Absence

"Presente". This Italian word means "Here I am", as a soldier is expected to shout

when he is called to his duty. In Friuli, the most north-eastern Italian region, there is a

monument to the soldiers fallen during the WWI. There are 100.000 graves, 100.000

corpses, organised in an enormous stair that covers a hillside. Despite the word

"presente", what you can fell there is the absence, the absence of life, the absence of

sense of the war.

This is my manifesto against all wars and against each war.

... sic transit gloria mundi ... powerful shot, Hi...

che bella, Mauro. Ciao Elena

This is a sobering reminder. Your narrative and visual presentation are powerful. Thanks for sharing. Regards, ~~~~~~~~~Linda

This photograph cannot stand on its known except to those already aware. If your explanation had not been there I would not have any context for this scene. It would have remained a curiosity. Even after knowing the context, to be true, it does not really move me. I just noticed the small figure (the head, really), reloaded the photograph in another page and enlarged it. Ah! Now it has impact. In the smaller frame that opens up on the critique-writing page I had not really marked the names inscribed above the first row, nor had the time-worn stone made any impression on me. But the bald face profile has little impact on me. If the face had been turned towards me and our eyes had made contact it would have been a different reaction. All said, to summarize, without context I would have probably gone on to the next submission without bothering further; if i had rated it would have probably been 3-4. Knowing the context, but not having enlarged it, 4-4. Having enlarged it 5-5.

Thank you for your description of the photograph. Your tribute is well received by me as I feel much the same as you regarding war.