.

This one is loaded with meaning for sure. I am not going to delve into the meaning too much; I think this photomontage's aesthetics leaves a lot to be desired. I am guessing PT is implying the US veterans/soldiers have brought in freedom, right? It may even work without the montage. Also, some shallowness in the DOF would have helped to isolate the gravestones+flags from the green, but cluttered, background.

I think that this would have maybe worked even better without the montage, as noted by Mandar. The theme fit is excellent, but the montage is really taking a lot from this one, aesthetically speaking.

Theme fit is too evident for me. After all, you'd almost think that the White House has a copywright on the word "freedom"... I agree with the others that the photomontage was not needed. For me, a closeup on a single tombstone with minimal DOF would work better from an aesthetics standpoint.

 

Andre

I salute PT for the idea and agree with earlier comments about aesthetics and dof. Also, by isolating just 3 'culprits' too many questions are raised but I imagine these faces are meant to represent certain ideologies.

These men are deemed to be the enemies of political freedom as we define it - i.e. democracy/ capitalism. You've depicted through 3 faces : fascism & genocide, communism & genocide as well as terrorism. (I think people probably credit Osama with a lot more power than he possesses in reality but it is interesting how you've shown him in colour - alive and a present threat versus black & white and deceased (though all thought systems are extant to some degree.)

I'd quite like to see a similar take on the theme where the layered faces are the masks of the enemies of personal liberty, and the deaths emotional & psychological.

Well done, PT. Cheers

A brave statement PT, loaded with political implications. Seven's comments on the underlying message are much more eloquent than any I could have written.

 

Perhaps an "easy" approach to the theme (content and execution), but you have the merit of having thought it out and carried it out. Well done on both. I have a feeling this submission will generate lots of comments, always a good thing.

 

Overall I find that aesthetically you have done a good job. I'm somewhat surprised by the negative comments of others.

 

I think the tombstone image is a very good starting point for this. I see no need for a shallow DOF, in fact the line of flags and tombs has a military feel in line with the message. The lighting for the trees and background is very good, but I find the tomb stones a touch overexposed (or maybe they lack contrast, ie darker lettering and shadows). A lower POV might have enabled you to hide the road in the background. More grass would be nicer so the white tombs stand out even more. A slightly different POV or crop might have avoided the chopped off tomb bottom left.

 

At first I was wondering why Osama is show in colour. Thanks Seven for giving an answer on that. I feel he could be shifted down and to the right a bit, perhaps merging his beard with the whitish streaks of the background rocks. Other than that I wonder what it would be like to have the three faces less visible, almost something one doesn't notice at first glance.

 

Having said that, when I look into the leaves I see more faces appearing. Or is that my imagination?

I think the overexposure of the tombstone may have been intentional. The contrast between the shadowy figures of the ennemy leaders and the bright white monuments to soldiers who died defending freedom was probably more important to PT than aesthetic qualities of the image. I still think that simpler would be better but if the ghosts remain than the bright white stones are needed. Hope this makes sense.

 

Andre

Well I can not really say that I like this one, but that does not mean that it is not a good image. I think that I would have to recommend more color for this... the flags are your only bits of color and they look great! I love how they repeat with the tombstones as they recede to the left of the photo. Actually this photo is kind of a conundrum for me because most photos taken of graveyards are very creepy dismal affairs but this one has kind of a happy hopeful feeling. but then that feeling gets cancelled out by the evil people. I'm sorry I have just been rambling about this image and I doubt that you will find anything usefull in what I have said.

Mixed feelings on this one, PT. The juxtaposition is clear. The democracy, symbolized by the US flag, against the terrorism, fascism, and communism. Maybe patriotic, but not completely true, imo. Stalin was a stupid soldier created by the WWII during the giant fight against fascism. To be more specific -- he was created by his deadly enemy Hitler, from one hand, and by his good friends, Roosevelt and Churchill, from the other. Then he and the last two gave life to all the communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe. Just like this, signing a piece of paper at the end of the war. Should I mention the same company made the state of Israel on not the best place in the world, too. I'm not discussing the visual aspects of your poster, only the messages. And these messages are too simple and too standard to be true, imo. Regards. Blago

very provocative,I also have mix feelings about this one.

I agree with most of the previous comments, especialy with the fact that the faces are not realy necessary to convey the message we all perceive in the tombstone and flags... Anyway a very interesting ant tought provocative image.

 

Pascal

Hello, this is PT here. Thanks for all the comments. I see , everyone finds something different to say about this photograph. I like that. I wanted to disturb the free flying birds and free swimming whales. I wanted something more deep. The message and theme fit was much more important to me than the aestetics. I exaggerated, on purpose. As for me the word free - always means Freedom first, probably because I had to give up so much in life to become "free".

 

My statement was - to be free does not come easy, there will always be people who give their life for others to be free. The american flags could be any other flags as French or Brittish or.. It is only that I had a military graveyard on a photograph and by hazard it was an US graveyard.

 

As to the interpretation. I think Seven's and Andre 's second remark were the closest to what I wanted to say. For me the graveyard is a symbol. I didnot want it to be colourful or sharp, as I do not point on the names on the gravestones or flags . The trees in the background , on the contrary, symbolize the normal "free" life that these soldiers were fighting for. The villains in the picture are important as well. Communism is not yet from this world.. And the terrorism is making some free countries ( as the US) not so free any more.. That is why the symbol of terrorism is in colour and not so clearly visible in the picture as are Stalin and Hitler. It is mengled in our current life. The terrorism influences our free society and people could forget what Free means and vote for new "Big Brother is watching you" governments. People can be easily brainwashed , as happened in nazi and communist countries in the past.

Huf, that was it, pretty heavy he?

 

PS - I definitely do not agree on the Stalin picture based on the story of Blagoy, as I think Stalin together with Mao were the worst regardless of the western influence. They killed millions of own people, just like that. Stalin had been killing them before any world war started.

PT

 

 

the whole time I was thinking stalin and hitler were in bw because PT didnt have any color photos of them. Good to see some deeper interpretations than what I come up with.

 

I dont know that I can comment as well as the others so wont even go into it.

 

Knicki

PT, thanks for the post here clarifying your thought. I applaud your intentions, but, I think your perception of the world is naive. These people you depict here are villains for sure. But this perspective for instance completely disregards the "contributions" of "west" ( as you call it) towards the genesis of one of the villans -- Osama. He was heavily supported by the US in the war against the Soviet army in Afganistan. The same mujahideen that were on the "right" side then are now on the "wrong" side. What is happening now cannot be condoned, and should not be, but some thought about the origin of terrorism should be examined. All I want to say is there is grey area that needs to be thought about. Regards.

To Mandar and Sylvie . Thanks for your reaction. I wish I wrote the previous explanation more clearly, as I am afraid, both of you interpreted it not in the same way as I had meant it . For Mandar : I said only, that the war on terror can be having influence on the "free" society making the laws that could limit the personal freedom. Nothing said about the terrorism itself. For Sylvie: as I have mentioned, I am not pointing specifically to an US army , the graveyard could be any other graveyard, just by hazard I had a photograph of a US military graveyard. With this said, I am not discussing the US role on the Stalin era. I just want to say there were lot of people dying (at all continents) in the fight for freedom. Anyway thanks for the comments guys! I wanted to stir the calm waters and I did. PT

 

One year later! I can only appreciate the political message as already illustrated by others here, but photographically (or should I say 'illustratively') there are several problems.

 

First is the inconsistency in lighting which is almost always evident in photographic montages. Aesthetically it spoils it for me to appreciate.

 

Secondly, although the composition is balanced thoughtfully (weight-wise), it does not blend (ie parts into the whole). Cut out faces coming out of the trees (again lighting is inconsistent in these placements) does not seem fitting. They are floating and not grounded (both literally and sanity wise) which makes me uneasy - perhaps a metaphorical interpretation - but none of these characters are known for their natural or spiritual leanings to be depicted in sunlight and trees.

 

The gravestones suit, and the strength of their personalities, but trees and nature, lighting etc, does not meld well, and certainly does not go thematically or conceptially.

 

Just one view ....

 

Best wishes.