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Sony Forums Challenges | all galleries >> :: Challenge 34: Past & Future (hosted by Yanny) :: >> :: Challenge 34 Eligible Gallery :: > 2nd Place - Untitled. Fremiet
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January 19, 2003 Fremiet

2nd Place - Untitled. Fremiet

Washington DC

On June 20, 1940, Etienne Achavanne an ordinary citizen decided on his own initiative, to sabotage the Wermacht's telephone lines. He was shot, against a wall, on July 4, 1940 near Rouen.

The wall (shown here) was taken whole to the Memorial Museum in Caen, and Etienne's story told. The wall itself is one of the most moving monuments to the Resistance I have seen. I was determined at some point to complete the picture which I did today with the help of my son whom I fervently hope never has to make the kind of decision M. Achavanne did.

f4.5, 3 seconds, ISO 400. full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Sony Forums Challenges29-Jan-2003 04:11
A very powerful, thought-provoking image, Fremiet. Excellent effort on many levels. Helen
Bill Borne28-Jan-2003 22:35
John...This is an outstanding Image in every respect. As it has made an impact on you, I'm sure it has equally done the same to all those who have viewed it. Another example of "Man's Inhumanity to Man". It is good that they made the memorial so people will not forget! It also hits me hard too, as he has a strong resemblence to my 17 year old son. Bill Borne
Sony Forums Challenges28-Jan-2003 16:10
Strong impact on the viewer..emotionally and visually...nicely processed. MFC
Guest 28-Jan-2003 04:41
Superb John! I don't really know what else to say. You have piqued my interest about something I don't know too much about... but will be doing some research. I never was interested in history until recently. Thanks for the lesson and the non-photographical inspiration! Jim/shutter
Guest 28-Jan-2003 01:04
Glad you decided to leave this in the challenge Fremiet. This is a well made, and thought provoking photo. - sehzar
Guest 26-Jan-2003 21:16
WOW!...now that is an emotionally evocative photo. This is done so well--I hope you do not remove it (but certainly can understand your feelings on it).
W.C. VandenBerg25-Jan-2003 04:00
Fremiet, please do not remove this from the Challenge. This Challenge is about evoking another era and this image does so brilliantly, passionately, shockingly. It gives me chills. It also seems to me to be a fine tribute to Etienne Achavanne.
Sony Forums Challenges24-Jan-2003 02:13
Another powerful, emotional image, and very well done, Fremiet. ...but I can't linger. Perhaps that's the difference between a snapshot and good photojournalism. Bev
Sony Forums Challenges23-Jan-2003 01:31
Thank you Omar. I can't look at this image at this point. Several times I have come very close to taking this off the challenge. I haven't only because it's deepening my sensibilities and I think that's probably good. Making it and posting it has so sensitized me to the plight of the victims of violence that I find myself repeatedly thinking about the emotions of those close to victims as well as the victims themselves.
I saw "The Pianist" the other day. That deepened my understanding of this, and this deepened my understanding of that. I guess that's growing a bit.......F
Guest 23-Jan-2003 01:11
Fremiet, you make images with such intense emotion. I did not have any knowledge whatsoever about Etienne Achavanne but it does not lessen the emotion conveyed by this picture. Very powerful.
Sony Forums Challenges21-Jan-2003 17:52
Powerful image. Well composed.
Camera Slug
Sony Forums Challenges20-Jan-2003 20:19
I was ambivalent about making it and posting it. It is particularly wrenching for me to look at for two reasons. First, the wall hit me very hard and I imagined what Etienne must have gone through....here were the actual bullet holes...I could touch them. Second, using my son as a model made me very very queazy. I'd wanted to create this for so long, way before the challenge...this seemed the time if I ever was going to do it. It is a call to a prayer for all those suffering oppression. I understand, Poss. F
Guest 20-Jan-2003 14:07
Strong image Fremiet. Takes me back to facing the Romanian Police on the streets of Bucharest in December'89. That's a trip down memory lane I don't exactly enjoy making. Good work! Poss
Sony Forums Challenges20-Jan-2003 13:55
Good montage Fremiet. Yanny PS: Merci pour la petite leçon d'histoire.
Sony Forums Challenges20-Jan-2003 12:43
Superb texture and feel to this Shoot... Coloring is dead on ..as is the angle..just great!!..irish_eye
Guest 20-Jan-2003 09:24
Wow, this is great work!