Alan Kaplan
October 2026 - Transition
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About the Image(s)
I found this wonderful mausoleum when I made an early morning donut stop on my way to a local wildlife preserve. On a different day at West Point, I photographed the front and back of a single statue of a West Point cadet which I used here. Even though it’s October, this image is not related to Halloween or to the Day of the Dead. The fact that the line of cadets on the right has a shadow and the line of cadets on the left does not is intentional. I used “Select Subject” in the Select dropdown menu in Photosahop’s Options bar to isolate a cadet. Ctrl-J helped copy cadets, Ctrl-T helped resize them, and Ctrl-E merged layers.
2 comments posted
Heidi Gruetzemacher
Hi Alan,
"Transition" is a perfect title for this piece. I imagine creating it must have been a true labor of love. You have a wonderful eye for depth of focus, and your use of atmosphere creates a compelling mood. Also, nice use of color in the foreground and background. The concept itself is genuinely unique and thought-provoking. Beautifully done! Posted: 10/09/2026 02:34:17
"Transition" is a perfect title for this piece. I imagine creating it must have been a true labor of love. You have a wonderful eye for depth of focus, and your use of atmosphere creates a compelling mood. Also, nice use of color in the foreground and background. The concept itself is genuinely unique and thought-provoking. Beautifully done! Posted: 10/09/2026 02:34:17
Hi Alan, this is yet another of your visions that raises strong feelings. I am overwhelmed by the sadness in the relentless endless march of the young soldiers, and the chilling symbolism. The "less is more" works so well here, and the muted colors contribute to the mood. I think that the deep fresh greens of the ivy on the mausoleums are essential elements in the composition, and add another symbolic touch. Posted: 10/09/2026 04:50:31