great images. Keep them coming.

 

[Strider64]

Wayne County First Responders Memorial located in Hines Park (Plymouth Michigan)

 

[deep diver]

One day left. Now's your chance to get in those last minute entries.

 

[Donka]

Not had the time or opportunity to make a serious entry but wanted to contribute something for this theme...


Scottish Korean War Memorial by Andy Whiteford, on Flickr

 

[deep diver]

About 2 more hours. Now's your chance for last minute entries.

 

[deep diver]

Okay. This is closed. I'll be back in a while with th results.

 

[deep diver]

Outstanding images, as usual. The usual disclaimers --- These are my opinions only. I try to be honest in my critique and no offense is meant. I apologize ahead of time for any bruised egos. As always (at least for me), I am looking for the story and/or emotion in the image.

kenoh
I am generally not a fan of a lot of negative space, especially when it is dark space. You make it work in this image. The high contrast accentuates the statue and draws the focus right to the face of the first soldier. The framing is perfect. I love everything about this image.

AllergyDoc
I love those Mapleton mountains. I have seen them many times since I started an active relationship with Discovery Ranch. There is a lot going on in this image and my eye just does not know where to go. I probably would have been most interested in the flags until you told us about your son. That changed the nature of the image for me. I have to work find the story you told, which is not prominent enough to be a focus of the image.

akash.nu
These big arched gate monuments are a time honored design for a memorial. As with Ken's image, the use of dark negative space works well. I wish the image was less noisy, but I imagine that was unavoidable. There are so many of these arched monuments that I find the details more interesting than the form. The monument in this image is not sharply focused which keeps me from seeing those details.

oblomow
Sometimes the image tells the story and sometimes the story elevates the image. This is a beautifully composed cityscape that needs the story, whether for this contest or not. I did a little reading about Nijmegen and Operation Market Garden. Those soldiers changed the tide of the war and this bridge is a fitting memorial to their sacrifice .

tizeye
I first visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall shortly after it was completed. It was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had. I do not feel that experience when I see this image. Had you focused on the names, or the memorial items placed at the base of the wall, or captured the size of the monument, or.........

CmdrLaForge
First responders hold a venerated place in my family's consciousness. I like the composition, but I imagine the story is in the faces of these Bravest. I wish you had exposed for the faces or at least brought up the shadows in post-processing.

mollyc
Another great image. The perspective accentuates the length and height of the stairs, and leaves me with an unsettling feeling that no fallen soldier should be so far away. My father-in-law was among the first wave of soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge. Fortunately, he made it home after initially being reported as killed in action. He is buried 3 miles from our house after living to the age of 92, but your image is particularly evocative for me.

swifty168
This conveys the drama and emotion that I want to see in such a memorial. The contrast between the rich red of the poppies and the drab color of the wall is striking. The shallow DoF and the perspective strongly convey the feeling that warfare goes on and on and on......... Did you also shoot this in a landscape orientation?

Strider64
This is a nicely composed and exposed image, but it does not resonate with me. The flags at half staff say something, but I would not have any idea what is going on had you not identified the place.

Donka
Here also, had you not identified this, I would not guess that this is a war memorial. This image does not work for me. It is entirely a matter of personal taste, but I don't like when an image is so over-processed.



The podium is:

3rd goes to mollyc

2nd goes to swifty168

1st goes to kenoh


On to the next.

 

[Donka]

Nice judging - I had the same top two - congrats to the winners and all involved.
As for my over processed image - I was trying to capture an oriental/manga element to cover up what was ultimately a very drab day/lighting. I don't like over processed either truth be told hence my disclaimer about not being a serious entry. Feedback always good though.

 

[mollyc]

Thanks for the mention! Congrats to @kenoh!!

 

[kenoh]

Outstanding images, as usual. The usual disclaimers --- These are my opinions only. I try to be honest in my critique and no offense is meant. I apologize ahead of time for any bruised egos. As always (at least for me), I am looking for the story and/or emotion in the image.

kenoh
I am generally not a fan of a lot of negative space, especially when it is dark space. You make it work in this image. The high contrast accentuates the statue and draws the focus right to the face of the first soldier. The framing is perfect. I love everything about this image.

AllergyDoc
I love those Mapleton mountains. I have seen them many times since I started an active relationship with Discovery Ranch. There is a lot going on in this image and my eye just does not know where to go. I probably would have been most interested in the flags until you told us about your son. That changed the nature of the image for me. I have to work find the story you told, which is not prominent enough to be a focus of the image.

akash.nu
These big arched gate monuments are a time honored design for a memorial. As with Ken's image, the use of dark negative space works well. I wish the image was less noisy, but I imagine that was unavoidable. There are so many of these arched monuments that I find the details more interesting than the form. The monument in this image is not sharply focused which keeps me from seeing those details.

oblomow
Sometimes the image tells the story and sometimes the story elevates the image. This is a beautifully composed cityscape that needs the story, whether for this contest or not. I did a little reading about Nijmegen and Operation Market Garden. Those soldiers changed the tide of the war and this bridge is a fitting memorial to their sacrifice .

tizeye
I first visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall shortly after it was completed. It was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had. I do not feel that experience when I see this image. Had you focused on the names, or the memorial items placed at the base of the wall, or captured the size of the monument, or.........

CmdrLaForge
First responders hold a venerated place in my family's consciousness. I like the composition, but I imagine the story is in the faces of these Bravest. I wish you had exposed for the faces or at least brought up the shadows in post-processing.

mollyc
Another great image. The perspective accentuates the length and height of the stairs, and leaves me with an unsettling feeling that no fallen soldier should be so far away. My father-in-law was among the first wave of soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge. Fortunately, he made it home after initially being reported as killed in action. He is buried 3 miles from our house after living to the age of 92, but your image is particularly evocative for me.

swifty168
This conveys the drama and emotion that I want to see in such a memorial. The contrast between the rich red of the poppies and the drab color of the wall is striking. The shallow DoF and the perspective strongly convey the feeling that warfare goes on and on and on......... Did you also shoot this in a landscape orientation?

Strider64
This is a nicely composed and exposed image, but it does not resonate with me. The flags at half staff say something, but I would not have any idea what is going on had you not identified the place.

Donka
Here also, had you not identified this, I would not guess that this is a war memorial. This image does not work for me. It is entirely a matter of personal taste, but I don't like when an image is so over-processed.



The podium is:

3rd goes to mollyc

2nd goes to swifty168

1st goes to kenoh


On to the next.

Wow, I thought @swifty168 had it in the bag! I love that image.

Thank you very much indeed. Much appreciated. A fab theme and a great set of comments. Back shortly with the next comp

 

[deep diver]

Nice judging - I had the same top two - congrats to the winners and all involved.
As for my over processed image - I was trying to capture an oriental/manga element to cover up what was ultimately a very drab day/lighting. I don't like over processed either truth be told hence my disclaimer about not being a serious entry. Feedback always good though.

I believe that if someone is going to post then the image deserves to be taken seriously, regardless of what the poster says.
[doublepost=1544634027][/doublepost]

Wow, I thought @swifty168 had it in the bag! I love that image.

Thank you very much indeed. Much appreciated. A fab theme and a great set of comments. Back shortly with the next comp

swifty168 placed 2nd. Maybe he got the better deal.

 

[kenoh]

I believe that if someone is going to post then the image deserves to be taken seriously, regardless of what the poster says.
[doublepost=1544634027][/doublepost]

swifty168 placed 2nd. Maybe he got the better deal.

Oh yes he did... yep, they deffo won this round... all the glory, none of the overhead... ha ha ha

 

[akash.nu]

akash.nu
These big arched gate monuments are a time honored design for a memorial. As with Ken's image, the use of dark negative space works well. I wish the image was less noisy, but I imagine that was unavoidable. There are so many of these arched monuments that I find the details more interesting than the form. The monument in this image is not sharply focused which keeps me from seeing those details.

Completely agree with your observation. I didn’t have much to go with this week. So pulled this one out of a 10 years old folder. taken with a crappy phone camera back then.

 

[oblomow]

congratulations @kenoh
I saw that you already put up a new contest. Fast work.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Great entries everyone. Not been around much to take the time to contribute, never mind shooting!

 

[Clix Pix]

Congratulations Kenoh, Swifty and Molly! This past week or so have been rather busy for me and little time to shoot anything new or even to find something in my archives.....