In memory of 3000 US troops killed in Iraq

firedancing4life

This is a much publicized "iraq memorial" in Lafayette, CA near the BART station. I don't want to spark a huge debate here but, just to give you all a brief background on this display...it's on private property but the city says it violates some municipal code regarding the size of the sign..NOT the content. Someone defaced it a couple weeks ago, but it has been restored. There are supporters for and against this display.

Not sure if it made the national news, but I figured I'd try to capture its controversal nature in the following picture.

I know...color in b/w has been done soo many times and it seems so cliche in this case. Which do you like better if any?





Thanks for looking.

-Kevin

RogersDA

Given the choice I think all B&W works better here. The color highlights are so small that they do not stand out enough to make a statement (IMO).

What did you do for the B&W conversion?

firedancing4life

RogersDA wrote:

Given the choice I think all B&W works better here. The color highlights are so small that they do not stand out enough to make a statement (IMO).

What did you do for the B&W conversion?

Good point Roger. I think I either used the Canon RAW software...or I did a channel mixer in photoshop. I usually dip into both and see what looks better. Sometimes desaturate or gray scale for a different look.

I'm pretty sure I did the RAW conversion.

RogersDA

firedancing4life wrote:

Good point Roger. I think I either used the Canon RAW software...or I did a channel mixer in photoshop. I usually dip into both and see what looks better. Sometimes desaturate or gray scale for a different look.

I'm pretty sure I did the RAW conversion.

That's fine. Also, one of the difficulties here is the angle. I think it introduces a lot of background (the tall trees to the left) in order to get in as many of the crosses as possible. Not sure if that works here too well.

firedancing4life

RogersDA wrote:

That's fine. Also, one of the difficulties here is the angle. I think it introduces a lot of background (the tall trees to the left) in order to get in as many of the crosses as possible. Not sure if that works here too well.

You make an excellent point. I was limited by sidwalk and a busy street so I wasn't sure...and I was limit on how to compose.

Here's a shot from straight on. I cropped out some of the base of the hill.

El Kiwi

Nice shot, I like the second one much better. The crosses disappearing round to the right of the sign create a sense of depth that's lacking in the first.

drdane

firedancing4life wrote:

You make an excellent point. I was limited by sidwalk and a busy street so I wasn't sure...and I was limit on how to compose.

Here's a shot from straight on. I cropped out some of the base of the hill.

I like this shot better composition-wise as it shows more of the crosses, though it's harder to read the sign.

Have to say I prefer the red, however. To me it speaks of the blood spilled on both sides, and the innocent people as well. Nice job, either way!

clove

Now that they've put up the neon sign there, I was thinking of heading down there to see if I could get an interesting night shot before someone vandalizes the neon.

fire1035

It has made the national news. I saw something about a month or so ago. I say if it's on private property then let them be.

I also like the second shot better, I think it gives more of a feeling of the gravity of the display (I don't know if that is the appropriate word or not but it is the only one I can think of).

firedancing4life

clove wrote:

Now that they've put up the neon sign there, I was thinking of heading down there to see if I could get an interesting night shot before someone vandalizes the neon.

whoa...I didn't notice that?! how recent?

ian408

Hey Kevin!

The neon was there as recently as last week. Though there were some
questions as to whether that was allowed or not (again, another city
ordinance). It was used to display the number casualties and was a fixed
number (3000).

I think the news photogs are shooting it from the BART station which is
across the street. At least that's where they've been interviewing folks
from recently.

I think if you had a single American flag that wasn't attached to a cross,
like the one near the sign, and it was more prominent, that would work
better for selective color. For me, selective color works best when it's
subtle.

Thanks for taking the chance to post this.

Ian