Ramp ceremony for U.S. Army SGT John A. Lyons KIA October 26, 2011
Ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield for U.S. Army Sgt. John A. Lyons, 26 – Seaside Park, NJ – 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade. Died of wounds s...
Read more
Ramp ceremony at Kandahar Airfield for U.S. Army Sgt. John A. Lyons, 26 – Seaside Park, NJ – 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade. Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, on October 26, 2011.
Read less
Read less
Nov, 2016Views
44
Likes
Awards
People's Choice in In Flanders fields the poppies blow Photo Challenge
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken right from the end of the ramp of a C-141 aircraft on Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan. I'm an amateur photographer who uses inexpensive digital cameras straight out of the box without any fancy equipment or upgrades. I have a natural eye for events as they unfold around me and I try my very best to capture what I see at the right moment in time.Time
This image was taken in mid to late afternoon between the daily morning and evening Taliban rocket attacks that take place in that area. Thank God, that we were able to conduct this ceremony for our fallen comrade without taking enemy fire.Lighting
Nothing really to share about lighting because I simply just don't have time to worry about things like that when these events take place. I just have to hope for the very best when I point and shoot. I just pointed and shot this photo very quickly on the fly so that I wouldn't disrupt the solemness of this ceremony. Nearly all of my images are taken quickly while on the move or are captured from video as an individual image by the use of a Go Pro Body Cam or Gun Cam.Equipment
I used a Fuji Film 35mm digital camera. I'm not sure of the precise model due to the amount of time that has passed since I took this picture.Inspiration
I always have an inexpensive digital camera with me everywhere I go, especially when I'm in a combat zone, overseas or at any other major events such as at concerts, disasters, riots and such. Because of this, I'm always ready to capture images like this as soon as they happen. The main reason I was inspired to take this picture was to preserve this moment in time for this fallen soldier's family and friends and to have a record of this event for the 8th Engineer Battalion's unit history.Editing
Nothing but a simple cut and crop so as to capture the essence of the moment in this image and to give it a clean uncluttered professional look. That's really all there is to it.In my camera bag
In my assault pack, I carry nothing more than an inexpensive simple point and shoot 35mm digital camera usually from Fuji Film because of it's simplicity and durability under the adverse conditions where I normally capture my images. I also use small pocket-size digital cameras usually from Fuji Film as well for the very same reasons and for the added convenience of portability. Furthermore, when I had to participate in major operations I would use various products from Go Pro such as Body Cams, Helmet Cams and Gun Cams to capture and record everything I was seeing in those areas. This is especially effective when it is not safe or appropriate to use a regular camera.Feedback
Always pay attention to your surroundings and to what's going on around you. Keep a small inexpensive digital camera on your person at all times so that you are always ready to capture images of events as they happen. Be inspired by other photographers. The ones who inspired me the very most were Joseph Rosenthal of WWII and Larry Burrows of the Vietnam War. Their images capture the essence of those wars and the people involved there.
