A.N.Z.A.C stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corps. The original Anzacs fought & died in the Gallipoli campaign of the first world war. Every year on the 25th of April, New Zealanders & Australians comemmerate Anzac Day to remember the fallen from all the wars.
One aspect of being on this site for the past few years is that you can start to appreciate good & bad photographs. I sifted through literally thousands of photographs that I had taken with both my cameras. I came to the conclusion that I have really taken a lot of snapshots over the last seven years since I went digital. Knowing what the competition would be like, I decided to enter a photograph that although technically is probably really bad means a lot to me.
He stood there, trying hard to remain proud, and strong, but an unexpected memory had broken through his barriers. It had come creeping in from the depths of his soul, where long he had buried it, thinking it so deep that it could never surface.
Yet surface it did, and caused him to sag in his proud stance, and he grabbed for the stock of his rifle to try and steady himself, for his mind swooned and threatened to topple him, and his eyes dropped to the ground and tears welled up uncalled for.
In his mind the cries and screams of the one that he had failed. The haunting memory of the sounds of gun-fire and dying and a sense of helplessness that threatened to tear him apart. The memory of the day that he could not reach the only man that he had ever truly called friend. The memory and guilt of that day that suddenly washed over him.
Yet even as his strength faltered, something deep inside kept him standing, and even as the tears ran down his face, he somehow found it within him to steady himself, to look back up, to stand straight and true.
It was his duty. It was his call. It was why he was here, and he would honor those that were lost, even if that loss had broken his very soul.
Makes me want to take off my hat, salute, or just stand in silence and think about those whose lives were cut short - a mother losing her son, a young mother her husband, young children their father - that we might live in freedom and safety. It is indeed a poor country that can't be grateful for the sacrifices of those in their military.
Nice shot, but I do not feel that this image captures the feel of the location. Perhaps a tighter crop on the subject could bring this into a more emotional realm instead of this journalistic realm that it currently resides in.
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
