“The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” - General Douglas MacArthur, Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command in Korea
For me personally I have always found the Korean War Veterans Memorial one of the most profound and at the same time saddest memorials on the National Mall in Washington, DC. It may have to do with the fact that it is often overlooked by the nearby memorials of the ever so popular Lincoln Memorial and emotional Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Korean War has been nicknamed, “The Forgotten War” since it has been overshadowed by World War II and the Vietnam War. It is unfortunate that most Americans still overlook this period of our history.
The memorial consists of nineteen stainless-steel soldiers on combat patrol marching through rough terrain. It was dedicated in 1995 to honor the nearly 37,000 Americans who gave their lives in the 1950-1953 war (or conflict as some may call it).
As a photographer I have alway found it difficult to photograph the Korean War Veterans Memorial from an artistic point of view. It doesn’t have the grand Parthenon-inspired architecture like the Lincoln Memorial nor does it have the majesty of the World War II Memorial. Also, the lighting on the statues can be very contrasty and not consistent from statue to statue. I have been at this memorial many times and I have always had a hard time looking for a creative angle. One morning I walked down to the memorial before sunrise and circled around the soldiers before I eyed this composition.
I was playing around with Nik HDR Efex Pro 2 and I came up with this unique color scheme. It reminded me of those old Korean War film footage that were shot in black and white and later converted to color.
2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the ending of the Korean War. In light of the Memorial Day holiday, which in the United States is a day to honor and remember the fallen who have given their lives in service to their country, I wanted to pay tribute to these soldiers and let them know they have not been forgotten.
Honor the Fallen!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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Showing posts with label tree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tree. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
So what are you going to do with your dash?
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma–which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” - Steve Jobs
To explore is to seek new challenges.
People ask me all the time why I love to travel. I respond by saying I love new challenges. Then they usually follow up by asking me what my favorite place has been.
“The next destination,” I invariable state.
One day I was sitting in church and the pastor was preaching a sermon on living a fruitful life. He displayed a picture on the screen of a gravestone with the year of the date of birth and date of death (1909-1994).
“That’s your life, a simple dash. What you do between the moment you are born and when you die is up to you,” he declared. “So what are you going to do with your dash?”
I was raised by very strict Asian parents and when I went to college I was expected to major in electrical engineering (naturally because all Asians excel at math). I was an electrical engineer major for about a week before I switched to a double major of economics and political science. When my father angrily asked me why I went against his wishes I simply responded, “I’m doing something about my dash.”
I’m still doing something with my dash by fulfilling my wanderlust. Last month I was on the Garden Isle of Kauai, Hawaii. I filled my compact flash cards by photographing the lush greenery, stunning beaches and postcard views.
Anahola Beach Park is located on the east shore of Kauai and is a favorite of locals. Since most of the beach is protected from the high surf by a reef, it attracts more kids than surfers.
So that is what I have been doing with my dash. What have you been doing with yours?
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
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To explore is to seek new challenges.
People ask me all the time why I love to travel. I respond by saying I love new challenges. Then they usually follow up by asking me what my favorite place has been.
“The next destination,” I invariable state.
One day I was sitting in church and the pastor was preaching a sermon on living a fruitful life. He displayed a picture on the screen of a gravestone with the year of the date of birth and date of death (1909-1994).
“That’s your life, a simple dash. What you do between the moment you are born and when you die is up to you,” he declared. “So what are you going to do with your dash?”
I was raised by very strict Asian parents and when I went to college I was expected to major in electrical engineering (naturally because all Asians excel at math). I was an electrical engineer major for about a week before I switched to a double major of economics and political science. When my father angrily asked me why I went against his wishes I simply responded, “I’m doing something about my dash.”
I’m still doing something with my dash by fulfilling my wanderlust. Last month I was on the Garden Isle of Kauai, Hawaii. I filled my compact flash cards by photographing the lush greenery, stunning beaches and postcard views.
Anahola Beach Park is located on the east shore of Kauai and is a favorite of locals. Since most of the beach is protected from the high surf by a reef, it attracts more kids than surfers.
So that is what I have been doing with my dash. What have you been doing with yours?
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog
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Tuesday, May 28, 2013
A Charlie Brown Christmas from Washington, D.C. 2012
Last year I spent time in Washington, D.C. visiting my sister and photographing the monuments and memorials. I was at the U.S. Capitol to photograph the Capitol Christmas Tree (this year’s White House Christmas Tree was a dud).
Besides the Christmas tree, there are two other temporary changes at the Capitol if you look closely. One, you can see the scaffolding on the Capital lawn preparing for President Obama’s inauguration ceremony next year. Two, the Capitol flags are at half-staff as a sign of respect for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
I will leave it to the Peanuts character Linus to explain the true meaning of Christmas. In this classic cartoon, Linus recites from The Book of Luke to tell Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid, and the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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Besides the Christmas tree, there are two other temporary changes at the Capitol if you look closely. One, you can see the scaffolding on the Capital lawn preparing for President Obama’s inauguration ceremony next year. Two, the Capitol flags are at half-staff as a sign of respect for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
I will leave it to the Peanuts character Linus to explain the true meaning of Christmas. In this classic cartoon, Linus recites from The Book of Luke to tell Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid, and the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
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Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Oh Duck! National World War II Memorial - Washington, D.C.
Oh Duck! National World War II Memorial - Washington, D.C., a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.
So it is with my blog too.
I still have tons of photos to process from my South East Asia trip from last year and now that I have returned from Mexico, more photos have been added to my ever dwindling hard drive space.
I have been adding photos from my recent journey into Mexico, but I am going to interrupt that with some photos from my Washington, D.C. trip I took a couple of months ago.
I had a tough time photographing the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. due to the weather. The day I was photographing the memorial it was overcast and raining. I had just removed my gear from my Think Tank Shape Shifter backpack and set up my Canon 5D Mark II on my tripod when it began to rain. I ran and “ducked” under one of the memorial’s arches to wait out the downpour. When the rain let up momentarily I ran out to this spot before the crowds could assemble around the pool.
There are so many memorials in Washington, D.C. that I love to combine them into one shot if possible. I did that here with the World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument and a duck all in one frame!
The duck is a great symbol of Washington, D.C. since many politicians love to “duck” the important issues facing America in favor of spending other people’s money!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog
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