Photographing Patriotism : How To Embrace Patriotism Within Your Photos

one of my most memorable photography outings happened on a whim back in 2012, when i first got a dslr.  i had gone into the city for the day and stumbled upon the korean war veterans memorial, located near the lincoln monument.  the special thing about this outing was the people who were visiting the memorial at the same time i was.  they were veterans, a entire group of them.  and to say it was humbling would be an understatement.  little did i know when i ventured out that day that my simple tourist photography would take a beautiful turn as i instead embraced the patriotism that surrounded me.  as you think about photographing patriotism, here are some tips for things to keep in mind.

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Photographing Patriotism : How To Embrace Patriotism Within Your Photos

Photographing Patriotism : How To Embrace Patriotism Within Your Photos | Bethadilly Photography

Incorporate Your Flag

while the flag doesn’t have to be the focal point of your image, look for creative ways to incorporate it into your image as you are photographing patriotism.  it is one of the greatest symbols of patriotism and can create a very strong image.  in the image above, i photographed our american flag from behind one of the solider statues, softly blurring it in the background.  i love that it evokes patriotism, in that it looks like the solider is looking at his flag.

Photographing Patriotism : How To Embrace Patriotism Within Your Photos | Bethadilly Photography

Photograph Veterans

there is nobody more patriotic than the men and women who serve our country.  find ways to incorporate our veterans into your photos as you are photographing patriotism.  the photo above is one of the photos in my portfolio that i am most proud of.  while visiting the korean war veterans memorial, i noticed a veteran sitting in a wheelchair, simply taking in the memorial.  i was so inspired by him and often wish i would have asked him to tell me his story.

i purposefully placed my focal point on the statue, allowing the man to fall into the blur of the background because i felt that the statue was telling the story of why this gentleman was visiting the memorial.  the statues were his focal point, and therefore mine.

Photographing Patriotism : How To Embrace Patriotism Within Your Photos | Bethadilly Photography

Photograph People Being Patriotic

we show our patriotism in a variety of ways.  whether it is by visiting a memorial, waving a flag, or gathering together to show patriotic support.  note how others show their patriotism.  maybe this looks like a patriotic wreath hanging on someone’s front door or a more formal patriotic ceremony.  when photographing patriotism, be sure to be observant with your camera and photograph what patriotism looks like to other people.  one of the easiest ways to photograph patriotism is to simply be observant.

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Photographing Patriotism : How To Embrace Patriotism Within Your Photos | Bethadilly Photography

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