The 6x9 Phalanx, a photo from Virginia, South

Photographer's Note

The 6x9 phalanx of soldiers comprise the graduating class at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. I had been touring the Marine Corps Museum when 52 men and 2 women filed into the lobby, and took their seats. Standing in the Second Floor Gallery, I had an unusually good vantage point to watch the ceremony. The event turned out to be a rehearsal for a diploma presentation ceremony scheduled for the following day.

LIFE IMITATING ART

As several friends pointed out (and as I had planned initially) this photo is reminiscent of the ancient Terracotta Army shot by BWJ.

Sonata11, ikeharel, bukitgolfb301, jhm, snunney, mirosu, aliabazari, delpeoples, jlbrthnn, worldcitizen, Didi, ChrisJ has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Sonata11 (28209) 2013-01-25 20:53

Hello Bulent,
you capture them in magnificent way. Very interesting shot of those soldiers . Wonderfully executed and perfectly well done. Colors, sharpness, clarity, POV are an excellent. I like the way you did the picture.
All the best and have a great weekend,
Barbara

Graal (88784) 2013-01-25 23:26

Hi Bulent,
amazing collective portrait of soldiers here. Good shot from fine high POV. Great effect. Photo I like.
Have a nice WE.
Aleksander

bukitgolfb301 (30023) 2013-01-26 0:37

Hi dear Bulent

How are you? Sorry for my late and dull reaction.
Wow very photogenic image indeed! You are lucky to get such precious opportunity. So sharp and clear image via perfect framework!
Thanks a lot and have a good weekend!

Takero

jhm (122314) 2013-01-26 2:10

Dear Bulent,

You chose a very well angle high above the heads of the soldiers.
6x9 is a splendid title, this speaks without words when we see the picture.
Made with high quality and wonderful composition.
Excellent light management and excellent clear picture.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

snunney (67172) 2013-01-26 2:50

Hello Bulent,
Your vantage point enables you to extract the maximum graphical effect from the scene. Interesting to see that almost all of them are sat in the same pose, bolt upright with their hands on their knees. A product of their training together in close proximity perhaps?

marabu61 (3865) 2013-01-26 7:13

Merhaba Bulent
having just visited my son at the Swiss army, I can appreciate the discipline and organisation needed for that all soldiers are sitting "bolt and upright with their hands on their knees" as said by s nunney.
Your elevated POV gives a good overview over the scene.
have a great weekend.
Daniel

fabianoleite (9014) 2013-01-26 7:34

Interesting framing of the soldiers, all attentive and forming great patterns for the picture. Well done, congratulations!

holmertz (26854) 2013-01-26 10:59

Hello Bulent,
There's probably no place like with the Marines if you want a picture of perfect regularity. This POV gave you a fine opportunity of a goup photo of great graphic qualities. Looking closer at them I do find however that they're not totally similar. They probably all keep their eyes fixed on the same spot, but there are some individual traits as far as theirs hands are concerned. And among these 54 soldiers two are very different from the rest: they're women. The sharpness couldn't have been better. It remains good enough to see details of their faces even when enlarged considerably.
Kind regards,
Gert

mesutilgim (67856) 2013-01-26 14:21

Selam dear Bülent,
You've again create a masterpiece. It reminds me to those famous terracotta soldiers in China ! The modern version.
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

ACL1978 (5689) 2013-01-26 16:09

Great POV, Bulent. A perfect Marine Corps shot - I'm surprised they don't all have their hands in the exact same position! Everything else is identical, right down to the hats under the chairs.

When I was a student, I once had the chance to attend a conference at West Point, the most prestigious military academy in the US. Mind you, my college was quite non-military - very artsy and, to use a colloquial term, 'crunchy'. So, West Point was a major shock for me, especically when I learned that life there was so regimented that books on the shelves had to be arranged in order of height!

The shot here brought some of that back to me with a smile - thanks.

Andrew

chrisvek (5423) 2013-01-26 16:43

Hello Bulent

Wow!Really great capture with so clever look and very nice taste of symmetry.Great colors and lightning usage.Very well done.

All the best
Chris

mirosu (5507) 2013-01-27 17:43

Hi Bulent,
The perspective of this pic is magnificent; I like your high point of view. Great shot with excellent exposure, light, details and colors. Well done.!!

Bluejeans (64211) 2013-01-28 5:54

Ola Bulent ,
Interessante ponto de visão alto sobre este retângulo 6x9 de soldados , bons detalhes , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

aliabazari (10105) 2013-02-07 7:38

Hi Bulent Dear
Beautiful view. Exposure and color are very good.

Regards ...

delpeoples (44888) 2013-02-09 23:02

Merhaba dear Bulent

Gee I'm blind. When I saw the thumbnail, I thought this was a photo of the Chinese Terracotta Warriors :) But I see these are real warriors. Love the graphism they make, the colours, patterns and contrasts are superb. And as usual, a superb note accompanying it.

Thanks for sharing, have a lovely day
Lisa

jlbrthnn (79773) 2013-02-12 3:36

Hello Bulent,
The look of these men and women is martial and quite impressive. A sense of discipline and determination. A photo spectaculare, interesting, and good quality. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Best regards
Joël

worldcitizen (4848) 2013-02-16 16:38

Hello Bulent,
Very interesting scene that you came upon. I like all of the repetition, such as the rows, the fatigues that the men are wearing, and the fact that they are all sitting in a similar position. Most of them have their hands on their knees, but I guess folding them in their laps is a popular second choice! Since you have a POV looking down, it also allows for a nice view of all the crew-cuts! It is amusing for me to see which men have chosen to cut all their hair off, and which have opted for something a bit more creative. :-)

eldancer1 (16938) 2013-02-17 18:54

Nice capture of the collection of soldiers, I like the 6x9 allignment. Good pov and dof with nice details. Well done, tfs.

Didi (48872) 2013-02-19 2:47

Hi my friend
A dominant view on this interesting ceremony
Very interesting subject for Trekearth
Best regards

ChrisJ (86766) 2013-03-01 0:37

Hi Bulent

A good downward pov on the alert soldiers with excellent repetition in the composition. Good to have some of them with hands folded too to break the pattern. The neutral bg doesn't distract at all too. I didn't notice their hats or berets under the seats at first. Tfs!

adidas5nb (1050) 2013-05-04 4:22

very interestingly shot pic,with the high pov.great sharpness and clarity.love the 6 by 9 title.
regards
dwaipayan