Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Remembering – The Past And The Present

I know, I know – Memorial Day was yesterday. I didn’t post because I was working on something that I planned to put up then. However, I didn’t quite finish it as planned. It is done today, though, and I wanted to talk a little about its production.

First, it is homegrown. I made this using Windows Movie Maker. Photos are from various places on the Internet. The music is Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait”, performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Gerard Schwartz conducting. The narrator is James Earl Jones.

The photographic mix consists of a number of Civil War-era photos, artwork, and lithographs as well as a number of photos from the present day. If you listen to the narration and look at the photo mix, it should become clear that I am trying to tell a story, or, more accurately, to make a point.

Freedom. It is not free. As you watch this, think about all of those, both past and present, who have paid the ultimate price on behalf of the rest of us.

3 comments:

Karen Brook said...

This is simply wonderful, Walt. WOW. And, Memorial Day is every day...not just so long as we currently have men and women on foreign shores paying the "ultimate devotion", but because of who we are and the terrible price paid countless times over for the liberties we have which sadly many take for granted. Your film made me feel connected as I have not felt in a long time -- connected with ancestors who fought and died in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, both WW I and II and some of the other wars in between. We are all of us connected in a long chain of links which are made holy by the sacrifice of those who were lost and the families who continued to pay the price due to their lost loved ones. I am both humbled and stand a little taller having viewed your wonderful compilation of scenes juxtaposed upon the stirring performance of "The Lincoln Portrait", especially with the profound dignity in the voice of James Earl Jones. You not only told "a" story with this, Walt, you told many. I shall come back and view this again. Thank you for this gift to all who get to see it.

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

Walt, how amazing !
How long did it take you to do in total ?

Memory eternal to all those who have died in conflict.
Freedom does indeed come at an enormous price, and should be cherished accordingly.......

Unknown said...

It took me a total of 5 days - 3 of researching the photos, 1 to put it together, and 1 to do the editing, cropping, put in the effects where they belong, etc.

It was worth the time spent on it as I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

And thank you both for the kind words and encouragement. I appreciate it very much :)