Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/05/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]My PAWs for these two weeks span 3 countries. First the Netherlands. The anniversary of Liberation is celebrated here over two days. May 4th is devoted to remembering the soldiers who died fighting to liberate this country, and May 5th is a celebration of freedom. So, my week 18 pictures are all related to these commemorations. On May 4th at 8 p.m. the country observed 2 minutes of silence. All public transport stopped, and drivers were encouraged to do so as well. Judging by a motorway near my house, the majority did: http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_18.jpg The next day, May 5th, we drove to Arnhem to see the tributes there. At the Commonwealth cemetery where 1753 mostly British soldiers and airmen are buried, lots of wreaths like this one were to be seen: http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_18alt1.jpg In the centre of Arnhem, the Dutch army was doing a symbolic re-enactment of the parachute drop 60 years ago, from the tower of the cathedral: http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_18alt2.jpg http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_18alt3.jpg http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_18alt4.jpg Several of these were taken with a Leica lens, pick them out or look in the technical data below the thumbnails ;-) Then we move on to week 19. My uncle in France (Le Mans) was to receive the Legion d'Honneur order on May 8th, Victory Day, so we used it as an excuse to have one of our rare global family reunions. He was to receive the honour for his life-long work in the Jewish community of the Sarthe departement. The ceremony was part of the overall Victory Day ceremonies. Here is one of the many French veterans present: http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_19.jpg Here is my uncle shortly after having received his medal, visibly moved during the prefect's speach, which recounted his wartime ordeals, the loss of his entire family and other painful memories: http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_19alt1.jpg Here he is in a happier mood, being interviewed by local TV: http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_19alt2.jpg After the formalities at the prefecture, we moved on to his house to celebrate: http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_19alt3.jpg The next day, the Wajsman caravan moved on to Copenhagen, by road and by air. On Wednesday the 11th I had scheduled the unveiling of my father's gravestone. Here is my sister, putting the finishing touches on the inscription: http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_19alt4.jpg And then we spent a day in Copenhagen. I proudly showed off what I consider my town, and here are a couple of shots from two places which I often visited with my father, first the street called Gammel Strand: http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_19alt5.jpg and then a bar in Nyhavn, where we often went to drink a beer: http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2005/2005_19alt6.jpg Sorry if this is all a bit lengthy, but it was a long couple of weeks...The complete PAW index is at: http://www.nathanfoto.com/indexpaw2005.html and comments/critique are always welcome and appreciated. Nathan -- Nathan Wajsman Almere, The Netherlands General photography: http://www.nathanfoto.com Seville photography: http://www.fotosevilla.com Stock photography: http://www.alamy.com/search-results.asp?qt=wajsman http://myloupe.com/home/found_photographer.php?photographer=507 Prints for sale: http://www.photodeluge.com