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Omaha Beach


Omaha Beach
Photo Information
Copyright: Kristof Szekely (szekelykristof) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1030 W: 69 N: 2616] (12589)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-25
Categories: Event
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-12-10 9:20
Viewed: 586
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A memorial at Omaha Beach, the scene of the bloodiest battle of Normandy in July, 1944. The dramaic sky expresses the sorrowful mood of the photo.

A little bit of history from Wikipedia:

Omaha Beach was the code name for one of the principal landing points of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II. The beach was located on the northern coast of France, facing the English Channel, and was 5 miles (8 km) long, from east of Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to west of Vierville-sur-Mer on the right bank of the Douve river estuary—which is distinct as the indent at the corner between the turn of the peninsula towards Utah Beach which held the allied rightmost flank towards Cherbourg and the Normandy peninsula proper across the Douve. There is evidence to suggest that Omaha Beach was code named in honor of Gayle Eyler of Omaha, Nebraska. Gayle Eyler was a specialist who helped convert an apartment in London into a secret U.S. Army headquarters for the invasion and was reportedly recognized for "getting the place ready in a hurry".

Landings here were necessary in order to link up the British landings to the east with the American landing to the west at Utah beach, thus providing a continuous lodgement on the Normandy coast of the Bay of the Seine. Taking Omaha was to be the responsibility of United States Army troops, with sea transport provided by the U.S. Navy and elements of the Royal Navy.

On D-Day, the untested 29th Infantry Division, joined by eight companies of U.S. Army Rangers redirected from Pointe du Hoc, were to assault the western half of the beach. The battle-hardened 1st Infantry Division was given the eastern half. The initial assault waves, consisting of tanks, infantry and combat engineer forces, were carefully planned to reduce the coastal defences and allow the larger ships of the follow-up waves to land. The primary objective at Omaha was to secure a beachhead of some five miles (eight kilometers) depth, between Port-en-Bessin and the Vire River, linking with the British landings at Gold Beach to the east, and reaching the area of Isigny to the west to link up with VII Corps landing at Utah Beach. Opposing the landings was the 352nd Infantry Division, largely deployed in strongpoints along the coast — the German strategy was based on defeating any seaborne assault at the water line.

Very little went as planned during the landing at Omaha Beach. Difficulties in navigation caused the majority of landing craft to miss their targets throughout the day. The defenses were unexpectedly strong, and inflicted heavy casualties on landing US troops. Under heavy fire, the engineers struggled to clear the beach obstacles; later landings bunched up around the few channels that were cleared. Weakened by the casualties taken just in landing, the surviving assault troops could not clear the heavily defended exits off the beach. This caused further problems and consequent delays for later landings. Small penetrations were eventually achieved by groups of survivors making improvised assaults, scaling the bluffs between the most heavily defended points. By the end of the day, two small isolated footholds had been won which were subsequently exploited against weaker defenses further inland, achieving the original D-Day objectives over the following days.
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Hendrika: Re :-)szekelykristof 1 12-11 01:27
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Critiques [Translate]

Good effort with such a dull day Kristof.. A great pity the sun wasn't shining with blue sky because this would become a very picturesque scene.
Nicely composed and sharp image, good work..
Cheers
David

Edited to say I would go for a tighter panoramic crop - less sand and sky..

Hello Kristof,

What a wonderful shot !
Excellent note too.
Light, pov ... all is very good.
WOW, you have my big congratulation.
All the best
Greetings

  • Great 
  • iso Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1119 W: 62 N: 167] (27955)
  • [2008-12-10 9:36]

An interesting observation, thanks to share it with us. I noted a quite well balanced lightning.


Iso.

Helo Kristof
This battle have chance history and for many milion people destiny
Terible thing in name of peace
TFS
Cheers,Braca

that's well done, exposure, natural colors, all is fine, great brightness for a shot by a cloudy day
regards
jc

Hello Kristof,

Excellent shot and note.
Beautiful colors and nice POV.
I did a WS and hope you don't mind.
TFS
Sergio

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 8 N: 306] (3101)
  • [2008-12-10 10:29]

Nice, very nice Kristof. The subjects are sharp.
I like the WS also. I think a crop would make it stronger, more focus on the subjects. Youre note is interesting but a little bit too long for me. ( i don't like to read very long notes ) tfs,

willemien

Hi Kristof
good shot of an impressive site.
perfect capture of the memorial monument, clear and sharp. nice bg. But just a bit too much sand in the front.
greetings
tsilla

  • Great 
  • KBE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 456 W: 103 N: 597] (2759)
  • [2008-12-10 10:41]

Hi Szekely,
Beautiful capture and composition, very sharp nice DOF and lovely clouds :)
TFS
Cheers
JZM

Good evening Kristof,

impressive shot...I got chills down my spine when looking at this image. If I only remember how many lives were lost here...

Read this lyrics...

"Nautical Disaster by The Tragically Hip"

I had this dream where I relished
The fray and the screaming that filled my head all day
It was as though I'd been spit there, settled in , into a pocket
Of a lighthouse off some rocky socket,
Off the coast of France, Dear

One afternoon, four thousand men died in the water here
Five hundred more were thrashing madly as parasites might in you blood
Now I was in lifeboat designed for ten and ten and only,
Anything that systematic would get you hated.
It's not a deal nor a test nor a love of something fated.
The selection was quick, the crew was picked and
those left in the water got kicked off our pant leg and we headed for home.

Then the dream ends when the phone rings
You doing alright he said it's out there ,most days and nights
But only a fool would complain
Anyway Susan if you like our conversation is as faint as the sound in my memory
As those fingernails scratching on the hull

Have a nice evening,

Stasa

  • Great 
  • ade71 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 235 W: 37 N: 206] (2812)
  • [2008-12-10 11:12]

Hi kristof, very interesting picture and note for a so historical place.
Compliments, Adele

  • Great 
  • Saba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 628 W: 0 N: 1703] (9540)
  • [2008-12-10 11:13]

Hello Kristof!
Monument on beach...curious presentation!
Very good composition!
Beautiful picture!
Greetings.
Barbara

Hi Kristof
Wonderful beach and good work
Paolo

  • Great 
  • Nushy Gold Star Critiquer [C: 145 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-12-10 11:54]

Hello Kristof,

all I can say is...all the words to describe the photo are useless... this image speaks for itself...we sould let it speak.

My compliments,

Nusa

hey Kristof
very nice composition and great note
excellent POV and DOF
congratulation
T

  • Great 
  • dareco Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1717 W: 16 N: 840] (15143)
  • [2008-12-10 13:23]

I think the sky really suits the mood, a really great picture! and a very interesting post and note. Nice job! TFS

  • Great 
  • Alexia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 189 W: 0 N: 220] (2454)
  • [2008-12-10 13:26]

Ciao...magnifica questa foto...
complimenti

Alexia

Hi Kristof, Omaha beach is quite an experience to visit. I like the statues erected on the beach. I think your cloudy day helps with the somber mood one feels while visiting this place. Well done! Lisa

Hi Kristof
Wonderful composition and capture.Great colours and daylight use.Thanks for the wonderful note.
Have a nice day!
Greetings from Portugal
Antonio ;o))

Beautiful shot to remember
well done in light
Sabina

Bom dia
This is a very nice post, Well done and very interesting.
Good photo. thanks
My regards
Teresat

Hi Kristof,

Very impressive, both your picture and this monument.
Although it is perfectly beautiful as it is right now - I have made you a WS to see if I could a bit more drame to this sky that is perfect to remember WW II.

TFS
Els

Hi Kristof
I was here long time ago and the brave is really so heavy here
thanks for sharing so nice place to remember what happned here
ciao
Lucio

Hi Kristof,
Beautiful picture of the memorial Omaha beach and of the bloodiest battle of Normandie,Excellent POV. and details , nice note and well presented and composed picture.
very well taken and done.
compliments.
Michel

  • Great 
  • jazrr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 317 W: 72 N: 82] (1883)
  • [2008-12-11 11:45]

Hi Kristof:

Very nice composition and great POV. I like the cropped picture in image #1 and the clouds and colors in image #2.
Regards,
Jafar

  • Great 
  • wieyos Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1115 W: 43 N: 2154] (9008)
  • [2008-12-11 18:07]

a nice capture of modern art sculptures by the beach, Kristof.
they look like Aladin's sword....:)
the weather however was not to your advantage. i wish it could be better for a bluer sea water.

TFS
regards
Agoes

Hi Kristof!
Amazing historic beach. Very interesting sculpture (monument). Good lightness, nice colors. Original picture.
Cheers!

Hello Kristof,I love the way that the memorial sculpture breaks through all the thirds of the composition,wonderful work.
The colours are so natural.The light was perfect for showing all the sculptures' details.
Tfs, regards Jean.

  • Great 
  • ayse51 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1725 W: 127 N: 1494] (20940)
  • [2008-12-12 11:31]

Hi Kristof,
Beautiful art work and beautiful note.Well composed,well presented.TFS.Necla.

  • Great 
  • viawia Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 504 W: 32 N: 861] (3889)
  • [2008-12-16 11:06]

Hi Kristof

Thank you so much for the piece of history shared. This is a very impressive photo of an awesome monument and you are right the sky adds a lot to the atmosphere.
TFS

Wia

Hi Kristof, nice clean image, natural colours, well captured, interesting notes

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