He served his country

© Eric Alper

He served his country

Uploaded: September 10, 2009 21:10:27

Description

Exif: F Number: 4, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/320 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 28.81 mm, Model: Canon PowerShot G3

Comments

Trudy L. Smuin level-deluxe September 10, 2009

Wow Eric - very dramatic! Great Job! #1179103

A P September 10, 2009

Powerful capture, Eric #7933510

Janice Mezzacappa September 10, 2009

Emotional and exceptional capture Eric! #7933514

Tess L. Yee September 11, 2009

Wonderful capture, Eric... #7934099

Amy M. Wilson October 23, 2009

Congratulations on an OUTSTANDING Finalist, Eric!!! #8063445

Nancyj E. Hovey level-classic October 23, 2009

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
on your deserving FINALIST!!! 8o) #8063534

Eric Alper October 23, 2009

Thank you very much Amy and Nancy #8063805

Tess L. Yee October 23, 2009

Congrats on this wonderful finalist, Eric! #8063841

Mark Dodge October 23, 2009

Way to go Eric! Congratulations! Best of luck in the next round. #8065168

Carla Metzler October 23, 2009

Congratulations on such a well presented image that brings tears to my eyes.
Best wishes. #8066316

Eva Pastor October 23, 2009

Beautiful and touching image!
Congratulations. #8066904

Eric Alper October 24, 2009

Thanks very much Mark, Eva, and Carla.
Mark, good luck to you in the Masterpiece group this month. You have some beautiful images there.

Eva and Carla, when I submitted this to the Masterpiece membership group as a storytelling photo, I was a little surprised at just how much this image created an emotional response.

I think that the story behind this image belongs here as well.

As I noted in the Masterpiece forum, this was actually an older relative who served as a pilot during World War 2 who died a couple of years ago. It was very sad but a lovely, memorable, dignified funeral.
It felt a little strange taking photos during the funeral ceremony but tried to do this inconspicuously and tastefully. This was the result.

Not sure what you imagined the story would be for this image. I imagine that many of you conjured a story of a young person who gave their life fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan, someone who died before their time.


Many people in the masterpiece forum had a WWII soldier in mind; some had buried their fathers in a similar way, had received the flag that was covering the casket.
There were comments in that forum that I thought were particularly insightful that I wanted to include here:
Deri Doherty
We should never forget the sacrifices that any soldier has made to their country regardless which war or generation they come from. While the current generation is more on our mind and in the news it should not diminish the fact that others have served in our military before them.
Deri

9/12/2009 10:29:45 AM


Sharon C. Hinze

this image is nameless and faceless, and represents every soldier who had died for or served his country, with the risk that entails. The image tells the story of many not one. Sharon
9/12/2009 10:47:00 AM
#8068992

Jeff Robinson level-deluxe October 25, 2009

Congrats Eric on your Powerful and Well Deserved Finalist! Jeff #8071940

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