Survivor's Guilt

[Efergoh]

I'm struggling with the title. I'm thinking either...

"Survivor's Guilt"

or

"You can't ever really go home."

 

[fightheheathens]

um...woah...

 

[Efergoh]

um...woah...

Sorry...I sometimes dabble in dark subject matter.
It can't all be puppies and kittens.

 

[DeepSpring]

I really like it, it's really strong

maybe just up the contrast alittle bit? make the pic a bit darker

but great job this is one of my favorites ive seen on here. i like the second title more

 

[MommyOf4Boys]

I think it is very deep and I love it. I agree with upping the contrast just a TAD and maybe cropping off both sides so that you cannot see where the sheet ends.

 

[Efergoh]

maybe just up the contrast alittle bit? make the pic a bit darker

I thought the same thing. The shot is a scanned print on Satin R/C. Going back to the darkroom tomorrow. I'll put it on Fiber, and put a bit more contrast into it. I don't want to go too much darker. The uniform will will go too deep.

 

[Efergoh]

...and maybe cropping off both sides so that you cannot see where the sheet ends.

Thanks for the feedback, folks...

I tried the suggested crop, but I'm not sure how I feel about it. I suppose it could grow on me, but without the ends of the sheets, it feels like it lost some of the desperation I was trying to convey. The sheet ends were intentional on my part. Anyway, here is the crop for your review...

 

[DeepSpring]

I like the second if it were to be more of "normal" picture. Some kind of portrait thn you wouldn't want the sheet ends to show. But if you want to show that he set up this alter to his marine uniform and buddies then I think the first without the crop is better. The second one looks more staged.

 

[Efergoh]

quick background on the photo...for those interested...

June 2003: South of Bhagdad. I was a heavy machinegunner. My squad was escorting a convoy of fuel trucks. We came under fire from a mortar squad. Saddam's regieme had already fallen, but there were a few holdouts here and there. We peeled off to address the squad. After the mortars were taken out, we were on our way back to the main road to rejoin the convoy when we drove over an anti-tank mine.

I was thrown from my turret. My legs were tore up pretty good (I landed on my feet, but I was doing about 50mph when I did it) and I was bleeding like a stuck pig. I could hear my driver calling for his mother, but nothing from the rest of my squad. My driver died before anyone reached us, and I passed out. When I came to, I was already back in Kuwait. A week later, I was in a hospital in Maryland, a month later, I was being medically retired from the Marine Corps. In the photo - in the photo, I am the second from the right...I am also the only living person in that photo.

For more than a year after I came home I wrestled with guilt. Why the hell was I still alive when the men in my charge were not? Why did I deserve to come home to my family while all their got was a folded flag? I felt like I had abandoned my fellow Marines. I wanted nothing more than to go back and finish the job I had started.

I still feel that way from time to time.

 

[kiwiluke]

Very Powerful Image, made even more so by the story behind the image
Luke

 

[HollandHusker]

You've earned my respect, this photo is prob. one of the best I've seen, especially with the story! The first title is short and powerful.

 

[abraxas]

Heavy- wish I knew what to say. Sort of like I should, but then again...

Maybe like, glad you're here and we have to accept the things we cannot change?

Been doing any experiments with mannequins lately?- dark is cool.

 

[Efergoh]

Been doing any experiments with mannequins lately?- dark is cool.

Not since the pinhole bit...

I have a few more dark ideas, but I need a light set to do it, and I don't want to use the school's studio.

 

[V.Alonso]

wow... this kinda freaked me out when i first saw it (wasnt expecting that...) but i must say, that it is impressive

definately a powerful message, now i like it

 

[jeeper]

I guess I'll add my $.02...

First, I would have made the empty bottles something a little harder than bud light (maybe an almost empty bottle of Johnnie Walker or something?).

Second, *this may be controversial* your finger is not on the trigger (if it is, it's hard to see). I hope you had an empty magazine (& chamber) for this photo.

I think that if you incorporated those two suggestions this would be a more powerful image. That being said, I do like the photo. I too like the second title better.

I can't decide if I like the cropped or uncropped version more, they both look good to me.

...Just my humble opinion, hope I didn't offend.