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The Tragic Story of the Waving Girl


The Tragic Story of the Waving Girl
Photo Information
Copyright: Robert Harrison (seneca77) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 298 W: 89 N: 369] (2097)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-11-12
Categories: Artwork
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, 18-55mm/f3.5-5.6
Exposure: f/8, 1/1600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-11-19 17:51
Viewed: 892
Points: 13
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This bronze statue honors Savannah's "Waving Girl," Florence Margaret Martus (1869-1943). She became famous among sailors the world over for waving to ships as they came into and out of the port of Savannah.

Apparently, as legend has it, a young Navy lieutenant, hailing from Cape Cod, joined one of the tours Florence gave of Fort Pulaski, where she worked. Florence was around the age of eighteen at the time and the young lieutenant quickly became infatuated with her. He would later visit her home on nearby Elba Island to see Florence and began courting her. After a whirlwind romance, he proposed marriage to Florence and she accepted. Before they could marry, his ship was called to sea. He left Florence with the assurance that he would return and they would be married. As a token of his promise, he gave her his white Navy neckerchief. Florence waved the neckerchief as his ship sailed passed Elba Island, to ports unknown.

Florence began greeting each ship as it passed the island, waving her neckerchief, hoping to be her love’s first sight as he passed by. Soon, word of Florence’s mission became known and she hoped he would at least receive word that she eagerly anticipated his arrival. Her love, for reasons unknown, would never again return.

The "Waving Girl" waved to ships for over forty years, finally stopping in 1931. This statue was erected in 1972 and faces the Savannah River, near where Florence would anxiously greet the ships.

Source: macmurph.com

Tech: Cropped slightly, saturation +10, sharpened.

I took several shots of the statue but the ones from this angle came out the best because of the angle of the sun. Facing the statue, the sun provided too much backlight.
Gantry, cleocat, lucbus, perryhooter, Hormon_Manyer has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

It is such a sad story. I like the way you took it from the back. Adds a bit to the mystery.

  • Great 
  • lucbus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2107 W: 92 N: 1854] (10273)
  • [2005-11-19 18:17]

Hello Robert,

I like the way you have capture her showing us the river at which she's waving. It's excellent with the note. The colors and lighting are excellent. Well done.
Luc

Hello Robert

Interesting angle and note Robert. I would suggest humbly it could have been a bit better if you could have elevated your POV ( extending your arms ) to catch the legs too. Too bad you did not have a ship passing by at the time of this shot... You could have moved your statue more on the right leaving more space to the target of Mrs Martus.
Cheers!
Robert

TFS,
Robert

Like this shot Robert for its crispness and the nostalgia of the story behind it. TFS, Paul.

Wow, what an interesting and sad story.. as she never knew what happened to him. That is the most difficult part of all.
Thank you for sharing this tale,

Shelly.

I have seen the statue its a very touching to see it.I saw it from the road and had to go and see. I have my own pictuers of her as well. Maybe if I can find them I will have to see if thay are any good .. LAB

Hi Robert,
Nice photo and interesting note. By my opinion POV's excellent, no problem that we don't see the legs of the statue, her arms count... Yes, the photo would even have better with a ship, but You were the photographer, not a wizard... :) I like the stuff in this form, too.

  • Good 
  • TenOx (5)
  • [2007-05-31 13:43]

Haha, I can't see this statue without remembering how, 20 or so years ago, I sat on it's pedestal to rest and was horribly stung by red+brown ants! I wasn't aware of them till the welts started to come up moments later!

This is a nice composition, on an equally nice day. Ideally shooting from a higher viewpoint such as a ladder would slightly improve the perspective and show more of the statue. Great focus and exposure.

/..

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