Iraq Veteran - C-Lux1

[Nathan King Miller]

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The attached photo was taken of my sister, a recent veteran of the Iraq war. She was a gunner's mate in the United States Navy and saw several tours in Fallujah and elsewhere. This picture was taken over Thanksgiving break with my new C-Lux 1 in black and white mode. She's holding a Russian rifle my father owns. I photographed an interesting discussion between herself, my father, and my grandfather (a World War II veteran). I'll post more photos soon.

 

This image is straight from the camera. I only used Photoshop to scale it down for size requirements on this site. Anyhow, I've been very impressed with the little C-Lux. It has a very sharp lens and pleasing results.

[Nathan King Miller]

I want to add one minor note on the above photo: my sister has a bandaged, broken nose in this photograph which is somewhat lost in the overexposure of her face. So the overexposure is a bit more intense in that area.

[stuny]

Nathan -

 

I very much like this surreal portrait and find the contrast between the well exposed rifle and your intentionally overexposed sister to be most effective. t also suggests that war has taken something out of her, and if this is the case, I hope she fully recovers soon.

[martinop]

Interesting shot and profile.

[Guest lykoudos]

Hello Nathan,

 

Interesting detail admission in a outstanding motive sharpness. Pleases me well.

 

Greeting

 

Wolfgang (MP grey hammertone, 2,8/28; 1,4/50; 2/90)

[jmr]

Nathan,

 

a bold shot you've attempted here - and you've succeded in getting something beyond a standard protrait - very nice.

[Nathan King Miller]

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Thanks for the encouraging words, everyone. My sister (a far better photographer than I) has fondly called this "your first Bresson," as it was taken in the midst of a conversation, unposed and spur of the moment. The overexposure wasn't planned, but I'm pleased it turned out this way. I like the fact that the cold, hard steel of the rifle is juxtaposed with her soft, spiritual profile. As Stuny said above, the juxtaposition creates a sense of the hardness of war and its effects on the youth involved..

 

I like to think that's what it means, anyway. I'm just happy it was properly focused.

 

Thanks for your comments Stu, Paul, Wolfgang, and John. John, great suggestion on the C-Lux. I owe you, buddy.

 

Here's another photo from the same series.

[k_g_wolf ✝]

I would prefer seing photos of people shooting with cameras instead !

 

I DO NOT WANT TO GET USED TO SEE PEOPLE WITH WEAPONS, please go and play somewhere else ...

 

Good, your sister is back though.

 

 

Best

[moikle]

 

I DO NOT WANT TO GET USED TO SEE PEOPLE WITH WEAPONS, please go and play somewhere else ...

 

Good, your sister is back though.

 

I agree. I do not understand the fascination people have with guns.

 

Mike

[Nathan King Miller]

Yes, I understand the ill will towards guns. My sister, though she was a gunner's mate who trained soldiers in arms use, still despises weaponry and its use in warfare. I've never had a fascination with guns, myself - I prefer shooting cameras as well. However, it's a part of modern life, and this particular moment in which I was photographing, so I felt it was worth sharing. Personally, I could do without seeing any more weapons. Thanks for your comments.

[kodaktrix]

Karl Georg, Mike,

 

from a psychological point of view I understand the fascination for weapons, as they are the ultimate expression for power.

From a professional point of view, I do not want to see children with weapons.

For any professional a gun is a tool not a toy, and for most professionals taking somebody down or out means a lot of "postwar" stress.

 

Regards

 

Oliver

[RaySwan]

Looks like I may have wondered into the wroing forum? This is my second post.

 

Nathan, thanks for posting the picture of your sister with the rifle. I applaud her and your family for having the guts to stick up for our country. Most of us with any common sense know that Freedom ain't free and that someone has to be willing to stand up and defend it now and then with something besides cheap words. Your country says you are needed, you go. That's what some of us do. Some of us just talk.

 

All the best,

Ray (Vietnam 66-68)

 

ps. Not all people look at "weapons" as weapons but as well crafted machinery with interesting mechanisms. Some of us look at them as canvas (I was a firearms engraver at one time). Some of us look at them as a history lesson. Many like target shooting and hunting and these are called sporting arms. If you look at them as "weapons" in the classical sense then maybe you should never touch one if you don't think you can trust yourself not to kill.

 

For my money, in a photography forum, folks should try their best not to go political. But I also think inaine political statements should not go unchallenged. (Please excuse the spelling, like many, when I should have been in college I was fighting for the country I live in.)

[halmsen]

liking or hating weapons...

 

...in any case a strong and impressing picture.