Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
This is along US-30 in northwest Indiana, out in the middle of nowhere! I got rained on and soaking wet to get this photograph, but it was worth it. Shot with a Leica M6, 28mm Biogon ZM, Tri-X at EI-200 in PMK.
dave lackey
Veteran
Another good image of Americana...the last image with Proud to be an American was quite interesting! Shame it had to bring out the worst in discussion but it goes to show how powerful the image was ...
Travelling the highways in the southern U.S., you will see a lot of fireworks displays, American flags, Proud to be an American displays, etc. and although I don't put them up, I fully understand and thank each one for doing so. Granted, the business in the photo only placed the Uncle Sam blow-up display on the roof for commercial reasons. But it is a good representation of the patriotic celebratory nature of locals across our country.
This weekend is the 4th of July. With my wife's inability to walk, we will not be spending the weekend with my son's family whilst camping at Stone Mountain. Another site of Americana. A laser show, amazing fireworks displays and an awesome theme of patriotism with thousands in attendance every night of the week.
If I weren't already committed to a couple of projects, I would do as Chris has been doing and start documenting these patriotic themes. For me, it is a snapshot of not only the times, but also gives a little insight into the minds of those many veterans in both lower and middle class neighborhoods. Not only the poor wave flags, you find many in our middle class neighborhood. Many are veterans themselves, and many are simply respectful of the sacrifices given by veterans and display their respect on holidays such as the 4th of July, Memorial Day and such. Every family I know has some connection with veterans who have given some or given all. They have all earned my respect.
Thank you Chris for posting these. I am proud to be an American and, believe it or not, most people in the U.S. know what that means, it is not propaganda and it is real. Their feelings are as real as any belief.
Hell, I am proud to be a member of the human race, though sometimes, I wish I were not part of it.
Proud, pleased, whatever. That's me. :angel:
Travelling the highways in the southern U.S., you will see a lot of fireworks displays, American flags, Proud to be an American displays, etc. and although I don't put them up, I fully understand and thank each one for doing so. Granted, the business in the photo only placed the Uncle Sam blow-up display on the roof for commercial reasons. But it is a good representation of the patriotic celebratory nature of locals across our country.
This weekend is the 4th of July. With my wife's inability to walk, we will not be spending the weekend with my son's family whilst camping at Stone Mountain. Another site of Americana. A laser show, amazing fireworks displays and an awesome theme of patriotism with thousands in attendance every night of the week.
If I weren't already committed to a couple of projects, I would do as Chris has been doing and start documenting these patriotic themes. For me, it is a snapshot of not only the times, but also gives a little insight into the minds of those many veterans in both lower and middle class neighborhoods. Not only the poor wave flags, you find many in our middle class neighborhood. Many are veterans themselves, and many are simply respectful of the sacrifices given by veterans and display their respect on holidays such as the 4th of July, Memorial Day and such. Every family I know has some connection with veterans who have given some or given all. They have all earned my respect.
Thank you Chris for posting these. I am proud to be an American and, believe it or not, most people in the U.S. know what that means, it is not propaganda and it is real. Their feelings are as real as any belief.
Hell, I am proud to be a member of the human race, though sometimes, I wish I were not part of it.
Proud, pleased, whatever. That's me. :angel:
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Roger Hicks
Veteran
Odd that the Americans celebrate the 14th of July ten days early...
Seriously, yes, celebrations are always fun. The Bastille Day fireworks are let off from a 1000-year-old castle a few hundred yards from our house, and the war memorial (remember May 8th and November 11th) is directly in front of our house. But the only overtly 'patriotic' stuff is the flags on the Mairie (town hall) and war memorial. Oh, that, and the local band plays the Marseillaise whenever they get an excuse.
In what other countries do people wave flags habitually? The English tend to do it for royal occasions, and surprisingly many countries do it for World Cup football matches. For that matter, in what other country do people even have a symbol like Uncle Sam? John Bull is pretty much gone, and I can't think of many countries that have a similar personification. Maybe it's too easy for enemies to burn them in effigy.
No doubt there are those who will take this as an attack on the USA. It isn't. It's an inquiry into why Americans seem to have a different view of (and greater fondness for) national symbols. Of course in many countries, especially Catholic ones, Poland above all, you get a lot of religious symbolism (crosses, crucifixes, calvaries, Blessed Virgins, etc.) Anyone else seen the 36-metre statue of Christ the King in Swiebodzin?
Oh, and finally, yes, I know, the American Revolution predated the French one, so it's the French who are 10 days late on Independence Day...
Cheers,
R.
Seriously, yes, celebrations are always fun. The Bastille Day fireworks are let off from a 1000-year-old castle a few hundred yards from our house, and the war memorial (remember May 8th and November 11th) is directly in front of our house. But the only overtly 'patriotic' stuff is the flags on the Mairie (town hall) and war memorial. Oh, that, and the local band plays the Marseillaise whenever they get an excuse.
In what other countries do people wave flags habitually? The English tend to do it for royal occasions, and surprisingly many countries do it for World Cup football matches. For that matter, in what other country do people even have a symbol like Uncle Sam? John Bull is pretty much gone, and I can't think of many countries that have a similar personification. Maybe it's too easy for enemies to burn them in effigy.
No doubt there are those who will take this as an attack on the USA. It isn't. It's an inquiry into why Americans seem to have a different view of (and greater fondness for) national symbols. Of course in many countries, especially Catholic ones, Poland above all, you get a lot of religious symbolism (crosses, crucifixes, calvaries, Blessed Virgins, etc.) Anyone else seen the 36-metre statue of Christ the King in Swiebodzin?
Oh, and finally, yes, I know, the American Revolution predated the French one, so it's the French who are 10 days late on Independence Day...
Cheers,
R.
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dave lackey
Veteran
Ha, ha...10 days early... that's nothing, from what I understand, Christmas was not even in December!
Why do politicians set different dates for holidays? Who knows...they are all crazy anyway.Personally, I still haven't actually started any of the Americana documentation. Never even tried to seriously shoot a fireworks display although I got lucky at Disney World with a Minolta SLR in the '70's. Anyone care to give me some tips on how to get a good display with film, let me know!
Great one...
FrankS
Registered User
Chris, that's quite a cohesive series you are building. For me personally, I would love to see the characters from inside your buildings, portrayed in front of them, with the buildings as backdrops. One could then apply/connect the mood of the buildings to the local inhabitants. But that's just me. I find pictures of people interesting. Perhaps you would consider another series?
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Thanks Dave, Jsrockit, and Frank. I need to get a new category going on my website for these pictures!