Paying Tribute, Korean War Memorial, Springfield, IL: IR An unreal surreal event visited by kids whom we hope never have to face the reality of blood and horror. A vain hope?

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

IR

An unreal surreal event visited by kids whom we hope never have to face the reality of blood and horror. A vain hope?

Tribute, Korean War Memorial, Springfield, IL

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Very powerful and emotional, Jim.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Stunning, emotional shot Mr. Hill.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Linda From Maine wrote:

Very powerful and emotional, Jim.

Thanks, Linda. Your comments are appreciated.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Frank2013 wrote:

Stunning, emotional shot Mr. Hill.

Thanks, Frank. It's an emotional place. The names of some of my friends are inscribed thereon. The names are what most of the kids are reading.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

jim hill wrote:

Thanks, Frank. It's an emotional place. The names of some of my friends are inscribed thereon. The names are what most of the kids are reading.

Your mention of names inscribed reminded me of my first visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. I had joined the Navy 4 years before the end of the war and knew many, many people who served in Viet Nam (even my stepfather).

My visit to the memorial about 10 years after war ended was profoundly moving.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Linda From Maine wrote:

Your mention of names inscribed reminded me of my first visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. I had joined the Navy near the end of the war, but while the draft was still in effect. I knew many, many people who served in Viet Nam (even my stepfather).

My visit to the memorial about 10 years after war ended was profoundly moving.

I know what you mean. I often have to pat moist eyes every time I visit this memorial. I understand the need for defense but aggression is beyond my comprehension. I suppose it will always be with us.

Thank you for your service, Linda.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

jim hill wrote:

IR

An unreal surreal event visited by kids whom we hope never have to face the reality of blood and horror. A vain hope?

Indeed, a powerful memorial...and a meaningful image to me...but my reaction to the image is ...where the hell are some adults to put that day's outing into some meaningful perspective for those kids...not with a talk to the group...but one-on-one...to tie in some of the names, perhaps with families they know today...it doesn't just ....happen...like osmosis....

It reminds me of the Lincoln Memorial...Parents and kids marveling at the great sculpture of the towering, seated Lincoln....but few if any read the words of his 2nd inaugural address on the wall.... and even fewer actually discuss their meaning with their kids..... how are the kids to get an inkling of what is actually memorialized?

Good image, Jim, and obviously...it speaks to me.....

O.K....off the soapbox...
Dave

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Great image Jim and yes could be a vain hope. Man seems to almost seek out the opportunity to fight each other
Maybe the only saving grace of having Trump in the
White House is I do not see him trying to impose American type democracy on nations not ready for it. So maybe these kids will be spared. Lets hope so.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

Jim, I like the IR but the image not so much. It is an eye level perspective with the backs of several people in a random configuration. It is quite centered, and to be blunt ordinary, liken to a travel pic but with IR. I love the IR and especially the trees in the background. The light is appropriate for the technique but the composition is lacking. I think the emotional element requires greater intimacy, a closer shot with faces, gestures, a leading line with people, a lower or higher and closer perspective. That's just my personal opinion.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Uuglypher wrote:

Indeed, a powerful memorial...and a meaningful ima... (show quote)

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Billyspad wrote:

Great image Jim and yes could be a vain hope. Man seems to almost seek out the opportunity to fight each other
Maybe the only saving grace of having Trump in the
White House is I do not see him trying to impose American type democracy on nations not ready for it. So maybe these kids will be spared. Lets hope so.

Thanks for the compliment Billy. Let's hope we no longer try the folly of imposition of the "American Way."

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Mark7829 wrote:

Jim, I like the IR but the image not so much. It ... (show quote)

Hiya Mark.

Liked your picture of light. Nice job.

As far as this piece is concerned I realize it's not up to my standards of fine art photography either. It is a snapshot and not a bit above the ordinary.

I very seldom visit this monument. I lost several close friends in the Korean Police action while attached to the 23rd regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division from the 30th medical group as a medic. A temporary assignment. After all these years it's still painful.

I was actually at this location trying to photograph the Vietnam memorial which is about a hundred yards to the north. I noticed these kids offloading from several school buses and congregating around the several monuments at the cemetery. This was one of the shots. It was not my intention to make anything pretty from this monument. It is what it is. It was posted not on artistic merit - it was never intended as such.

Thanks for you perceptive comments and I do understand where you are coming from.

Jim

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

jim hill wrote:

Hiya Mark. br br Liked your picture of light. Nic... (show quote)

Jim, I understand your point of view as well. War has a horrific and un-measurable cost. And those that cause it are so removed from those who have to pay for it. The symbolism of the monument outside of photography as a meaning all its own. I was only addressing the photography and never meant to take anything away from men and women who fulfilled their duty to this county.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Mark7829 wrote:

Jim, I understand your point of view as well. War has a horrific and un-measurable cost. And those that cause it are so removed from those who have to pay for it. The symbolism of the monument outside of photography as a meaning all its own. I was only addressing the photography and never meant to take anything away from men and women who fulfilled their duty to this county.

Mark

Thanks for the clarification. As you may or may not know, I am no slouch when it comes to creating works of artistic merit. When I post something of this nature it's not due to a lack of skill or knowledge. Photography is, however, so much more than that. If you are knowledgeable of the contemporary world of art you are aware that so called "ordinary"
photographs seem to be the rule of the day - not the exception: i.e., Gursky's Rhine II - which recently sold at auction for $4.3 million.

Jim