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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Ankara pictures >> Ankara Anitkabir > Ankara Anıtkabir
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24-SEP-2004

Ankara Anıtkabir

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In front of the left (coming up the stairs) hall are some statues of men, representing the population. I could not resist the aura of the sun around the central man's head, but he is not Atatürk, nor a saint, just a victim of photographic Spielerei.

Nikon D70
1/1000s f/6.3 at 24.0mm full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Cihangir 01-Jan-2007 23:49
This is perhaps the oldest trick in the book; yet it turned out pretty well for you in this scene. Surprisingly, it is incredible on so many levels that it is easily my favourite Anitkabir photo. I'm guessing it has to do something with the "forest that goes to infinity" in the background. It's a rather unusual combination, as Socialist Realist (I refuse to call them Stalinist) statues are almost always seen in front of grey seas of urban concrete. But here we see the warmth of sun and forest merged with the cold starkness of socialist imagery. Also there is a soldier without a gun; apparently he was as amazed at the harmony of the nature as I am, he simply put his weapons down. Add to this the notion of crowning socialism with a halo, making a saint out of a godless man, and you have an award-worthy photo in your hands.

I can also imagine this being used in a Soviet propaganda poster, with the caption "Communism too, can go hand to hand with the environment!".. Sure, the people would never remember the Tsar Bomba ;)