New England Holocaust Memorial Photo

Photographer’s Note

After walking past this twice without understanding its significance I made it a point to research it and see it on my next sortie to Boston.

The link will take you to the official site, it is worth the time to read it. The towers each represent one of the main death camps. Etched into the class are 6 million numbers representing the murdered masses. Rising from the base of the tower year round 24/7 is warm moist air. This humidity gives the area a feel of something unseen. As Stanley Saitowitz, the designer of the memorial, described it, "like human breath as it passes through the glass chimneys to heaven."

There is one WS to show the overall view. The posted shot is from inside one of the towers looking out.

http://www.nehm.org/intro.html

dareco, amaryllis, gunbud, Budapestman, crhieatt, Charo, bakes888, jhm, John_F_Kennedy, bobocortis, holmertz, Royaldevon, jlbrthnn has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dareco (17104) 2009-07-28 20:27

This is so incredibly interesting, and I'm shocked that it's not recieving more interest. Fabulous work on the part of Stanley Saitowitz, and an important reminder to the world. ALSO an excellent picture, and the details are so great we can actually read these numbers. Excellent natural framing and crop. This really touches me. Thank you!

emka (22319) 2009-07-28 23:18

Hi Greg, Simple but very impressive idea. Very interesting note.

Regards

Malgorzata

amaryllis (17816) 2009-07-29 2:18

bonjour Greg
une idée originale de nous montrer ainsi ces deux tours, une bonne luminosité, une note intéressante et un ws qui nous en donne l'explication de la photo
belle réalisation
juliette

sevy (13952) 2009-07-29 5:34

Hello Greg,

Thanks for this post very interesting. I was not aware of this artwork.
On this post, we can see the interest on TE to have the note explaining the photo. Without this note and the overall view in WS, not so easy to really understand what we are looking.
Moreover, there is a photo work here with this kind of abstract view evidencing the number in the air and giving a part of the feel the artist had surely imagined.

Yves.

gunbud (28161) 2009-07-29 19:57

Hi Greg,
Had to give your note a cloes read to catch the title.
You used your imagination to get this stunning reflection with its natural farme of lush green.
Great job of conveying the grim meaning and lets hope it is not forgotten.
Regards, Tom

thor68 (5537) 2009-07-30 5:49

yes, i remember that amazing and sad memorial in boston,
a fine piece of art which really makes you think about one of mankind´s darkest times.
nice close-up, and great view through the columns of numbers. well seen & captured, thor.

Budapestman (42810) 2009-07-30 6:33

Hi Greg,
Very impressive shot with spectacular composition,
I like the idea and the splendid realization,
the note is superb, Tfs! Have a nice day!
George

crhieatt (5145) 2009-07-30 9:56

Greg,

Excellent - you've really got something here. As the workshop image shows, taking a "traditional" - here it is and I've photographed it - approach to this sort of memorial may be informative, in the literal sense, but it fails to convey anything other than physical fact. Your main post achieves much more than this - and does so in a way which is beautiful and artisitc at the same time. Impressive.

Regards
Colin

mafegan (4487) 2009-08-01 4:21

Hi Greg
A very worthwhile image to post to TE. After reading in your link about this memorial I appreciate your interpretation. As we look out through these 6 million numbers we can see that life has continued on but we are also reminded that we must never forget. Tfs, Marlene

Charo (31803) 2009-08-01 16:47

Hello Greg,
A picture truly unique with great reflections on the glass wall filled with numbers. It's good to have memories of those 6 million dead.
Best regards,
Charo

bakes888 (18353) 2009-08-01 23:51

Hi Greg. Very poignant and thought provoking post. It took a little time to work out we are looking through glass and not at a reflection. Well captured with good colours and detail. Thanks for sharing.
Have a good Sunday, Paul.

jhm (83328) 2009-08-02 1:26

Hello Greg,

I am agree with the previous writer, this is so incredibly interesting, and I'm shocked that it's not recieving more interest.
Splendid colours and lovely presentation.
Very well composition, TFS.

Have a nice sunday,
John.

erdna (5360) 2009-08-02 8:55

Very interesting write-up with a good photocapture. The Workshop photo helps a lot too. At first, I thought you post-processed it by putting a screen of numbers on the building. Very nicely done.

Andre'

John_F_Kennedy (31994) 2009-08-03 1:13

Hello Greg,
This is a very beautiful shot of a very intersting memorial monument. Very well captured.
Best wishes,
Achim

bobocortis (14144) 2009-08-03 10:25

Hello Greg.
The texture created by the numbers in the glass seems like a canvas where you have painted trees and buildings.
A tribute to the victims, severe and heartfelt.
Best regards.
Bobo.

holmertz (9963) 2009-08-05 5:01

Hello Greg,
A rather puzzling picture at first sight, but your note and the ws gradually make me understand what I'm seeing. A cleverly chosen POV which shows the figures against the sky, framed by the trees and also giving us a bit of the surroundings. An important contribution to TE, teaching most of us something about the world.
Kind regards,
Gert

Royaldevon (5944) 2009-08-07 0:32

Hello Greg,

What a shot!
What a memorial!
And what a fine set of notes to accompany this, which must prick the consciences of everyone who has had a racially perverted thought. I found myself shiver with emotion as I read your link.
Your w/s helps to set the context, but the main shot has that composition which is more than a visual experience ... it touches the soul.
Thank you for sharing this.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

toto (18755) 2009-08-17 13:19

Bonsoir,
belle photo de ces batiments qui se reflètent dans ces vitres avec cette suites de chiffres infinies.
Ces deux arbres qui les entourent de chaques côtés donnent un bel effet.
Cemur de lumière, de chiffres,de couleurs est un homage a toute ces victimes.

Amitiés Thomas

ribeiroantonio (21969) 2009-08-18 17:04

I was wondering why the numbers were inversed until I read the note. It is an original memorial.
The shot is really beautiful and very well composed. I love it.
Antonio

batalay (21193) 2009-09-13 8:00

Hello Greg,

What a compelling shot, especially after reading the details at the link you provided. From an initial gaze that creates an enigma, a masterpiece emerges.

Warm regards, Greg.

Bulent

Longroute (9857) 2009-09-23 6:53

A very, very good composition Greg,
all those numbers seem another glass skyskaper elevating to the sky in which the trees and the smaller building reflect.
Fine chromatic contast and a balanced use of the space.
If I had not seen the ws I had no idea of how was done the memorial.

Ciao,
Donato

jlbrthnn (38927) 2009-09-28 6:12

Hello Greg,
It should indeed be followed the link that you indicate to understand the significance of this beautiful enigmatic image. The composition is spectacular and very esthetic by the framed blue of green and the reflection. A work which I hope for it will make think people. Congratulations.
Have a nice day.
Cordially.
Joël

mauro61 (16290) 2009-11-10 4:15

ciao Greg,
interessante questo scatto al Memoriale con tutti i numeri che si susseguono e i riflessi dell'azzurro del cielo.
ottima composizione.
saluti
maurizio