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Dec, 2015Views
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Awards
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Legendary Award
Summer 2020
Summer Selection
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Peer Award
Top Ranks
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
Photo was taken at West Point, NY; the United States Military Academy cemetery.Time
It was taken in the morning.Lighting
Only used sunlight, may have used the app to adjust brightness.Equipment
Canon T3i camera and an editing app on my iPad to turn the photo to black & white, then go back in with an easer tool to bring color back to the flag and the reflection of the flag.Inspiration
I was the Platoon Sergeant of the Honor Guard platoon for the West Point Military Police Company; this was one of our missions. We conducted funerals, and color guard missions while assigned to the unit there. I enjoy photography, and while I was assigned to that unit I wanted families of the Soldiers to see their Soldiers in action during our missions, so they could see some of what we do. To me, it was a very humbling job to have, and I was proud of my Soldiers and the professional job they always did, whether conducting a full service funeral, a two person funeral detail, a color guard mission, or even marching in a parade.Editing
used an app on my iPad to layer the photo to black & white, then go back with an easier to remove the layer from the flag and it's reflection. Other then that I just sat back out of sight and took several photo's of the funeral detail making sure not to distract them and not to catch any of the family members and invade their privacy.In my camera bag
Being just a beginner, I just have my Canon T3i, a 50mm lens, 18-250mm lens, and the standard lens with the camera, a couple filters. Other then that I go back to the computer for Gimp, Light Room, and Photoshop. I also look at a few apps on my iPad and play with different ones for photos to see which apps I like and what all they can do.Feedback
Just be patient, sometimes it takes taking several photos to capture one that stands out. I'm very amateur, and I read blogs, like at photography sites, and read what professional photographers put out and then try to incorporate some of their knowledge into my work. I just wanted to capture my Soldiers in action and be able to share with them and their families what they do.
