War Memorial + rp

Gallery: POP PhotosPosted December 10, 20172,501 views5 comments

Britain’s best known war memorial is the Cenotaph in London’s Whitehall, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, following WW1. Lutyens designed a number of other memorials for towns up and down the country - this is the one in Rochdale, near Manchester.

Lutyens’ memorials are notable for their reticence - no heroic figures, just an invocation to reflect and remember. Facing the Rochdale pillar is a plain stone of remembrance, and surmounting it the effigy of a fallen soldier. Even the flags are for ever still - carved in painted stone.

This view shows the setting of the memorial close by the old post office and the Victorian town hall.
Canon 400D, 18-55 @ 18, 1/250 @ f11, ISO 200

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 11, 2017 at 11:55 AM

Nice look at the memorial. I would not mind some more room at the top and a perspective correction (buildings are leaning in)?

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on December 11, 2017 at 3:32 PM

Thanks, Harley, for the suggestions. I usually rely on automatic correction of the RAW file but have modified this version manually. Does this work better ?

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 11, 2017 at 8:16 PM

You might try the vertical perspective tool in lens correction filters, then do a rotation (the straighen tool in crop is probably the easiest) and see where that gets you. It is fun to play with no matter where you end up.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on December 15, 2017 at 11:56 AM

Somber and thoughtful Ian. The BW treatment is really good and the sky really adds to the mood. I especially like the inclusion of the bench inviting someone to sit and reflect. Harley is right about the leaning buildings but I'm not sure they don't add a sense of attentiveness to the main focal point as if leaning in reflection also. This tells a somber story of loss, strength, resilience and remembrance.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 26, 2017 at 4:03 PM

I like the B&W treatment since it lends to the story. Correcting images shot with extreme wide angle lenses can be a challenge, for sure, but this one would be worth tweaking.
--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments