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For The Country by `gilad:icongilad:

Categories Photography > Conceptual

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©2007-2009 `gilad
:icongilad:

Artist's Comments


You born to it, to that legacy
You sing the songs, learn the history
You believe in your part in keeping it great
You don't ask what it can do for you, you do for her
You cherish its values, you fight for them, and you die
And after all that, it's not about you. It's about your country.


****

This was taken from the Arlington national cemetery, Washington D.C, where the tombs of the unknown soldiers are located. More than 300,000 people are buried at Arlington Cemetery. Veterans from all the nation's wars are buried in the cemetery, from the American Revolution through the Iraq and Afghanistan. The marbled names of the ones that put the country first.
In the background is the Washington monument (The obelisk). The tallest free standing masonry structure in the world, in honor of the first President of the United States, George Washington.
I wanted to get use the view of the Obelisk to create the point of view that shows the dialog of the ones that sacrificed themselves for the country. I used a Sigma 70-200 from a low angle to create that. The very shallow DOF is on purpose, so I could focus the Obelisk and blur the details of the graves, and making them all into a symbol and not actually the people that died.

This is a strong concept to me, though not American. I can sympathize with "fighting for your country" idea from my own background. Sometimes it feels dumb going to war as one of the soldiers, as a number, but sometimes that's the only thing that makes sense. This piece does not commend war, or critique it, it only honors the ones that were willing to fight for it.

Comments


love 3 3 joy 1 1 wow 12 12 mad 0 0 sad 2 2 fear 0 0 neutral 0 0
:icontofuheiress:
!TofuHeiress Jan 31, 2007, 10:04:28 AM
This is the best picture I have ever seen.
:iconillusionaryfallacy:
~IllusionaryFallacy Jan 31, 2007, 10:04:55 AM
very powerful. I really like it
:iconelazar:
~Elazar Jan 31, 2007, 10:05:00 AM
Nice job! You always have great weather for your pictures.
:iconanahalamt:
~AnaHalamt Jan 31, 2007, 10:05:25 AM
what more can I say...
its amazing

--
Good Girls Dont Eat

-------------------------------------

Cause without love I wont survive...
:iconcaptain-galant:
~Captain-Galant Jan 31, 2007, 10:06:26 AM
Brilliant colors, the blue really stands out so well against the muted headstones. I also love the limited depth of field which gives the scene an almost other-worldly quality.
:icongazza-nz:
~Gazza-NZ Jan 31, 2007, 10:06:34 AM
great use of dof to enhance the conceptual aspect of the image ... :)
:iconfuckitall:
~fUcKiTaLL Jan 31, 2007, 10:06:54 AM
wow i love the angle and the focus, a very unusual shot!!!

--
have you already seen my recent deviation ??
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Details

January 31, 2007
362 KB
362 KB
588×850

Statistics

307
657 [who?]
16,256 (1 today)
115 (0 today)

Camera Data

Canon
Canon EOS 5D
1/8192 second
F/2.8
200 mm
400
Jan 28, 2007, 9:00:42 PM

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