Les Braves – Memorial at Omaha Beach

Yesterday, we visited Omaha Beach in Normandy, one of the key landing sites from D-Day. Right there on the sand stands a striking modern sculpture called "Les Braves."

It was created by French artist Anilore Banon and unveiled in 2004, marking 60 years since the Allied landings on June 6, 1944. This is the exact stretch of beach where American troops came ashore under heavy fire.

The sculpture is made of stainless steel and consists of three symbolic parts: The Wings of Hope, Rise Freedom!, and The Wings of Fraternity, which pay tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and solidarity of the Allied soldiers who fought to liberate Europe. American and European soldiers stood side by side to defend shared Western values. It makes you wonder if the same would still hold true today.

In post-processing, I converted this photo to black and white, simulating the use of a red filter—just like you'd use with a monochrome camera. This technique deepens the sky and increases contrast, helping the shape and texture of the sculpture stand out, free from the distraction of color.