American WWII Cemetery in Manila

C&C Welcome...

Nice set. Military cemeteries always move me.

Immaculate, as it should be.It's the least that can be done after having given the ULTIMATE sacrifice.

#2 is my favorite. Great shots.

Thanks for the comments everybody...here's three more for those interested:

Beautiful Pics! Thanks for sharing!

I like the idea for the second picture in the first set, but it didn't really come through. It was a little blown out and the head stones didn't really have the geometric umph. If you could have moved you camera just a bit to get a better lay out, more like the second picture in the second set, then it would have been awesome. They're great pictures. I think my favorites are the black and whites. The compostition and contrast are amazing.

Justdoit wrote in post #7446326
I like the idea for the second picture in the first set, but it didn't really come through. It was a little blown out and the head stones didn't really have the geometric umph. If you could have moved you camera just a bit to get a better lay out, more like the second picture in the second set, then it would have been awesome. They're great pictures. I think my favorites are the black and whites. The compostition and contrast are amazing.

Thanks Justdoit, I noticed the same thing about the layout of the headstones, something I didn't realize until after I started processing these at home in the States.

Unfortunately...things in the Philippines are always more complicated than they seem. You are always on a timetable (because of traffic it takes all day just to do simple tasks) and you must do things as they are and when you can.

I would have much preferred to come to this place during the morning or around dusk. But I had to come when I could which to say - is when my wife didn't require me to be doing something else. Unfortunately that meant in the middle of the harsh sun at around noon which accounts for the blown out appearance on the color images. I tried to do what I could to improve them with photoshop.

libingan ng mga bayani?

frontier2005 wrote in post #7449486
libingan ng mga bayani?

Sorry my tagalog is not very good so I'll answer your question in English. The cemetery is for American soldiers that died defending and retaking the Philippines. There are also Philippine Scouts (Filipino soldiers that were under American command) buried with full honors there.

Because the Philippines was both lost and then RETAKEN, coupled with the tragic BATAAN DEATH MARCH that took place in April of 1942...there are a very large number of headstones. 17,206 graves according to Wikipedia.

I really like the black and white ones! Thanks for sharing!

I was there myself the other month,I would have liked to have been there early in the morning to take pics but it does not open till 9am.
Certainly makes you think how lucky we are today for their sacrifice.

Nice. I remember going there when I was little. Maybe someday I'll be able to visit with my camera.

Thanks for your comments guys...wow this seems to be the thread that refuses to go away. I can't think of many other subjects that I think should deserve it more though. For those interested, there are more photos of the cemetery on my Flickr page linked in my sig.

I will be there in Manila in August 2012,,, planning to visit Mayon Volcano. I am a newbie in photography. I have a canon XS Rebel with a 50mm and 70-300mm lenses. Any suggestions what other lens i should take?