I visited the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France shortly before the 2024 U.S. Presidential election. Over the course of 3 days, I photographed Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah beaches along with the incredibly well-preserved German gun emplacements at Longues-sur-Mer.
For most Americans, D-Day means Omaha Beach. Omaha was the primary location where U.S. forces began their assault on Normandy. Many Americans forget the contributions of troops from the UK and Canada who also took part in D-Day. In fact, there were more troops from the UK and Canada fighting on the beaches than troops from the U.S.
Sword, Gold, and Juno beaches were the primary landing sites for the armed forces under the command of the United Kingdom. Arromanches-les-Bains, located just to the east of Gold beach and the first village liberated by the British, is still festooned with French and British flags.
I came across this unmarked (and possibly unofficial) memorial above Gold Beach. The long row of fabric poppies took me back to my childhood growing up in New Jersey in the 1950s. I remember my mother would always buy a paper poppy to wear on or near Memorial Day. Though this custom has faded in the U.S., the poppy remains a powerful symbol of the sacrifices of war in many European countries. Paper or woven fabric poppies can be found over much of Normandy.
I visited the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France shortly before the 2024 U.S. Presidential election. Over the course of 3 days, I photographed Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah beaches along with the incredibly well-preserved German gun emplacements at Longues-sur-Mer.
For most Americans, D-Day means Omaha Beach. Omaha was the primary location where U.S. forces began their assault on Normandy. Many Americans forget the contributions of troops from the UK and Canada who also took part in D-Day. In fact, there were more troops from the UK and Canada fighting on the beaches than troops from the U.S.
Sword, Gold, and Juno beaches were the primary landing sites for the armed forces under the command of the United Kingdom. Arromanches-les-Bains, located just to the east of Gold beach and the first village liberated by the British, is still festooned with French and British flags.
I came across this unmarked (and possibly unofficial) memorial above Gold Beach. The long row of fabric poppies took me back to my childhood growing up in New Jersey in the 1950s. I remember my mother would always buy a paper poppy to wear on or near Memorial Day. Though this custom has faded in the U.S., the poppy remains a powerful symbol of the sacrifices of war in many European countries. Paper or woven fabric poppies can be found over much of Normandy.
Technical details:
Camera: Fujifilm GFX100s
Lens: Fuji GF 45-100mm F4
ISO: 400
Aperture: f4
Shutter Speed: 1/2000
Technical details:
Camera: Fujifilm GFX100s
Lens: Fuji GF 45-100mm F4
ISO: 400
Aperture: f4
Shutter Speed: 1/2000