Seminary Ridge
The artillery (one 10 pounder Parrott and two 3 inch Rifles) and breastworks where The Army of Northern Virginia, A.P. Hill's Corp, Pender's Division,...
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The artillery (one 10 pounder Parrott and two 3 inch Rifles) and breastworks where The Army of Northern Virginia, A.P. Hill's Corp, Pender's Division, Poague's Battalion, Wyatt's Battery, The Northern VA Artillery, sat on Seminary Ridge during the Battle of Gettysburg July 1863. Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
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FinePixS2Pro
Aperture f/8 ISO 400 Shutter 1/125 Focal Length 5400/100 
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, US
Apr, 2020Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
As you drive along W. Confederate Ave., southwest of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, you will see an historical marker for the Army of Northern Virginia, Hill's Corp, Pender's Division, Poague's Battalion, Wyatt's Battery. The Albamarle Virginia Artillery. One 10 Pounder Parrott, Two 3 lnch Rifles, and One 12 Pounder Howitzer. The Howitzer is not included in this image.Time
My husband and I were on our honeymoon, a road trip really. We arrived in Gettysburg around lunch time. After lunch, the first road we drove down was Confederate Ave. This image was taken between 2:00-3:00 pm on a sunny day in the middle of October. The weather was perfect.Lighting
My favorite type of lighting is natural light and Mother Nature did not disappoint. The sun still high in the sky, the canopy of the trees lit this area so beautifully. Nature, itself, created the perfect lighting for this moment. You can see just above the artillery how the light is flowing through the leaves of the trees just enough to light them entirely.Equipment
All I had with me at the time was my camera, a Fuji FinePix S2Pro, with a Sigma 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens. No flash. There was no other equipment used.Inspiration
My husband and I love history so our honeymoon was really a photography road trip full of historical places. Gettysburg was the third stop on our journey. After eating lunch in town, our first stop was this area on W. Confederate Ave. As we walked up to the historical marker we noticed it had "Hill's Corp" on the top. As our last name is Hill, we thought it appropriate to take a moment to look around the area. I was awestruck by the feeling of loss, knowing what happened in and around this little town. My husband and I found ourselves talking in hushed tones even though it was only the two of us there. It was almost as though we did not want to disturb this space. I was standing at the rock breastwork, next to a 12-pounder Howitzer, looking out over the open field when I turned to my right to see these two 3" Ordnance rifles and a 10-pounder Parrott rifle. It just seemed like they wanted some acknowledgement, too. Everyone loves a Howitzer, but this particular one was never shot during the Battle of Gettysburg, it was held in reserve. These other three, on the other hand, had seen an entire day of battle on July 3rd, 1863. I loved the way the rock breastworks created a leading line right to them. Without realizing, your eyes are drawn directly to them, and they are seen.Editing
Even though the lighting was perfect, the autumn colors needed a little help to make them brighter. Using Lightroom, I added some contrast, and a little more red and orange. I blurred out the beginning of the rock breastworks just a little and sharpened the artillery, so the eye would be drawn in that direction. I added some clarity to help the leaves to not get lost in this image. I adjusted the exposure +1/3 stop to compensate for the darkening from the contrast and clarity changes.In my camera bag
I have recently upgraded from my Fuji FinePix S2 Pro, to a Nikon D5600. The lenses in my bag are a Nikon 70-300mm, 4.5-6.3ED lens and Nikon 18-55mm VR 3.5-5.6 lens. For waterfalls and nature shots that require long exposure, my variable ND Filter is a must for both lenses. I carry my Fuji FinePix S9950W Fixed, 50x zoom lens, for capturing images that require a long zoom. And in my back pocket, I have my Samsung A70 that I use as a remote (through SnapBridge) for vibrationless shots. Strapped to the side of my bag is my ZOMEI tripod.Feedback
The Gettysburg National Military Park is an incredible experience. Not only is it a national park, it is also where thousands lost their lives. Please be respectful of that fact. I believe photography is all about emotion. When looking around you, what strikes an emotional response from you? What emotion/reaction do you want the viewer to feel? For me, Gettysburg was a very emotional place. I wanted to remember those moments. I wanted to remember what it felt like to walk across the field like the soldiers did during Pickett's Charge, so I took a photo of the field that stretched over a mile where many men, young and old, lost their lives. I wanted to remember what it felt like to imagine the sounds of artillery fired off all around me, so I took a photograph of these three cannons now standing in silence. Sometimes, it's not all about the technical aspect of photography. Sometimes, it's not all about "setting up the shot" so it's all perfect. Sometimes, it's just about what you feel.
