Anzac Memorial

Like Martin, I too have shot a roll this week with more than one useable frame. I decided to post these two photos as my final of a series that I have done of the ANZAC Memorial. I have been detouring past the site every other day to see what changes. Someone must have left a small vase and posy over the weekend, but by the time that I saw it on Monday the heads of the flowers had bowed, seemingly in respect of the fallen. I took this low perspective shot to get the flame in the background (OM2sp, 50mm f1.8 Zuiko, FP4 @ 200).

A couple of days later I passed the memorial again, but this time during light rain (yes, apparently it does rain in Brisbane very occasionally). It was quite dark and I had with me a Tamron 135mm f2.5 (same camera and film), so I shot with it wide open and hand-held. Although the result is not tack sharp, I quite like the paw as a subtle reference to the flame and the reflections of the flowers with the mosaic behind.

Remember Mont St Quentin

After Anzac Day, 25 April, the wreathes laid during the various services at the memorial in the centre of Brisbane remain for all to see for quite some time. There is something particularly sombre about the sight of freshly picked flowers slowly decaying as the days pass. Nothing moves but the flame, which seems to dance in the early morning stillness. I particularly like the fence in the foreground of this shot, thus giving the impression that the memory contained within the field beyond is forever protected from the passing of time. (OM2sp, Zuiko 50mm f1.8, FP4 pushed 200)

To the Fallen

With all the restoration work going on at Anzac Square, it is impossible to get a classic shot of the shrine, so I went for this compressed view instead. Decided to give it an old-fashioned, pushed contrast, sepia tone to fit with the memories tinged with regrets. We can only hope there is never another reason to build a monument like this.