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Spreading the Ashes - Goodbye Dad
Spreading the Ashes - Goodbye Dad
BAMartin


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: The Sacred (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-10D
Lens: Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Date: Aug 19, 2007
Date Uploaded: Aug 21, 2007

 My father was a great man, and a true American hero. He was the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. He died last March and the funeral was so huge, it had to be held in the High School auditorium. There was pressure from many sides to have him buried in Arlington National cemetery.

My father was also a very private, family man. He hated the fuss and ceremony that surrounded him whenever he traveled with the medal.

Because of that, the family choose to scatter his ashes on the top of a mountain in Idaho. I know this photo lacks many things technically (its hard to compose with tears in your eyes). I miss you Dad.

More on my fathers history is here David Bleak

Statistics
Place: 71 out of 166
Avg (all users): 5.3077
Avg (commenters): 6.5000
Avg (participants): 5.1404
Avg (non-participants): 5.3840
Views since voting: 885
Views during voting: 265
Votes: 182
Comments: 14
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/31/2009 12:41:06 AM
Very sad. Sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing such a personal, meaningful photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/27/2008 08:04:36 PM
sad photo. im glad you included the story behind it. having the box at the bottom of the photo is a nice touch
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 10/17/2008 10:24:58 PM
Barbara, you posted a great tribute to your Dad - I gave pause to think about his service and what he meant to you. It's so hard to say goodbye to a parent.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/04/2007 06:50:29 PM
Thank you for this wonderful photo. I loved seeing it in the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/03/2007 11:04:22 PM
Very touching. I'm glad you shared! Read the wiki, thats nothing short of amazing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 09/03/2007 06:46:28 AM
I can't think of a more fitting tribute then to share his story with others. I wish you the best.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/31/2007 09:05:22 PM
Amazing capture of the ashes, Barbara.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/31/2007 11:43:42 AM
Composition seems off to me but the emotion that this evokes is wonderful. Thank you for sharing this private and sacred moment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/30/2007 08:23:36 PM
Barbara, thanks for sharing this very personal photo. It is indeed sacred. The ashes appear to be evaporating -- joining the universal energy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/29/2007 01:21:45 AM
Very emotional shot, Barbara. I think the composition hurt your score, though it was clear even during voting there was a story to be learned here. Putting the man and the box in opposite corners might have helped, along with getting the box a little away from the edge. That would make the space work as a separation, showing that the ashes have left the box and are now flying free in the world. As it is, the image feels unbalanced, with a whole lot of space on the left not really contributing to the story.

Edited to thank you for sharing your father's story. This is good example of an image that's much more powerful for knowing the background. DPC's competition format doesn't provide the opportunity for appreciating the moment as much as the photo all by itself.

Message edited by author 2007-08-29 21:39:04.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/28/2007 11:08:17 AM
How sad!!!! But very nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/28/2007 09:16:37 AM
Not the best "photo" in the bunch technically, but the moment capture is priceless. One of my top picks.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/25/2007 08:29:59 PM
Emotional one.The best reason - 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2007 06:16:43 PM
The image does envoke the emotions I would expect given the title.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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