ANZAC, a photo from Canakkale, Marmara

Photographer's Note

I apologise for the poor quality of this photo. It was taken many years ago on a disposable camera. But the photo itself means more to me than the quality does.

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand. It is the day we remember the men and women who gave their lives defending our countries. On this day we don't just remember World War I, but every war that Australia and New Zealand have been involved with dating from the Boer and Crimean Wars, to World Wars I and II, to the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and of course the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also emphasises to me how our countries became involved in conflicts that were thousands of miles away and which have had nothing to do with us.

This place is The Nek, situated on the Gallipoli Peninsula and the scene of one of the most senseless and badly-planned battles of World War I. And that truly is saying something. Of the 600 Australian troops who participated in the battle, there were 372 casualties, of which 234 were killed. This happened in less than an hour, amid mass confusion, refusal by superior officers to call off the assault and the Australian troops being forced to charge without any ammunition in their rifles, only bayonets fixed.

Despite the senseless carnage, and the failure of the Gallipoli Campaign in military terms, Gallipoli became a watershed in the national identities of Australia and New Zealand.

ikeharel, tyro, Romano46, Sonata11, jjcordier, macjake, ChrisJ, Cricri, abmdsudi, jusninasirun, ourania has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lousat (139220) 2013-04-25 8:42

Ciao Lisa,non importa la qualita' della foto,quello che conta e' cio' che simboleggia e non potevi scegliere di meglio per ricordare questa occasione,come sai anche da noi si celebra il 25 Aprile nello stesso modo,purtroppo quando penso ai tanti morti e a chi ci governa adesso mi viene un po' di rabbia....buona serata e complimenti,Luciano

ikeharel (113291) 2013-04-25 8:47

Well scanned photo, Lisa - should not apologize, we know the "problem" with old paper photos. The sunject is more importent - and you conveyed this well.
Ausie's soldiers where sent far from home on many wars to fight, in Israel as well, deserve the owner given here.
Fine post, importent history enfolded.
Ike

Romano46 (18472) 2013-04-25 8:56

Ciao Lisa,
la qualit� ella foto diviene secondaria rispetto alla triste storia che hai raccontato che, anzi, � stata un'occasione per approfondire, dopo aver letto le tue note, la storia di questo sbarco di giovani mandati a morire in una terra a loro sconosciuta e tanto lontana dalle loro origini.
La conferma, qualora ce ne fosse bidogno, della stupidit� ed inutilit� di tutti i conflitti.
Ciao, a presto
Romano

tyro (30513) 2013-04-25 8:58

Ciao cara Lisa,

You have written a very poignant note on Anzac Day and it is well to remember the awful Australian and New Zealand casualties and deaths from the dreadfully organised Gallipoli campaign which turned into utter mayhem in 1915.

But you must make no apology for your photograph. In many ways the high contrast of this scanned picture adds to the bleakness of the place which is what I think you are also trying to convey in your note. And, despite this having being taken several years ago, your compositional skills at that time were also excellent - as they still are.

An excellent post and most appropriate for both Ansac Day and TE.

Kind Regards,

John.

manrezaei (1749) 2013-04-25 9:35

Hello Lisa,

What a nice view. Very beautiful point of view you choiced to capture. I like the composition, warm colors and lights. Very well done.

Regards.

Mansour

jemaflor (147076) 2013-04-25 11:12

Hi Lisa,
Old photo, old colors. Nice warm light and good contrast to present this landscape, tfs.

carlo62 (81265) 2013-04-25 14:52

Ciao Lisa
mi � davvero difficile dire qualcosa.
Penso solo che � tutto cos� assurdo, la storia che hai raccontato, non la conoscevo e posso dire che hai avuto molto coraggio ad andare a visitare questo luogo.
Un abbraccio
Carlo

chrisvek (7003) 2013-04-25 17:49

Hello Lisa

If I am right this is a scaned photo.Although it's an amazing capture with splendid colors and excellent POV.Really excellent.Very good result.

Have a nice day
Chris

Sonata11 (34119) 2013-04-25 22:36

Hi dear Lisa,
very beautiful composition of nature. Magnificent work and presentation of wild place with fantastic splendid colors, sharpness, clarity, great POV. Perfectly well done. Love it.
All the best,
Barbara

dkmurphys (79209) 2013-04-25 23:54

Ciao Lisa,
Picturesque tribute old photo. I like the idea and the result.

Have a fine weekend.

Daniel

krzychu30 (15512) 2013-04-26 0:42

Hello Lisa,
itｴs very important photo and the note to honor,but also to remember all these sad and tragic wars and battles.Itｴs just like wrote Ike,the subject of th ephoto here is much important than the quality.Although I have to say for a scanned image the quality is quite good(especially the colors remained bright and well-saturated).

Itｴs also a good history lesson for us.

Thank You for sharing.

Have a good weekend
Krzysztof

macjake (98438) 2013-04-26 6:13

Hi Lisa
I agree with John's comments 100%, the quality of the photo seems to coincide with the bleakness of the event, it just seems to fit somehow.
A very personal tale for you and your family, well documented.

Off to Work...have a great weekend :)
craig

ChrisJ (171822) 2013-04-27 1:38

Ciao Lisa,

Well I spent Anzac day in Turkey but at the wrong end of the country in the far east. Hopefully I will be able to visit this famous locale in the summer months here when school is out on vacation. Good sharpness and nice warm cold color contrasts between the blue & yellow. Tfs!

Cricri (176) 2013-04-27 11:30

Hi dear Lisa
Belle lumi鑽e et couleurs chaude de ce beau paysage avec une histoire bien triste, qu'il est tr鑚 difficile d'oublier....
Belle soir馥
cricri

abmdsudi (95869) 2013-04-28 6:20

Hi Lisa
Tremendous tribute Lisa, Anzac Day ceremony was also remembered here in Singapore at the Cenotaph, The Kranji War Memorial three days ago. Nice to see Anzac day is still as strong as ever and tribute to those who fell.

"Lest We Forget For Those That Died Giving Us Their Tomorrow, So That We Could Have Our Today"

You have done a fabulous job on this, Thks for sharing
Warm regards

jusninasirun (17529) 2013-04-28 6:53

Hello Lisa.
This image is beautiful from your archive. The tone and details here are most likely registered on film. Amazing foreground contrast with excellent dynamic range in the composition. Lovely image but I am sorry about the historic event about this place and furthermore your relatives were involved in the battle. Sad notes and thanks for sharing.
Kind regards,
Jusni

Bluejeans (64251) 2013-04-29 10:16

Ola Lisa ,
Bom trabalho de scan nesta tua foto de 96, interessante esta regi縊 da Turquia parece bem 疵ida , bons detalhes , parab駭s!!
Um abra輟 Gon軋lo

ourania (51103) 2013-05-18 10:31

Ciao cara Lisa,
mi ricordavo della tua foto e nota del anno scorso dedicate agli ANZAC. Avevo imparato molto da loro e l' ho combinato con pagine tristi della storia militare greca. I colori e l' ombra della tua foto sono molto effettivi. Nonostante la brillantezza del sole -ed influezata dalla nota- vedo questo posto come ostile ed inquetante. Le tessiture ed il senso d' isolamento accentuano il carico emozionale. Complimenti e grazie!
Tanti saluti e buona domenica,
Ourania