Christian Photographers Community

I almost entered this in the black and white as my "unusual" entry.  Since I changed my mind, I thought I'd share it here, anyway. 

We stopped at this war relocation center on our way to Southern California last year and spent two hours visiting the area.  This photo is of the entrance and I took it from an angle that was of the outsider looking in at the first guard station. 

Wow, what the Japanese-Americans and others went through "living" there during WWll.  This stop served as a homeschool field trip, since we were studying about WWll.  My daughter (and budding film maker) took video footage and I took lots of photos.  When we returned home, she put together an eleven or so minute documentary, complete with music and narration.  I've threatened to send it to the visitor center there because it's good enough to show to the public at large. 

It was especially cool for me because the only photographer that was let in to take photos of the people as they lived and worked within the camp was none other than Ansel Adams.  They wouldn't let him take any of the guard towers because they didn't want anyone to see that the place was surrounded by barbed wire, but they did let him go up and take pictures from the towers themselves.  That is proof enough that the people were not there voluntarily once they arrived.  My daughter included some of my photos in her documentary along with some of Ansel's.  She did some cool fades where it started out with his black and white shots turning into some of my color ones.  My name was also right next to his in the credits.  Pretty neat, hu?  Such a privaledge and honor.  Yes, she recieved an A+ on the project! 

Anyway, it was a sobering and kind of eery place and the weather that day only added to it.  If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend taking the time to stop in there.  Wish I could post a ton of photos from there. 

People often forget (myself included) that we were in a life-and-death struggle with Japan.  These internment camps were a matter of self preservation.  That doesn't detract, though, from the fact that they were a very, very sorrowful thing as well.  On the other side of this issue, though, and with a little good humor, go over to Hawaii sometime, and look around.  Next time around, non-asians will be put in the camps!  We're in the minority!

This was a terrible and terrifing time for these US Citizens who were rounded up and placed -- displaced -- into these camps.  Much fear, confusion, and even hatred was spawned from this.  The "spirit" still plagues their descendents in this area. 

I know, for a fact, that a similiar "atmosphere" still exists in the Sacramento area.  I have a friend who is a minister/author/writer that has researched this and found this seems to be the underlying cause for much heaviness of spirit and negative feelings and attitudes there.

I believe this could be compared to the way so many people with mid-eastern features/accents/customs have been treated since 9-11-2001

Kathleen, what a lovely sounding video that your daughter made.  I'd so love to be able to see it.  Ansel Adams is one of my "heros" in the photographic world and for you to be where he was, is such a great photographic opportunity.

Love this image a lot.   The barbed wire speaks volumes.

Wn I was in College my Scolarship counselor was Kelly Kitagawa he was born at Manzanar where his parents were interred.

Thanks for all of your comments.  Here's the link to the documentary my daughter made and uploaded to youtube.  We left the credits off since it's on the web and contained first and last names.   I'd love to hear what you think of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moN6TRx8IU0

I'll ask Mom if I can check it out.

What a lovely job she did, Kathleen.  I enjoyed that a lot.

Thanks!

You're welcome!  I'm glad you enjoyed it.  I didn't realize how many youtube videos there already are out there.  Of course, I like my daughter's best.  But, I guess I'm probably a little prejudice. 

You can see more of her videos at her youtube site http://www.youtube.com/user/AKBProductions She has several of her short spoofs there.  She even put some of my photos with nice transitions and music, too...at my youtube site.  http://www.youtube.com/user/ShekinahPhotography

I'm off to have a look, Kathleen!  Thanks for the link.