Don't Cover up the Facts - American War Cemetery Margarten - Holland

I made this shot at the American War Cemetery in Margraten. President

Bush will visit this place today. 8103 American soldiers, victims of

WO II are buried here.

Well done... the sky/lighting captures the somberness evident in the scene very well.

Thank you very much Peter for your appreciation and your kind words:)

Impressive! IMHO, if there was a person on the bench, it might have been even more glum and dramatic.

I like your comment Anton. And perhaps your suggestion is a good one. The next time I go to the Cemetery I'll ask somebody to take a sit there:)

This evokes stron emotion. Excellent framing and good exposire

Beautifully composed using the low angle Ada. I'm not sure about having someone on the bench. It may throw off the symmetry, but worth a try. There's a good sky in this. Only thing is it appears tilted

Thank you for commenting Jeff. Nice to hear that you like this shot.

 

Hi Ken, I appreciate your kind comment and I admit, it's 1 mm. Alas, next time better;)

Hoi oma,

 

leuke foto! en heel griezelig..

En een mooie en enge lucht zeg.

 

:) Groetjes flore

Hi grandma,

 

Nice picture! and creepy. And a nice and scary sky.

 

:) Greetings Flore

 

 

Ada, it is a good composition, triangle formed with the bench, and the tree in the head of it, good work in the right time, and compatible sky as well. Pnina

The light fits the subject perfectly.

Thanks to you Flore, Pnina and Mario. I appreciate your kind comments very much.

 

O Pnina, I've worked the whole saterdaynight till 7.30 AM sundaymorning to get this shot finished and placed on PN before President Bush should visit the cemetery for the official ceremony. Through this I haven't seen the life broadcast on TV. I was asleep, finally:))

 

impressive view, the sky adds much to it.

POWERFUL! Ada, this is spectacular, from the composition to the wonderful tonal range and general post-processing.

 

I like the empty bench. They died, and most of the time no one is there remembering, and soon no one who remembers them personally will be alive to sit there.

 

My uncle Henry Boyd Kelly was killed under George S. Patton's command the day before I was born, and about three weeks before the war ended. He was twenty-seven. His body was brought back from the Nuremburg area and buried near here.

wow. wow. bravo for the colors and scenery. very impressive. well done!

B:)liana

Thanks very much Hans for your appreciation of this photo.

 

Lannie, I'm touched through what you've told about your uncle. He as such a young victim made the consequenses of the war felt for you and your family. So many soldiers and innocent people have lost their lifes through hunger, illness, systematic destruction, heavy bombardments and firings during and in the last days of the war.

And you've described so very well what I mean to say with the title I gave to this picture Lannie;

With a clear blue sky and a green field of grass it looks o so peaceful here. But the cause which have led to the creation of this cemetery was horrible. Even the darkest cloud isn't dark enough to represent the horrors of war. And there doesn't exist a colour which comes close to those of the scorched earth. And that is what we have to remind ourselves to prevent new wars in the future. Lannie, I know my ability to express myself in the English language is poor, so I hope you understand the essence of it:) Great you were here, Lannie.

 

Hi Biliana, thank you very much for taking the time to look at this shot. It feels good that you are under the impression of this shot.

Great you were, too, Ada. Your English is very, very good.

great composition and perspective on this Ada. The mood of the clouds work well with this subject!

and moody shot, Ada dearest! The white of the bench and crosses stands out so wonderfully against the gloom of the earth and sky. You have done a great job, here, and created a touching memorial. Thank you....

 

Lee

Thank you Lannie!

 

Detlef, nice to see you. I appreciate your comment, like I always do.

 

Hi Lee, it's really good to see you my dear:) and to read your great comment.

excellent...cong.

Thank you very much Salih. I'm very honoured with your comment:)

Beautiful memorial work Ada! My mother lost her fiancee over Germany, but not American, so not there I'm sure. A person on the bench would give it an entirely different emotion I think, this is great as is.

Nice to see you:)) It's unbelievable how many people, who have gone trough the WOII have lost a relative or a friend. It most have been terrible for your mother to loose her dearest. Do you know if his body is buried in Europe, Amelie? There are much more war cemeteries in The Netherlands than only Margraten. It are mainly Canadian cemeteries, because the Canadians formed, next to the American, English and Polish troops, the most prominent ones who have liberated Holland. The last fights were very heavy. Nearly 6000 Canadian soldiers have lost their lifes by that and their bodies be buried in 7 Canadian War Cemeteries spread out over Holland. If your mother knows were her fiancee is buried, perhaps I'm able to take a shot of the grave. I live close by the German and next to the Belgium border and also there are many war cemeteries, particular in Yeper (Belgium), there are many British cemeteries. Let me know if I can do something for your mother or the relatives of your mother's fiancee, Amelie:)