Folded Glory
Earlier this week I read an email about the history and meaning of the 13 folds of the American flag. Even though the email appears to be propagating an Urban Legend, it gave me the idea of photographing a folded flag.
This rather simple shot was made by placing a the flag atop the reflective surface of a grand piano with a white wall in the background. The camera was set on the piano as well since a long (1-2 second) shutter speed was required. The lighting is natural from a nearby window.
The resulting image is pretty much what I imagined when I set out.
5 Comments:
Wow...
Excellent DoF, great tones of course and a nice subject. The composition is also nicely done. Overall a really great shot! Good job.
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Thanks for taking the time to comment, Bryan. The flag in the photograph was borrowed from a frame hanging at a local church. Since it was already folded, and since I was borrowing it, I didn't take the time to correct the fold. The funny thing is, that as I was taking the photograph I knew that you would notice the incorrect fold. Maybe we can get together and re-shoot a shot like this with a correctly folded flag.
For everyone else, if you haven't done so - take a moment and visit Bryan's blog "The Hopeless Writer" at http://www.bryancatherman.com/blog.
The photo, as always is very well done. I take issue with the subject, however. Mr. Legg, you know me, so I know you will understand that I write this comment with the utmost respect and well intention. With that in mind, who folded that flag? Having touched off the cannon to signal the presentation and retreat of the colors, and having directed color guards and even myself folding flags, both large and small, in public ceremony and in private reflection, and seeing Old Glory charred and faded but still flying high or at half staff on the field of battle, and also having two flags—one which flew over the U.S. Capital and the other over Iraq—displayed in my home office, I feel I am qualified to critique such a folding as this one. First, the seems are not together, although that is nearly imposable to get right. Second, no red should be showing and the only white should from the stars.
However, I am always pleased to see citizens proudly displaying the U.S. flag, even if it is in a manner slightly less than the colors deserve. Any time people are proud of the flag, pride shows. The opposite also holds true. Truthfully, hats and shirts made of the flag are substandard, but I enjoy that pride. Flags hung improperly or backwards in windows still shows of that love of country. I've even been known to drape a flag across my back like Rocky after the fight in the former U.S.S.R. On the other hand, nothing makes me sadder than a home owner or business flying a worn out tattered flag. That's worse than burning it. Maybe we should work on a Constitutional amendment about indifference and neglect, because that is un-American.
As always, great photo.
(On a side note, now that I know where that flag came from and the story behind it, I'm shocked.)
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