300, a photo from Virginia, South

Photographer's Note

For my 300th post I thought I would submit a simple, minimalist photo — a subtle puzzle for TE viewers. What is this structure protruding from the ground, and where is it located? Does it measure a few centimeters in height, in the manner of blades of grass, a few meters or many stories? For me, each of the three prongs is emblematic of 100 photos that I’ve posted during the past few years.

Seen in the photo is the new (2006) United States Air Force Memorial, the design representing the contrails of three fighter planes engaged in a precision "Bomb Burst" effect (the maneuver frequently performed by the United States air Force “Thunderbirds.") The presence of only three contrails is symbolic of the “missing man formation,” the fourth flyer in the formation having been downed during a mission. The edifice is located in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, and just a few hundred meters from the Pentagon. In an accompanying workshop, I am submitting a photo showing actual contrails of fighter planes engaged in a bomb-burst maneouver.

From the trees and flag seen at the base, it is clearly a large modern structure. The three blades, or towers, vary in height from 61 m (201 feet) for the shortest to 82 m (270 feet) for the tallest. Clad in stainless steel, the lower 2/3 of the blades are filled with steel-reinforced concrete. At the transition point between the concrete and the hollow steel portions is a built-in damper system, designed to provide aerodynamic stability. Each damper contains a massive lead ball, weighing approximately an Imperial ton (2000 pounds in distinction to the metric tonne, 2200 pounds), allowed to roll inside a steel box, and dissipate the energy of the structure's oscillation in rough winds.

The Memorial was designed by architect James Ingo Freed of Pei-Cobb-Freed & Partners. The company also designed the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. among other edifices in the United States. I had with me neither my better camera (a Nikon D200), nor a tripod. In their place, I used a pocket Nikon Coolpix S600, and steadied it against the trunk of a tree.

carper, Buin, Didi, yeln, worldcitizen, bukitgolfb301, edge, resat1972, snunney, windosil, JCG, phwall, subhendu_bagchi, Longroute, paololg, shevchenko, macjake, BWJ, s_lush, skippy007, Vasa, delpeoples, yedirenk, emjleclercq, Angshu, belido, Uhu, jafadabret, Ascot, fanni, patdeph, Charo, riclopes, annjackman has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

carper (96) 2010-04-16 9:58

congratulation dear Bulent
yes your 300th is a very special one my friend, the Memorial, is very well taken in a fine atmosphere,, it's good also see the flag in it, very nice backlight shot. 300 bulent and always a pleasure to look at your shots and to read your notes, thank you my friend and have a good weekend.
regard jaap

PixelTerror (0) 2010-04-16 10:00

Hi Bulent
Congratulations for your 300 photos !
Minimaloist it is certainly, fluid also and with a positive rising dimension, I like it
Have a nice day JY

ManuMay (33311) 2010-04-16 10:11

Merhaba Bulent!

Congratulations on your 300 post!

And thanks for each one of them, and let us know your personal way to see and feel this world!

You choose a very symbolic capture...really good!

Have a very nice week end...

And keep on posting at least 30.000 more!! ;O)

Hugs!!

Manu

Buin (42082) 2010-04-16 10:35

Hallo Bulent!
An impressive and intriguing photo - and place as well. This is a truly eye-catching monument. I like this monument much more than these needless and pollutive air shows.
A contribution in terms of TE - as usual ;-)
By the way, congratulations for this 300th!
Greetings from springlike Germany!
Frank

Didi (48882) 2010-04-16 10:52

Salam my friend
Very symbolic composition for your 300th picture 3 x 100.
Good lights in the blue hour.
I wish you more pictures in TE.
Best and warm regards

yeln (11502) 2010-04-16 11:29

hello Bulent

google

congratulations on the 300th.
wonderful presentation with the symbol of America
nice job with good design!
TFS!
congratulations
Regards
Vojko

worldcitizen (4850) 2010-04-16 12:04

Hello Bulent,
Congratulations on #300! This is a very interesting monument, that I hadn't seen before. I like the way this simple design stands out against the blue and purple sky. I am also amazed at how tall these structures are. One must feel very small when standing next to them.

bukitgolfb301 (30053) 2010-04-16 12:15

Hello my dear Bulent

Great shot again!
Perfect and well considered splendid composition / framework, light control, sharp/clear description in the detail. Soft a and calm color is marlvelous too.
Nice clor gradation too.
You did a great job again indeed!
Thanks for sharing and have a good Saturday !
Best regards,
Takero

Ricx (13435) 2010-04-16 13:57

My Dear Bulent. CONGRATULATIONS on a superb 300th and what a great image of THREE pillars ( each representiong a 100) .. good lighting and excellent clarity and focus. Well done Ricx

mesutilgim (67914) 2010-04-16 14:00

Selam sevgili Bülent,
Her ne kadar bu kare 299. sı ise de, ben 300 olarak algılıyorum. Demek ki bir kare daha evvekl silinmiş.
Tebrikler. Hem 300 kare'ye hem de bu güzel çalışmaya.
Bana ilk bakışta bir havacılık gösterisi gibi geldi. Hani jet'lerin atmosfere bıraktıkları su buharından oluşmuş bir görüntü.
Hikayesi ile enfes bir çalışma.
Tebrikler
Selam ve sevgiler
MESUT ILGIM

Urs (11756) 2010-04-16 17:14

Hi Bulent

What a POV, your idea is stunning. It is a real eye catcher. Fine blue-violet color hues and the your note is as well written as you composed your shot. Well done. Thanks for your critique of my mega grill shot. Since the 1980s I'm hoping that one day photograph can convey the small and noise of the place photographed, but so far it has not happened, but it could be a rude shock for many, if they suddenly would have the smells and sounds of Asia in front of them in Western nations ...

Best regards
Urs

edge (6068) 2010-04-16 20:38

Hello Bulent, This is a most interesting memorial. I was stationed in that area over 40 years ago and have only been back there twice since then. I hardly know the area anymore. Your workshop picture is excellent. I like the idea that there are more memorials today than after WWII. BTW, you have some impressive info in your bio here on TREK. Congratulations on your 300th post as well. Regards, Roger

resat1972 (5960) 2010-04-16 23:05

merhaba,

300. fotonuza yakışacak 3 lü kompozisyon. güzel anlatım. aşağılardaki silüet güzel durmuş. sanırım 1 fotonuz silinmiş.daha nice 300 lere. hem bu fotoya hem 300. gönderinize Tebrikler.

Reşat.

emka (58078) 2010-04-16 23:36

Hi Bulent,

300 th post - congratulations!! Not so much, but it is the quality that is important and your photos are superb and with excellent notes that i like. So i wait for the next 300, and next 300... Interesting idea to choose this photo. It is really confusing in its scale. Beautiful colour of the sky.

Regards Malgorzata

Graal (88820) 2010-04-17 0:02

Hi Bulent,
an interesting presentation. Fine compare - "each of the three prongs is emblematic of 100 photos...". Good photojob and informations.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

pablominto (53744) 2010-04-17 0:48

Hello Bulent,

An artistic and intriguing presentation for your 300th submission..!
Congrats on this milestone...
And the composition is very creative and the lovely colour combo is appealing..!

Greetings,
Pablo -

snunney (67254) 2010-04-17 0:59

Hello Bullent,
A superb composition to celebrate 300 postings. The purple night sky makes a superb backdrop for this very impressive monument. The flag is well included and contributes to the poignant mood. Well done!

windosil (1158) 2010-04-17 3:34

Congratulations, Bulent, on your 300th here.
This is a more subtle photo than appears at first sight: lighted windows and paler darkness in the building on the right; the different apparent widths and heights of the three prongs, and the darkness at the base of the central one, indicate how they are arranged in a triangle on the ground; slightly different shades of colour near the points, too.
Thanks for this intriguing spectacle,
Winifred

Glint (5569) 2010-04-17 4:32

Hello Bulent,
congratulations on your 300th and your choice of photograph to mark this.This is well balanced and the structure almost fantasy like in its presentation. Interesting note, as ever.
Bev

JCG (35129) 2010-04-17 11:05

Hello Bülent,

By seeing your photograph in WS I understand best the symbol in the shape of this memorial. And indeed it is as an good occasion to celebrate your 300th photograph on TE, my congratulations for your advance on the site and the quality of your album, as much in the images as in the notes which accompany them, always so interesting. This monument seems really impressive and the hour of the day is quite selected to create a particular atmosphere and to obtain a beautiful twilight glow. Well done Bülent.

With all my friendships and a very good WE,

Jean-Charles

phwall (6781) 2010-04-17 16:35

Dear Bulent,
Congratulations on your 300th, in fact congratulations on your entire gallery, you have a very good "eye" and it shows.
You've picked a memorable and striking image for your 300th, although as your note suggests the memorial is an artistic re-creation on fighter jet con-trails it's symbolism to me, is more in keeping with always reaching for the outer limits, never being satisfied with mediocrity, a trait dear Bulent exemplified in your photography, your paintings and your writing.
It is a wonderful image, beautifully composed and captured.
Congratulations again my friend, it is always a pleasure to read your interesting and informative notes and to view your creative talent behind the camera.
Best wishes
Peter

kdialyna (3148) 2010-04-18 4:12

Powerful silhouettes against of a mysterious, twilight sky, looks like as if they dance a dance dedicate to the three fighter planes.
My dear friend congratulations for your 300 shot and I hope you will enjoy us for long time still.
My best regards to you and to your family.
Kostas

subhendu_bagchi (16590) 2010-04-18 4:25

Namaskar Professor,
congrats on your 300 th post on trekearth. In this occation you choose a simple but steady composition with a nice architecture with the backdrop of dreamy sky. Great POV which gives the two heads of this architecture towards the two top corners of frame. It increases the charm here. Very well light management also. Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice sunday and lots of beautiful shots.
Subhendu

Leconte (5795) 2010-04-18 4:42

hello Bulent,

nice catch in pretty soft colors, this great work of art, fine, delicate and air, an impressive height, a good idea to show your beautiful gallery and so informative, and hope it continues much longer,

I wish you a good Sunday,
Valerie.

Longroute (19390) 2010-04-18 10:44

Well, the flag and the trees at the bottom leaves no doubts about its height... but of course the mistery of what is remains, unless one reads your good note.
It's a highly graphic and well composed image, with appealing colours and a nice atmosphere. Probably for you it has even a symbolic value. An original way to celebrate your 300th post.
Congratulations,
Donato

paololg (31442) 2010-04-18 15:30

Ciao dear Bulent,
First of all congratulations for your 300th post. A sincere thanks for the your beautiful gallery always accompanied by notes that are true lessons of culture.
Interesting image of this monument that symbolizes the acrobatic figure well underlined in your WS. Very interesting also the notes that explain the proportions of this monument. Considering the scarce light and the use of a pocket-camera I have to say that the photo is good, practically a pleasant blue hour cut by these three steel blades. You have had really an excellent idea, compliments!
Ciao, have a nice week!
Paolo

shevchenko (18243) 2010-04-18 19:01

Hi Bulent,
Creative idea to made this as your 300th posting, congrtulation. These architectures are look like knife, spectacular modern architectures against small flag and trees at bottom, interesting composition, thanks for sharing.
Ally

macjake (39207) 2010-04-19 1:26

Hi Bulent
congrats on your 300th
you have a wonderful mind, in that you referred to the 3 contrails as symbolism for your 300 photos! I love that.
its an elegant display, with blue and purple hues that are very pleasing to the eye.
Well done, and an informative write-up aswell.
Cheers
craig

jhm (122366) 2010-04-19 2:24

Dear Bulent,

Congratulations for 300th picture on TE, this is milestone here.
You found the three symbols per hundred pictures, a very nice idea, when I everything good understand, use you the planes as statue, or is this mistake.
I wait on the next 300.
Very well done, TFS.

Warmest regards,
John

ymrk (14929) 2010-04-19 9:51

İlk önce 300.fotoğrafınızı can-ı gönülden kutluyorum hocam..Harika bir grafizm,harika bir fon üzerinde...Selamlarla

Yağmur

anokutan (15097) 2010-04-19 12:13

Bülent bey merhaba,
Muhteşem bir çalışma.Süper.Tebrikler.

BWJ (3022) 2010-04-19 19:54

Hello Bulent,
Congratulations on your 300th post! The Air Force Memorial with its three spires is a wonderful choice to celebrate this occasion.

The spot you selected to take the picture of the Memorial shows off its graceful beauty and uniqueness the best of any photo I have seen of it. I like the contrast of the silhouettes against the soft colors of the early evening sky. Your workshop photo of the fighter jets is excellent too.

You have a fantastic gallery—filled with beautiful photos and superb notes to describe them.
Kind regards,
Betty

s_lush (15580) 2010-04-20 0:00

Hello Bulent,
Congratulations! Your III hundredth TE post is a real success. The memorial looks very impressive against the sunset sky. Thanks for the wonderful image and comprehensive information in the note!
Best regards,
Sergiy

skippy007 (12500) 2010-04-20 6:07

Hello Bulent, First congratulation on your 300th, I'm fairly new to your gallery but have appreciated you photo work & your very interesting & informative notes, this is no exception, if it wasn't for your well written note I would have no idea what this image is all about, thanks.
Nice &n interesting blue hour shot, I like they way you have tied it in with this occasion & made them look so tall. Well done
Regards
Santo

francio64 (38188) 2010-04-20 6:16

Ciao Bulent,
complimenti per la tua 300th!
Un traguardo raggiunto egregiamente foto dopo foto, con una photogallery ricca di belle foto.

Soggetto originale per una foto idonea al tuo festeggiamento.

TFS!
Francesco

veyselk (0) 2010-04-20 9:43

merhaba Bulent hocam

cok ilginc ve farkli bir yapi, ucyuzuncu post icin uclu bir modern sanant eseri her bir parca yuzuncu post u simgeliyor.
ellerine saglik hocam

veysel

photoray (4926) 2010-04-20 13:51

Congratulations Bulent,
As everyone else a beautiful, simple yet impressive modern sculpture, in the blue-hour with a lavender tinge.

thanks for sharing,
Ray

Vasa (15970) 2010-04-21 2:00

Many thanks dear Bulent for your presence. The Planet count on you for next 300. Your artistic sensibility here is evident and I am proud of your signature, friend.

BRanko

delpeoples (44904) 2010-04-21 7:02

Hello dear Bulent, congratulations to you on your 300th photo. Such a milestone and such a wonderful contribution to this site! The photo has everything I like: blue hour, pink hour, graphism, perspective and good vertical framing. Excellent job. And I thank you for your photos, your critiques and your friendship. A dear hug, Lisa

yedirenk (11242) 2010-04-21 12:10

merhaba Bülent hocam,
300. kareniz için candan tebrikler..iyi ki varsınız..birbirinden değerli 300 kare için çok teşekkürler..600.,900. karelere inşallah.ellerinize sağlık.selamlar,sevgiler

Cevdet

emjleclercq (15778) 2010-04-21 13:52

Congratulation for this 300th post, and the unusal subject you have chosen.
The sculpture manages to suggest what you explain in your note, the contrail of jets, and yes, there is the feeling of a missing one (at least in the point ofview you have chosen). Of course with combat aircrafts, you are to expect a "two pairs" formation, which implies4 aircrafts. The pale blue of the nightfall is also well chosen to present a monument dedicated to airmen.
As a conclusion, a good and unusual posting one more.

All the best,

Emmanuel

gunbud (34052) 2010-04-21 15:34

Hi Bulent,
Congratulations on your 300th post and what a fine image you have chosen for the occasion.
The modern memorial really looks impressive against the late day purple-pink sky.
The flag is very well placed in this fine image.
Regards, Tom

Angshu (51174) 2010-04-22 8:51

Hello Professor 'A'
This is the first time I'm seeing a picture of this memorial...at first glance it looked abstract, but as I read the note I could makeout the structure as the smoke trails left by the three bombers in their maneuver. The trees in the lower part helps us understand the scale. Congratulations on your 300th! A fine personal landmark. I've learnt a lot from your pictures and reading your notes..a privilege really!
With Warmest regards
Angshuman

claire526 (1267) 2010-04-23 20:51

Hi Bulent,
300 great posts, congratulations! Minimalism at its best. I love it. Great monument, very eye catching.
Cheers

Bluejeans (64221) 2010-04-24 1:50

Ola Bulent ,
Magnifico monumento em honra da United Air Force , lindo efeito visual , boa escolha pela blue hour , parabéns pela 300 foto no TE , sempre com boas notas .

Um abraço Gonçalo

Tezic (17807) 2010-04-24 2:21

Merhaba Bülent Bey,
300. fotoğrafınızı kutlarım...
çok etkili ve değişik bir kare... farklı bir grafik özelliği ve bence farklı bir duygusu var... tebrikler...
coşkun

belido (19934) 2010-04-24 5:27

Hi Bulent,

first of all, congratulations for your 300 photos posted in here. It's a great mark! You chose a good image for the celebration. It's grafically attractive and very well presented. It looks futuristic, a lot interesting memorial. There is a degradeé in the sky that is also a nice addition. Great one...and keep sharing!
Regards,
Carlos

ciakgiak (30329) 2010-04-24 5:41

Dear Bulent,
I think you could do no better choice for your 300th picture.
An image that symbolizes, in a simple but very effective way, the trajectories of airs, but at the same time the wonderful path that you did on TE, studded with beautiful images like this last.
Congratulations, a dear embrace.
Best regards

Giorgio

Uhu (8347) 2010-04-25 9:13

Hello Bulent!
Now, despite my animosity towards modern architecture (and modern sculpture, as well!) I have to admit that this monument are really original and it's a perfect object for anniversary shot!
Great work!
I have answered your request - we will have to exchange e-mails to settle the meeting.
Yours!
Uhu the Owl.

jemaflor (68837) 2010-04-25 11:24

Hi Bulent,
Bravo for all your ineresting photos, good vertical format for this original subject, nice light nd sky.

jafadabret (56497) 2010-04-26 0:18

Bonjour Bulent,
Félicitations pour ces 300 photos et en particulier pour celle-ci. Le graphisme est d'une grande pureté et symbolise bien l'élan des avions qui décollent de notre terre pour un monde libre.
Beau travail !
Amicalement
Jacques

Ascot (325) 2010-04-28 0:26

Good morning Bulent, congratulations on your 300th posting.

This is indeed a remarkable monument and a remarkable photo too. One can almost believe that you have taken a photo of an ephemeral moment. Your note helps me to make sense of the photo, especially the part about how how the edifice is stabilised. The scale of these 'contrails' is put into proportion by the building. I have to say that this shows that one does not require the best camera that money can buy in order to produce such an exciting image.

Greetings, Amelia

danyy (0) 2010-04-29 0:06

Bonjour Bulent,
je me rappelle encore avoir fêté ma 300e photo, il y a de cela bien longtemps.
Une photo minimliste pleine de symbôlique en lisant la note.
J'aime beaucoup la douceur des lumières et des couleurs.
Mes compliments.
Daniel.

marietom (34603) 2010-04-29 8:21

hello Bulent,

très graphique, j'aime beaucoup.
Bonne soirée
Marie

gezgin37 (3764) 2010-04-30 15:16

Bülent bey,
benim çok sevdiğim tarzdaki bu muhteşem fotoğraf için sizi tebrik ederim.

Geçmiş olsun dileklerimle birlikte,
saygı ve sevgiler,
Selçuk

zoomer (3580) 2010-05-02 7:48

Very impressive and spiritual creation that soars towards heaven.Excellent POV to convey this.Greetings Wolf.

fanni (13868) 2010-05-02 14:07

Hello Bulent,
this is really quite a symbolic photo! so, my congratulations on your 300th post!:))
This scene looks a little bit like a mirage, with these three seemingly transparent "blades" pointing to different directions..
an expressive very well composed shot conveying a mysterious mood!

my very best wishes to you,
Elena

patdeph (35738) 2010-05-06 22:43

hello Bulent
congratulations(a little bit late) for your !These constructions are incredible,so air,so light,what is enhanced by the superb harmony of colors they give with the sky,and by the contrast with the black silhouettes at the bottom!Superb!
Regards
Pascale

didemay (2943) 2010-05-07 4:39

Bulent Merhaba,
Bu yil gunlerimi yogun yasadigim bir yil oldu...uzun zaman oldu. Arada ugrayabiliyorum TE'ye.
Notun ve ekledigin workshop'taki gorsel anlatiminla butunlesmis nefis bir fotograf.
Tasarima, statigine, projelendirene ve bu aciyla cekene tebriklerimi gonderiyorum.
Not: Su ana kadar Turkiye'de bulasamamis olsak ta ben yine de sorayim. Yaz tatilinde rotanizda Turkiye var mi?
Sevgiler ve Saygilar,
Didem

Silvio1953 (98051) 2010-05-09 13:35

Ciao Bulent, belated congratulations for your 300th splendid post on TE, great POV on wonderful architecture, wonderful light, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

Charo (51174) 2010-05-16 17:26

Hello Bulent,
Congratulations on your photo 300, I hope you're still with us much longer.
Bella captures this so awesome and unique architecture of this memorial.
Best wishes,
Charo

Dyerco (10185) 2010-05-22 16:11

Congrats on your 300th post. Good choice here Bulent. I was not thinking of anything military at first but it is a well designed tribute to the airforce. TFS.
Phil

serp2000 (29158) 2010-05-30 20:13

Hi, Bullent,
Firstly, my congratulations on your 300 post.
Secondly, this composition is very interesting. Nice colours and good composition. TFS!
Greetings from Russia,
Serghei

daddo (18517) 2010-06-05 0:17

Merhaba Bulent. Felicitations on your 300th, even though I am tardy. Don't like the sound of Bomb Burst, but it is an impressive monument with which to represent the trials and achievements of your gallery.Trust you to pick something important yet deceptively simple for the occasion. Regards. Klaudio.

AiresSantos (56155) 2010-06-05 0:19

Hi Bulent
First of all, congratulations for your 300th picture in TE !
Amazing shapes in this fine picture
Simple but very beautiful
Have a nice weekend
Aires

riclopes (35567) 2010-08-05 1:13

Olá Bulent, I'm looking forward to see your photos from India, but while waiting I was attracted to this intriguing image. And it's a striking view of a powerful poetic structure. Very well thought to related with the celebration of your 300posts, it only makes it stronger. The fact that the view is vanishing gives a mystical mood, is it really there or it's a mirage, may be it's just a special effect...This is also the proof that what is important is the photographer whatever camera he is working with. Impressive work with a pocket camera and no tripod. The WS is funny and interesting, love the comparison of ascending lines. My belated congratulations for your 300th photo here.
Warm regards,
ricardo

Merou (4716) 2010-10-10 15:45

Hi

Very interesting. It's the first time i see with place in photo
TFS

annjackman (13183) 2010-11-06 1:18

Hi Bulent
Great picture with its simplistic but symbolic view. Pink to mauve colours maks it very eye-catching. I haven't seen this memorial and would like to. Thanks for the useful note.
Regards
Ann