World War II memorial, Washington, DC (10 pics)

Instead of buying Christmas presents for my relatives this year, I've decided to test my skills as a photographer by making photos of places or things of significance to the recipient and having prints made and framed. My grandfather's a 30-year Navy vet (1942-1971) and is too sick to travel to DC to see the new memorial, so I figured I'd make him some prints of it, specifically parts that would be significant to his war record (he was at Normandy, in the Pacific, North Atlantic, and in North Africa for a spell during the war).

I've whittled down the 100 shots or so I took to these 10, from which I'm going to pick five. At this point I'm leaning toward 8x10s, but I'm thinking maybe a single framed set of smaller images might be better.

So, without further ado, the WW II memorial:

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I like it. It's very nice. Great idea for gifts too.

Thanks, it's appreciated.

(Apparently there's a 10 character minimum limit on posts, who knew?)

very nice pictures Thomas



I like # 5 and # 7 very much and I like the colour in them

I think the message on # 4 is a bit provoking
but that is just me as I think comments about 'war' ( before and after)
have to be very carefully expressed with no one getting too cocky as to who is the hero

it all always depends on the why or how a nation was helped when there is trouble.
as humans we will try to help out each other anyway
but never take the glory.
as it's our fellow man

the message on the last pic also says ' the entire world is quietly at peace'

that will never happen as long as humans are greedy and want more and more.
so war comes about here there and everywhere .

no war ' ends all wars' as was stated after the first world war

statements and flag waving exclaiming such deeds can provoke more hatred
that's if I am understood in what I am saying.
if not, just let it be.
I understand all the goodness in people in their everyday lives helping out their fellow man .

the pictures will be a lovely surprise gift for your grandad and others who served their fellow man and their country in a time of need.
thanks to them and others ( in more simple but so important ways) we have the life of freedom we have today

this is not a contradictory statement.
I don't express myself very well at times

I just mean we should never get overly 'proud' or 'boastful ' in anyway as it only leads to more hatred in someone....... somewhere
and that's not what it's all about

thank you for the wishes

Happy New Year to you too

Oh, I agree with you completely about the messages at the memorial, a friend of mine saw these photos and said it reminded him of 1930's **** gothic architecture. I'm about as liberal/Democrat as they come, so parts of the memorial really grate me the wrong way.

But at the same time, I put it in the context of a memorial to a past (or passing, as the youngest WWII vets are upwards of 75 now) generation, a different time.

There are also some better quotes that I missed or ruled out because they were in bad shots, about the role of our allies and women in the war effort, and the quote across the bottom of the flagpole pedestal says something to the effect of "Americans came to liberate, not to conquer" during the war.

Unfortunately, given the timing of the memorial, it does seem a bit like the ideals and deeds of the WWII generation were being twisted to suit the needs of the current government.

On the whole, though, I found it a very fitting monument to the defining era of the 20th century.

Thanks for your feedback on the photos, too... looks like I got a bit carried away there.

Fantastic and Important Series. Thanks for letting us see it.

vcutag wrote:
Oh, I agree with you completely about the messages at the memorial, a friend of mine saw these photos and said it reminded him of 1930's **** gothic architecture. I'm about as liberal/Democrat as they come, so parts of the memorial really grate me the wrong way.

But at the same time, I put it in the context of a memorial to a past (or passing, as the youngest WWII vets are upwards of 75 now) generation, a different time.

There are also some better quotes that I missed or ruled out because they were in bad shots, about the role of our allies and women in the war effort, and the quote across the bottom of the flagpole pedestal says something to the effect of "Americans came to liberate, not to conquer" during the war.

Unfortunately, given the timing of the memorial, it does seem a bit like the ideals and deeds of the WWII generation were being twisted to suit the needs of the current government.

On the whole, though, I found it a very fitting monument to the defining era of the 20th century.

Thanks for your feedback on the photos, too... looks like I got a bit carried away there.

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no , you didn't get carried away.
nice to see all of them
thanks for the rest above (explaining) and understanding

let's know what your grandad thinks of the pictures, if you decide

maybe get a shot of him looking at them

I am sure he will be thrilled at your thoughtfullness

vcutag, what a great gift, I'm sure he will love it no matter which pic you choose