Photo of the Week 2019-04-29

I conclude the series of images made chronicling my pilgrimage to the Netherlands with this collage of Holten Canadian War Cemetery and my grandfather's grave ... may he Rest In Peace.

You can view all the images I have chosen to post on the D J England Photography Facebook page.  

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-04-22

As a photographer, I find my photogrpaher's eye always on the lookout for possible images. 

While on a recent personal journey to the Netherlands, the main purpose of which was not photography related, my photographer's eye still identified opportunities for an image. Whether passively or actively, the eye is always working ...

De Oversteek (The Crossing)

In Nijmegen, NL, there is a bridge dedicated to the memory of WWII Allied soldiers who crossed the Waal River on September 20,1944. 48 from the US 82nd Airborne gave their lives in this endeavour. The bridge stands as a tribute to their sacrifice and a Sunset March is held every day of the year in their honour.

On a cool(ish) April evening, joined approximately 40 others, of various origins, to march with Coert Langenhuijzen of Team 31 across De Oversteek. For me, quite a moving tribute.

After the solemn salute at the memorial cairn on the north side, I returned in across the bridge in now darkness. My eye caught the shapes and patterns of light and dark and I captured the image above, a reminder of my Sunset March.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-04-15

Last week's tribute post coincided with the 74th Anniversary of my grandfather being killed in action during WWII. On that day I was nearing the conclusion of my pilgrimage through the Netherlands to the place he was killed and his grave in Holten Canadian War Cemetery.

While on this trip, I took time to capture elements of the journey through my lens. This post, with WWII related content, may not be of interest to regular followers of my work, nor may the content be comfortable for some. But I am compelled to capture what I experience with my camera, it's what I do.

Those who cannot remember the past ...

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
- George Santayana

First stop on my trek after landing in Amsterdam at 6:30 am local was Camp Vught, a fitting beginning to a place of hardship and atrocities suffered under the Nazi regime. If you are interested in the background story to each image, click the link just before each to open learn more.

I began my time here with a hike through the woods to the Execution Site where 329 people, mostly Dutch Resistance fighters, were executed and the memorial that now marks the spot.

Execution Site

 Konzentrationslager Herzogenbusch

Children's Monument

Bunker Tragedy

Wall of Reflection

 My visit, a very sobering experience that I will never forget ...

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-04-11

Making new images has taken a back seat for the past couple of weeks. Oh the camera has been out and there have been a number of clicks, but there was nothing very purposeful in terms of making new images. I've been busy with some of the every day life stuff like, the day job, getting the car serviced and putting the finishing touches to a home kitchen reno that has come together nicely.

But that doesn't mean I've been completely inactive photographically ... after going to see one of my images licensed by Parks Canada at last week's BPNP Visitors Center Open House, I dropped in to the Upper Deck Gallery and while there, decided to take a different wall space with a bit more room and a corner layout. This means I'll have space for a few more prints on the wall and to set up a table and rack to display cards and unframed prints.

I've also been busy going through the family photo collection looking for pics of my aunt for an upcoming family event. Plus, every April 8th for the past several years, I've posted  something to my personal facebook page in honour of my Grandfather, Ernest James England who was killed on that day 1945 while fighting in Holland. These last two activities came together when searching for photos, I found a clipping of the original newspaper notice of his death and the photos from my father's one and only trip to Holland in 1995 for the 50th Anniversary of the end of WWII. It was during that trip that family members were fortunate enough to connect with historians who knew of my grandfather and the details relating his death.

During the later stages of the war in Northern Holland, my grandfathers reconnaissance regiment (8th Recce. 14th Hussars) was leading the advance of Canadian forces as they approached Holten. He was out on a mission clearing the area of German troops when his bren gun carrier was erroneously targeted by a tank from the Fort Garry Horse Regiment and he was killed instantly by a direct hit. Bits of this had murmured through the family over the years and not only was it confirmed during the trip to Holland, but the family were taken to the spot on a farm lane where it happened.

farm lane - note tree on far left

As I understand, the tree on the far left, with the large scar of missing bark close to the ground, is the exact spot, the tree where what remained of the bren gun carrier remained for some time. This information was obtained from the man who owned the farm back in 1945. In 1995 he still owned the farm and came out to speak with family members through the historians who acted as interpreters.

farm owner (I must get his name)

I hold what remains of my family photos. Passed down to me by my mother, there are mostly ones my father took, some date back to the early 1900's, maybe a bit more. They are treasures. Through them I am reminded to print the everyday stuff from my own photo exploits. Through them I have an extremely powerful piece of family history ...

DJE

Photo of the Week 2015-12-28

I can't recall if I have featured images by another photographer here on my blog, perhaps one by my father or maybe one that I found inspirational. I really should go back through all of the posts from the over six years I have been blogging (that's over 300 blog posts) to review where this photographic journey has trod.

This week I am going to feature a photograph made by someone else. Not someone standing with me, using my camera, or helping me make an image of myself in some far, or not so far away location but someone who may not be "into" photography the way I am. As far as I know, they may only take "snapshots" to record family events like birthdays and vacations ...

On Christmas morning past, as I sat waiting to open gifts while Lynn took Murphy out for his walk and Jordan slept upstairs, I sat down with my iPad to check my Facebook page and post a Merry Christmas message to all my friends. In doing so I noticed I "had mail" and checked my inbox to see a message from Holland. I smiled and thought how nice to receive a Christmas message from the family that hosted my parents when they visited in 1995. The Zandvoorts, Jan & Ina, have kept in touch over the years, and have been very generous in providing any information available regarding my grandfather who is buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, not far from where they live.

Recently, on Facebook, I had seen photos and short videos posted of the annual Christmas Eve candle lighting ceremony at Holten. I find it moving that the Dutch continue to honour those who lost their lives liberating Holland in the last stages of WWII. The images of the cemetery at Holten touch me deeply. I have plans to visit Holten in the next couple of years and make my own images but as beautiful and moving as it is, my visit will not be on Christmas Eve, there are other dates of significance that I must capture ... so I was overwhelmed with emotion when I opened the photos attached in the email from Holland showing my Grandfather's grave (front corner) during this year's candle ceremony. 

I posted the originals to FB on Dec 25 as they were ... here, I've taken some artistic liberties ... 

Holten Christmas Eve Candles 2015

EJGE B67380 -  Holten Cemetery 1-A-1

DJE

Memorial Cross

Memorial Cross


Sgt. Ernest James Garfield England
B67380
8 Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment
14th Canadian Hussars
Killed in action 1945-04-08

Every time I open the chest that holds my collection of family treasures I am moved deeply. There are not a lot of items in the collection but they have the power to release a flood of memories, questions and ultimately emotion.

Quite some time ago an image created by a friend stirred an urge to document some of my family treasures when I was able to set up for studio lighting and "do them justice". I made this image several months back and decided that I would hold onto it and post it on the anniversary of my grandfather's death. I find the "presentation" to be the most difficult element of making still life images. Normally an existing scene captures my eye and I work to find a composition that enhances what is already there. In this case things were completely different, the starting point was basically a "blank canvas". I always find it hardest when the canvas, page or scene is blank. Just getting started with something usually gets things flowing. Here, a couple of awful initial shots on a basic studio table and background led to an afternoon of puttering about and I had something respectable (I think) to show for it.

The medal is my Grandfather's Memorial Cross, awarded to my Grandmother as his widow. Along with the medal in it's original box, I have the letter and envelope that accompanied it. Obviously I never knew my grandfather and yet I feel a deep, strong connection. I'm glad that my father travelled to Holland in 1995 for the 50th anniversary celebrations and was able to visit his father's grave in Holten Canadian War Cemetery for the first time. I had always wanted to make the trip myself or better yet with my father and sadly I have lost that opportunity. Lessons learned ....

DJE