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.
12 comments posted
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
Sometimes "less is more" can be too subtle. I'm afraid this is one of those times. I chose the title, "Transition," to subtly communicate "reincarnation." The soldiers on the left do not have a shadow because they are dead. The soldiers on the right have a shadow because they are alive after reincarnation. The soldiers in the distance between the mausoleums are in transition from death to life through reincarnation. I agree with those of you who felt the soldiers on the left are too dark. I was a bit heavy-handed with the Levels Adjustment Layer. I find the idea of reincarnation fascinating because the purpose of reincarnation is to end the cycle of reincarnation by becoming one with the universe. Posted: 10/18/2026 21:21:43
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
Sometimes "less is more" can be too subtle. I'm afraid this is one of those times. I chose the title, "Transition," to subtly communicate "reincarnation." The soldiers on the left do not have a shadow because they are dead. The soldiers on the right have a shadow because they are alive after reincarnation. The soldiers in the distance between the mausoleums are in transition from death to life through reincarnation. I agree with those of you who felt the soldiers on the left are too dark. I was a bit heavy-handed with the Levels Adjustment Layer. I find the idea of reincarnation fascinating because the purpose of reincarnation is to end the cycle of reincarnation by becoming one with the universe. Posted: 10/18/2026 21:21:55
Alan, A powerful image. I like your choice of the formatting as an extra wide image is quite effective here. The repetitive forms are handled skillfully, I especially like how you took the extra time to create the more subtle figures between the structures. My only feedback is the soldiers in white are very easy to recognize and the ones in dark are a little harder to relate to making it a little harder for me to follow the story on first viewing. Posted: 10/13/2026 22:01:15
Sometimes "less is more" can be too subtle. I'm afraid this is one of those times. I chose the title, "Transition," to subtly communicate "reincarnation." The soldiers on the left do not have a shadow because they are dead. The soldiers on the right have a shadow because they are alive after reincarnation. The soldiers in the distance between the mausoleums are in transition from death to life through reincarnation. I agree with those of you who felt the soldiers on the left are too dark. I was a bit heavy-handed with the Levels Adjustment Layer. I find the idea of reincarnation fascinating because the purpose of reincarnation is to end the cycle of reincarnation by becoming one with the universe. Posted: 10/18/2026 21:22:07
This is a very strong image, Alan. The symmetry of the elements with such compelling focal points is very powerful. Your subtly colored foreground and background keeps the attention on those tightly stacked lines, and the ambiguous link between the mausoleums adds to the questions this images raises. I like the lack of shadow on the line of figures on the left.
I appreciate that you included the details on how you created the image.
At first I thought the line of dark figures was marching out rather than in; like Brad, I found them a little harder to make out. Posted: 10/16/2026 17:16:41
I appreciate that you included the details on how you created the image.
At first I thought the line of dark figures was marching out rather than in; like Brad, I found them a little harder to make out. Posted: 10/16/2026 17:16:41
Sometimes "less is more" can be too subtle. I'm afraid this is one of those times. I chose the title, "Transition," to subtly communicate "reincarnation." The soldiers on the left do not have a shadow because they are dead. The soldiers on the right have a shadow because they are alive after reincarnation. The soldiers in the distance between the mausoleums are in transition from death to life through reincarnation. I agree with those of you who felt the soldiers on the left are too dark. I was a bit heavy-handed with the Levels Adjustment Layer. I find the idea of reincarnation fascinating because the purpose of reincarnation is to end the cycle of reincarnation by becoming one with the universe. Posted: 10/18/2026 21:22:17
I did get the concept from your image that the line on the left was going in, and that the connection between the mausoleums could be the transition of the figures from the left to the line on the right. It was something that I thought of as a possibility rather than a certainty. I did feel that the line of white figures had more substance than the dark line, so I think the image does suggest reincarnation to me.
It is subtle. I think a lot of connections in surreal images are subtle and perhaps subconscious, which is why they make us think about them so much. Posted: 10/19/2026 00:04:55
It is subtle. I think a lot of connections in surreal images are subtle and perhaps subconscious, which is why they make us think about them so much. Posted: 10/19/2026 00:04:55
Hi Alan, you have created a strong visual image. The symmetrical composition and the endless repetition of soldiers, who change colour as they pass through the doors, intrigue me. It makes me feel as though they are leaving the bad things behind and emerging as renewed versions of themselves. The subtle colours of the background complement the figures without competing for attention. Nicely done! Posted: 10/17/2026 07:49:42
Sometimes "less is more" can be too subtle. I'm afraid this is one of those times. I chose the title, "Transition," to subtly communicate "reincarnation." The soldiers on the left do not have a shadow because they are dead. The soldiers on the right have a shadow because they are alive after reincarnation. The soldiers in the distance between the mausoleums are in transition from death to life through reincarnation. I agree with those of you who felt the soldiers on the left are too dark. I was a bit heavy-handed with the Levels Adjustment Layer. I find the idea of reincarnation fascinating because the purpose of reincarnation is to end the cycle of reincarnation by becoming one with the universe. Posted: 10/18/2026 21:22:30
Hi Alan,
For what it's worth, I read your image as a conceptually strong piece reflecting on life and the "residue" we all carry as time goes on, and how, upon rebirth, we emerge anew. I also don't think ghosts have shadows! Thank you for providing the clarity and intention of your image. Posted: 10/19/2026 18:55:38
For what it's worth, I read your image as a conceptually strong piece reflecting on life and the "residue" we all carry as time goes on, and how, upon rebirth, we emerge anew. I also don't think ghosts have shadows! Thank you for providing the clarity and intention of your image. Posted: 10/19/2026 18:55:38