KAMLOOPS B.C. — "It's very close to my heart." Gus Martin sheds a tear as the Piper’s Lament commences on Nov. 11, 2018. "My grandfather was in the World War, and my dad was in the second war— and fortunately or unfortunately I was too young to join either one of them." Martin enlisted shortly after the Korean war and had a career in the Royal Canadian Airforce. He was transferred from Ontario to Kamloops in 1968 and then retired in 1972. (Shelby Thevenot/iNFOnews.ca)

I went to cover the Remembrance Day Ceremony at Riverside Park in Kamloops. My job was to get the best photos possible while still being respectful to the solemn occasion.

I decided that I would be still during the national anthem and the moment of silence. So just after I captured the trumpet player playing the Last Post there came two minutes of silence, and I was frozen in place.

There I was privy to a humorous moment when the bagpipes began to play before the two minutes had passed. I could see the Reverent Saundra Sugden trying to get the piper to stop but he was in too deep now.

As such there was a bit of an awkward moment where I didn’t know if I should wait till the song was over or if I could keep moving. Glancing over to the other photographers, huddled on the other side of the grounds, I saw them taking shots. I took this to mean I had permission to put the viewfinder to my eye.

I searched the veterans for a photo, when I noticed one man had a single tear dripping from his nose. I snapped about a dozen photos of slightly different angles to make sure I got a good composition, and so that the reflections off the tear could be contrasted with the black hat.

From there I could have just finished the ceremony and called it a day. In fact I considered it. I weighed the pros and cons of not trying to talk to him after. From my understanding of the legality of the situation I didn’t have to get his name; it is 1) a public place and 2) part of a newsworthy event. Going home would also mean I could get the story done quicker.

Taking photos of the parade after, I knew my story would be empty if I didn’t talk to people. I followed Sudgen and another man who I ended up getting another portrait of, before I decided to head back to my car. I was coming to terms with not getting the veteran’s name.

Lo and behold on the way I pass by the Legion, and it’s packed. Veterans and Legion members are still rolling in as I approached the door.

When I went in, sure enough, I saw the veteran sitting at a table enjoying a sandwich with two other men.

Because I didn’t want to rush him I waited off to the side, looking at my phone and setting up the voice recorder. At a natural pause in conversation I swooped in and introduced myself.

His name is Gus Martin, and he was very kind to me. When I asked him what this day meant to him he paused for a long time, his eyes swimming, searching for an answer acceptable to polite conversation.

He told me of his grandfather and his dad, and how he had been in the airforce. I didn’t need much more than that. I thanked him and was on my way.

Self-critique

I find the background a bit busy, and this was not the right lens for this shot. I think it would have been better with a telephoto lens where I could really zoom in there.

Though I felt a bit restricted by my presence being misconstrued as disrespect, I could have stepped out a few feet to maybe get a 3/4 view of his face. Also it would be better if the poppy was more visible, which is perhaps why I wanted to keep the other man’s poppy in frame. Now I find it a bit distracting on an already busy canvas.

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