Holocaust.

cmr164 · July 31, 2004

So I went to Boston's Holocaust memorial to take pictures of the lines of numbers for the challenge and came to two conclusions. One is that my photos can not do justice to the subject and the other was that even if I could take the finest photo in the world, I would not use it for a contest.

The many many millions of numbers etched into the glass of the too many towers of the monument turn it into a green grey statement of death where every number adorned the forearm of a concentration camp victim, whose bones became soap, whose skin became lampshades, whose smoke and ashes blew across Europe and Asia... Go there. Look at the numbers from afar. Go close and read the numbers close up. Read the statements carved into the stone you walk on. And fear not to shed tears, they are the homage to the dead.

SeeMoon · August 2, 2004

Thanks for sharing this Charles..i think you are doing them justice; by your pictures and your story. I understand what you mean though; it would be weird to use something like this for your own benefit. But pictures and stories like this will make people aware and remember!

wxwax · August 2, 2004

cmr164 wrote:

One of your best ever, Charles. I also like the rocks shot - it reminds me of the end of the movie Shoah... I couldn't stop the tears.

cmr164 · August 2, 2004

SeeMoon wrote:

Thanks for sharing this Charles..i think you are doing them justice; by your pictures and your story. I understand what you mean though; it would be weird to use something like this for your own benefit. But pictures and stories like this will make people aware and remember!

wxwax wrote:

One of your best ever, Charles. I also like the rocks shot - it reminds me of the end of the movie Shoah... I couldn't stop the tears.

Thank you, both of you.

lynnma · August 2, 2004

Very moving shots Charles. especially the last two... thanks.
Lynn

rutt · August 4, 2004

I was too involved in bikinis, bike racing, and turtles and I missed these. They are very good and the narative was moving.

I wonder if there is a way to get photos that tell more of the story. Perhaps some reflections of faces in the glass over the numbers? I don't really know. I love these photos, but the subject seems very very deep and a great photographer, like Cartier-Bresson, might be able to tell a more complex story here.

So I guess, I'd say this is a place worth revisiting with your camera often.

Holocaust.

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