Raising the flag

If we were in America this'd probably have been one of the first ones posted...

In terms of composition, the image obeys the 'the rule of thirds'. The image draws our eyes along the flag towards the right. Your vision is led to the bottom right hand corner of the image, which is the darkest point; this is a standard layout, which brings our attention to the flag of victory, prior to the soldiers. The black and white contrast makes it very gritty, very dirty, very real which reflects the implication of struggle, battle and taking ground.

The flag represents national ownership. However, it may provoke patriotic feelings. This flag may mean much more to U.S culture, opposed to someone without the knowledge or concern of the event. It reflects status quo, national identity and ownership. Associations can vary, while some may see glory, others may see aggression and loss of life. We do not see the faces of the individuals present, which might imply that they are not significant. This is more about national than personal victory. Our attention is never drawn away from the flag for long.