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May 18, 2004
354 KB
1190×900
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Comments: 60
Favourites: 20 [who?]
Views: 876 (0 today)
Downloads: 126 (0 today)

Camera Data

NIKON
E5700
10/4456 second
F/6.6
18 mm
100
May 18, 2004, 5:13:51 PM
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:iconsportygirl4114:
I know those who have had marked me for a while are currently curious about this shot. For one, it doesn't have a one-word/phrased, witty, all-meaning-encompassing title. It's okay, feel free to reach for the nitroglycerin (the :heart: med), I'll explain in a second. Furthermore, compounding the possible confusion already at hand, it's a capture of the American flag without a title. Normally good patriotic/anti-american souls alike would have something to say about a shot like this, and title it accordingly, but of course, knowing me, I have to go against the grain a little bit to make my point about why I didn't title this. *smirks*

I started out like I do with all of my pictures. I see something in a new and curious way, and go on a quest to show it off to anyone willing to look. I shoot it, upload it, fix it if necessary, frame it, title it, and present it, normally, but there was a slight quirk in the system this time after step 3. When I title something, I like to let the shot title itself in a way. I'll gaze at it, try my best to look into it, and usually it pipes up fairly quickly. But this time...it sat in a bombarding silence.

What did I see in this photograph?

I saw the American Founding. While I may not necessarily agree with the direction my government is taking this land at times, I love my country...I love what it was founded upon, and the process my Founding Fathers went through to create it.

I saw the colors, what they stand for, and their inclusion in this standard to symbolize what characteristics "pure americanism" would hopefully emulate. Red, for Valor and Courage. White, for Purity. Blue, for Perserverance and Justice.

I saw the history, from the beginning to the present. I saw the wisdom, the idiocracy, the good, and the mistakes. I saw the progression, the regression, the "last full measure of devotion," and lives gone to waste. I saw the immigration, the explorations, and the discoveries.

...I saw my family...I saw the future...I saw me...

There's so much tied up in the history of a national banner, I dont think i could ever really find a title I'd be happy with *smirks*

Maybe "Oh, say, can you see?"

Until then, Enjoy =)


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This piece can also be seen at =onewordphoto :pointr: Untitled.
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:iconkilraq:
*Stands, looks directly at this flag. My hand comes sharply above my eyebrow, hand erect and straight in a salute. I stand this way for a minute, a tear oddly in my eye.*

Old glory...long may she wave.

In the end... I can say what I will about why I joined. Why I serve and decided to give 6 years of my life to the military. I could use the standard clause and say I joined for college, I wanted to see the world, It was something to do.

But I wouldn't be telling the full truth.

I my heart, I decided long ago, that I would take this route. I decided it in history class, when I read of the Revolution, heard of me striving for freedom, a place to call home. Of rights for all men (and women), a chance to say what you want, to protect what you love.... Rights to Life, Freedom and the Pursuit of Happiness. I UNDERSTOOD those who strove, my mind was enthralled with the concept.

And in the end... I am here. So you can feel protected. So you and your friends can attend your college. So we can argue about who and what and whys of the government, so if someone choose to they could say and speak everything they want about those in command. So we can vote, so we can live, so we can walk the streets of our cities and not live in fear of some country invading us.

Good use of texture and lighting on this flag. It seems to have a tinsy bit of glitter on it, but thats me being picky.

*Drops salute and sharply turns about and marches off*

--
"It is our choices that choose our life. We can blame it on no one except ourselves. Where we go, what we ate, who we choose to have relations with, these our the choices that decide our life. So be careful with your choices. They are all you have."
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:iconsportygirl4114:
~sportygirl4114 Oct 27, 2005  Hobbyist Photographer
amen reverend. amen. :salute:

I think you'd enjoy the American Heritage course we all take here at the Y. Take it by independent study online, I think you'd enjoy it very much. I did =)

--
You have to take this world which you experience and translate it to a two dimensional piece of paper and make it come alive again to somebody that has never experienced it before. - Rodney Smith, photographer
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:iconkilraq:
*Smiles* I will. Got a link maybe?

--
"It is our choices that choose our life. We can blame it on no one except ourselves. Where we go, what we ate, who we choose to have relations with, these our the choices that decide our life. So be careful with your choices. They are all you have."
Reply
:iconsacredspace:
The lighting is wonderful!
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:iconsportygirl4114:
~sportygirl4114 Sep 8, 2005  Hobbyist Photographer
thank you!

--
You have to take this world which you experience and translate it to a two dimensional piece of paper and make it come alive again to somebody that has never experienced it before. - Rodney Smith, photographer
Reply
:iconelfstar:
I just love this So much!! As soon as I can figure a way to buy prints (I don't have any plastic),I will buy one definitely!! :w00t:
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:iconelfstar:
I would love to get this as a print! Truly it is beautiful. :heart:
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:iconsportygirl4114:
~sportygirl4114 Jul 14, 2005  Hobbyist Photographer
*chews on her pen* in that case, I'll make it available.

--
You have to take this world which you experience and translate it to a two dimensional piece of paper and make it come alive again to somebody that has never experienced it before. - Rodney Smith, photographer
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:iconelfstar:
LOL!! YAY!!! :clap: :flagus: :heart:
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