Blue & white, colors of dignity (2006, 2nd Edition)

I've been taken this scene at the same time of the day three years in

a row. Last year's version was sold for a commercial, but this is the

best so far, I think.

Your comments are welcome, and thank you in advance.

Ray- I love the perspective view & the composition. I like the way the lights in the walkway leads my eyes right to the monument. The reflective properties of the "wall" are also super. However, I think the lighting on the wreath captures too much of my attention.

Because this is a very powerfully emotional image, especially for anyone who has significant memories of the VietNam War, I find my self saying, "change this to B&W". I am not normally a fan of selectively coloring a B&W image, I normally think it's kind of cheesy. However, I find that after changing this image to B&W it becomes an even more powerful image if the small American flag on the wreath is selectively returned to it's original colors.

Of course this is just my opinion, but when changed to B&W with only the flag colored it makes a much more powerful statement about war. Since the wall "is" an understated statement in itself, B&W captures the conflict surrounding this wall & it's war. I remember just how black & white the conflict was, there was very little "gray" area. And, no matter what side you were on, we were all Americans, which the colored flag symbolizes. Just a thought :)

Easier to show than tell. I am sure you could change this to B&W a lot better than I have, but it's just what I am thinking. Really a super image, with a super message that evokes strong emotion :)

Very nicely composed. It is a powerful image with lots of symbolism, the wreath, the wall, and the monument. I agree with Jayme that the lighting of the wreath is a bit too dominant. Both the color and B&W versions carry two strong messages; but for my preferrence I like the color version a bit more - it conveys a message the country is well supported in the past (the wall) and the future (the monument standing up tall); as compared to the B&W which carries strong memories and emotions. Excellent work.

Chung.