Challenge:Heroes (Advanced Editing II) Camera:Nikon D70 Location: Ft Benning, GA Date: Nov 13, 2004 Aperture: 2.8 ISO: 200 Shutter: 1/200 Date Uploaded: Nov 14, 2004
This occurred after graduation of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry at Fort Benning, GA. I was watching a Drill Sergeant monitoring each new graduate, as he exited the gym after having changed into their dress uniform for the trip home. As a last step, he straightened detailed each soldier as he exited, either with his eyes or by making fine adjustments to their uniform. Nothing new for either of them, but there was a different feeling in the air… of true mutual respect.
Steps:
- Capture
- Intial Crop
- Leveling (physical) of image
- 2nd crop
- Magic Wand to select Infantry rope
- Desaturate all but Infantry rope
- Adj layer – Curves
- Adj layer – Saturation
- Final cropping
- Flattening and image size for contest
- Change to .jpg from .tif.
- End
Statistics
Place: 19 out of 90 Avg (all users): 6.0221 Avg (commenters): 7.4286 Avg (participants): 5.4407 Avg (non-participants): 6.2275 Views since voting: 2429 Views during voting: 338 Votes: 226 Comments: 10 Favorites: 0
:: Hello from the Critique Club :: ............................................................
You've chosen a popular subject for many here and your aim with this has been largely successful. The soldiers do look bonded by mutual respect and you have captured the moment well, the key to the specialness being the impressionable boy looking on.
For me the spot blue is not particularly useful here since, as someone who is unaware of its particular relevance, it appears gratuitous and not crucial to the success or impact of the photo. I think it may be too subtle as well.
Technically, the composition is quite busy and, since this was advanced editing, I would have cloned out the close foreground blur on the left which 'closes in' on the subject too much.
Also, the contrast seems a bit light with some whites appearing a little blown. Some attention via levels, curves or the gradient map (black/white) in 'overlay' blending mode may have improved this. The main effect of deepening the contrast would be to add gravitas to the image making it more appropriate to the subject matter.
Thank you all for your comments and encouragement. The chance of catching the young boy, standing at near attention, completely enthralled with the newly blue young soldier, the drill sergeant and the interaction of pride between the two of them told the perfect story for me. Bassed upon the feedback, the image has touched a good many of you too.
This photo was the culmination of several emotional days as my son (not in picture) graduated from the Infantry Training Brigade at Ft Benning. During that time, and the weeks running up to Turning Blue, I learned of the significance of the [blue] rope and the honor that it symbolizes on each of these young men… volunteers all. It’s one thing to be drafted, but the volunteers that come into the army, be them National Guard, Reservists or regular Army are heroes all.
I absolutely love the way you used selective saturation here - so subtle and yet so effective. You've captured an emotional moment very well - you must be very pleased with this shot. One of my favorite entries in the challenge.
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