A few months ago, I reflected on my visit to D Day sites in Normandy, imagining what had happened decades ago. On this, the 70th anniversary of the invasion, I thought it important to acknowledge the occasion and perhaps post a few more images.

The acknowledgment is important. It's impossible to envision what our world would be today had those events not occurred. When thinking about the sites I saw and visited in Normandy, I am immediately taken to imagining what it was like for those involved, including my uncle and father-in-law, seventy years ago. My initial D Day post includes those reflections.

Deciding to post more images was a bit difficult. The day we toured D Day sites, I struggled to make images. My camera and I didn't bond very well. Many things were out of focus. Exposures were way off. I wasn't composing things well. I ended up with a set of images that didn't really convey the experience I was having. I didn't feel as though I was capturing the stories the sites were telling.

The balance was tipped by the many images presented in the press over the past few days, reinforcing the significance of the events. Seeing the beautiful, pastoral landscape of Normandy today creates a stark contrast to the events seventy years ago. So, despite my photographic issues that day, I decided to share a few more images that attempt to convey the serenity that exists today - even when interrupted by remnants of the war - and certainly existed before wartime activities began.

A gun turret at the German installation at Longues-sur-Mer is a clear reminder of the battles seventy years ago, punctuating the beautiful, serene landscape of the Normandy region of France.