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The Cannon
Shot |
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Hey there! These three photos are a part
of a series taken in Gettysburg, Pa (Obviously from the name!) on March 19,
2004.
The location was the Battery D, 1st N.Y. Light Artillery, Artillery Brig.
Third Corps monument, located in the Wheatfield. The are two cannons, one
on either side of the monument. I set myself up and took a few shots of the
tribute, then got a few shots of just the cannon on the right, from different
angles. I finally settled against the monument itself (I was leaning against
it) and positioned the camera to view the profile of this particular cannon.
I guess it was only about ten minutes later when I heard a loud "metallic"
sound ring out from the cannon. This was loud! So loud that the girls heard
it from across the road and into the other field. It almost sounded like
someone had thrown a rock and hit the barrel of the cannon. I started taking
pictures, one right after the other. I also hit the record button on my micro cassette
recorder, so I could dictate notes of what was going on.
I checked the photos (it's a digital camera) and found that the photo taken just after the "metallic ping", had showed something odd. It actually looked like the cannon had gone off. There was smoke all around it, but more dense and thick in front of the barrel opening! As I was speaking, still taking notes (in a bit more excited tone), I heard a few footsteps behind me. Spinning around, I found no one. At first, I was doubting myself...did I really hear footsteps or was I just excited? After reviewing the tape...I cannot hear myself moving about, and the sudden surprise in my own voice leads me to believe that there was indeed something else behind me.
There was no wind on this night and I was following PIRA's guidelines about breath (As in I was breathing into my sweatshirt, and only after the photos were taken). I have 12 consecutive photos, taken about 3 to 4 seconds apart, and the Cannon Shot was number 3. I've gone over this photos for several hours and have reviewed what I was doing at the time...I can not explain it.