Thursday, December 6, 2012

Antietam National Battlefield Memorial Illumination

On Saturday, December 1st, 2012, Antietam National Battlefield held it's annual Memorial Illumination.  23,000 candles were set up and lit by volunteers.  One for each soldier killed, wounded or missing during the 12 hour battle on September 17th, 1862.  This was the highest casualty rate in any one day in American history.  This battle ended the first attempt by General Lee to invade the North.  It also led to President Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.


Please click on image to enlarge.

My panorama shows only a small portion of the total number of candles spread out over the battlefield.  The visual effect really brings home the shear number of casualties.

Todd A. Smith is a No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer based in Alexandria, VA.   Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his architectural photography.