Located on the border of the Northern (Union States) and Southern (Confederate) States, Fredericksburg, Virginia changed hands a total of seven times during battles of the Civil War (1861-65). The Confederate States were fighting to break off, to secede, from the Union, and the Union Troops were fighting to stop their secession. Most people who think about the event now laymen and scholars alike regard it as a national tragedy in which families were divided, brothers fighting against brothers. Abraham Lincoln, who hailed from the midwestern State of Illinois, was the President of the United States during those war years, and is now recognized as being among the 3-4 greatest Presidents precisely because the North prevailed in the war, and the union was preserved.
On a bone-chilling week in December 1862, the Battle of Fredericksburg was fought, pitting over 100,000 Union and Confederate soldiers against each other. The hauntingly beautiful battlefield presents a poignant vision of an area where thousands of young soldiers died.
My daily drive to work to teach my classes takes me through a 7-km stretch of the Fredericksburg Battlefield, with the trenches used by the Confederate troops running alongside the narrow meandering roadway. In the early morning it is the rising sun that strikes the trenches at a grazing angle and makes deep trenches of them, and in the late afternoons it is the setting sun in the west that recreates the effect. The time for this photo was 7:50 am on Friday March 20, and I was rushing to make an 8:00 am class. I shot the image with a Nikon D-70;18-70-mm lens, no filter, no tripod.
Critiques | Translate
molla (7129) 2007-04-08 11:23
I hope that people in other parts of the world where one brother kills an other will look at there tragedy at same way about 150 years. something unbeliveble in the past. that has nothing to to with resent time.
Very nice shadowplay between the trunks.
Anders Mohlin in Gnesta /Sweden
jaywalker (16101) 2007-04-08 11:34
Hi Bulent, Lovely lush green & the eye being drawn by the road to the blue sky in the distance, well composed, great light & shadows, lets all pray that no more blood is spilt in these areas again, kind regards Wilson.
anducina (8407) 2007-04-08 11:36
Excellent POV, superb mixture of light and shadows.
kdialyna (3148) 2007-04-08 11:39
Good evening Bulent.
Greece is famous for her civil wars.
Since the ancient time our history is full from this kind of wars.
I think every family has at least one dead person from these fights.
Your photograph contrary to the subject is very nice and peaceful with very nice colors.
My best regards
carper (96) 2007-04-08 12:46
well Bulent I like the shot.
the idea is nice the perspective on the left side, the details and the light is very nice. the composition is nice too, good photo job here bulent.
mesutilgim (87272) 2007-04-08 13:39
Selam sevgili Bülent,
Çok keyifli geometriler ve grafik ögeler içeren bir kare ; verdiğin açıklamar daçok öğretici.
Eline sağlık ve tebrikler
ahmetgedikli (25508) 2007-04-08 15:42
Yolun verdiği derinlik, ağaçların konumu ve gölgeleri ile oluşmuş nefis bir fotoğraf. Elinize sağlık, saygılar.
anesugur (18789) 2007-04-08 16:25
Merhaba Bülent Bey,
Yandan gelen ışık hoş bir ortam hazırlarken, uzayan yolun sağladığı derinlik çok güzel bir manzara çıkarmış ortaya.
Elinize sağlık. Selamlar. Uğur
ALIRIZA (16423) 2007-04-08 16:44
Merhaba Bülent Abi,
Ağaçların yol üzerinde oluşturduğu yatay çizgiler çok hoş. Yeşilin ağırlığıyla dinlendirici bir kompozisyon. Ellerine sağlık...
Selam ve saygılarımla...
branley (3681) 2007-04-09 5:02
now that conveys the scene very well. I can picture soldiers from one side or the other crouched in these trenches ready to repel the next attack. I've read a little about the Civil War and from what I've read there seems nothing civil about it. A great view and thankfully now a peaceful one, with the road and the trench running up the shot. lovely colours throughout and good early morning light too. A fine shot and a fine note worthy of 2 points each but alas....
nirvana73 (0) 2007-04-09 9:16
çok güzel huzurlu bir kare
insanı uzaklara alıp götüren bir kare
paylaşım için teşekkürler
pablominto (53744) 2007-04-09 11:43
This is an attractive scenery but with a bloody history!
A simple but attractive composition, where the country road takes me nicely through the forest...
Interesting sidelight, good details!
erel (11888) 2007-04-09 14:30
Merhaba bülent bey
harika bir ortam nefis renkler, yol ve ağaçlarla kurulan denge işte özet. ellerine sağlık tebrikler.BRAVOO.
salvator (19102) 2007-04-09 15:54
Hello Bulent Bey,
Wonderfull use of the available light and beautifull shades and colors. The part of the road gives a nice sense of depth. Superb. I wish you a great week. Best personal regards. Salvator.
Henryk_Bilor (20799) 2007-04-09 16:00
Interesting capture of the climbing road. Lovely forest in its vicinity. Nice light.
guillaumejm (0) 2007-04-09 16:20
This pictures reminds me a place I've visited somewhere in north of cheasapeak bay. A museum dedicated to the civil war. Such places should reminds people that war is never the best solution execpt for the ego of someones.
mursaloglu (8682) 2007-04-09 18:16
Dear Bulent bey
The road gives a wonderful depht of field sense while the green color of the grass bring us a strong vivacity. Well done my best regards ihsan
papagolf21 (88095) 2007-04-10 3:55
Bonsoir, cher Bulent,
Encore, une photographie très bien conçue avec cette route longeant une forêt dont la prise de vue donne une impression de relief.
Une très bonne note pour accompagner l'ensemble.
Très belle réussite.
jhm (141921) 2007-04-10 8:13
Hello Dear Bulent,
You chose a very well angle, the hill of the way care for depth and perspective, it green grass for colour, the trees do us think at the dramatic described in your excellent note.
I learn everyday through the notes of the members, this on my age.
Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice week my friend,
prumod (8300) 2007-04-10 9:05
light, almost perpendilcular to your pov, waeaving a good brightness here... the trees at right are having enough lights and shades and their shadow fell on the road made good patterns for road...
delic (6735) 2007-04-10 12:01
I remember seeing those trenches with you many moons ago :). This is a nice composition with the inclusion of the road. The morning light provides good contrast. Could be sharpened a bit perhaps. Well done, esp. considering your rush.
zeca (19762) 2007-04-10 13:26
A pleasent road. I would love to drive in this road with my windows opened to feel the fresh air and smell the trees. Most people uses to drive between nature with closed windows and air conditioned on... and lose the smell of nature, the freshness of nature...
I like the lights and the unusual framing with the road just beside, but also in.
Cretense (68691) 2007-04-10 13:48
Very well considered and balanced composition! Beautiful depth of field and marvellous colours. The road plays an important role to the final result. Congratulations!
PS 1. The castle you were talking about in one of your last critiques must be Palamidi castle , that's located 999 stairs above the beautiful town of Nafplio.
PS 2. You must be very proud about your son. I hope that my father has the same feelings for me... Family is a very important issue in both of our countries.
Sekhmet73 (4149) 2007-04-10 15:49
To go to work I drive in front of 3 schools with crazy mothers parking everywhere, especially where they are supposed not to park... Thank God a very short "trip", but 5 minutes of pure hell! How I'd like to see something so relaxing...
keribar (43841) 2007-04-11 0:28
A very interesting picture for sure. Nice framing showing the place and good colors and good composition too. Your story is also very educative.
Friendly regards - Izzet
atilgone (0) 2007-04-11 2:22
Merhaba Bülent Bey,
Yol fotoğraflarına her zaman bayılmışımdır. Çok güzel bir kesim ve bakış açısı ile sunmuşsunuz. Elinize sağlık.
selamlar & saygılar
Angshu (56406) 2007-04-11 4:01
Hello Professor "A"
The perspective is nice with the road as a lead in...but what's more attractive are the shadows of the trees as they cross the road, creating a 'natural barcode' (couldn't help but make this comparison). An informative note as always
With warm regards
dorte_s_t (2287) 2007-04-13 3:45
Hi , Bulent .
What a lovely place - and a tragic history . I think the contrasts between your note and the peaceful photo bring out thoughtfulness .
A place and event to remember - and a beautiful place to linger !
emjleclercq (15780) 2007-04-13 17:12
A very interesting note, although for a European trenches are more often associated with WWI and, in that case, the remaining trees in thoses battlefields are usually much fewer than here. In your picture here, the place provides a rather peaceful environment nowadays after such a bloodbath...
All the best,
jmcl (14535) 2007-04-14 0:45
What immediately strikes my mind is the evocative effect of the combination of the green grass of spring .. vibrant and full of life .. and the still leafless trees have on this place .. I think it would take on such a different character in a few weeks .. I also like the modern small road winding over the top and passed the old battlefield (with all the symbolism it brings to my mind) .. wonderful and thoughtful image.
cimcim (3712) 2007-04-14 16:13
Çok güzel bakış açısı, harika bir açıdan yakalamışsınız ve bu sayede başarılı bir derinlik yakalamışsınız.Keskinlik ve doğal renkler şahane!
wilkinsonsg (8662) 2007-04-18 4:18
A moving note, the photo shows how nature covers over the scars...
sothy81 (9582) 2007-04-18 15:35
This picture shows how cozy the place is with the trees along the road. I love trees so much. Where I live in West Texas there are not many trees. Very flate. Well done. Sothy
Bluejeans (64249) 2007-04-21 13:57
Ola amigo Bulent bonita foto destas arvores a beira da estrada , bonitas cores , bom ponto de vista ,parabens!!!
Um abraço amigo
capthaddock (28790) 2007-04-22 21:01
Hello Bülent - the historical significance is not immediately obvious, after all it looks like such a bucolic place, it's difficult to imagine the battle that took place, I love the long shadows on the road, finding such a narrow and deserted road in the US is a giveaway that it's a special place.
gunbud (34066) 2007-04-23 23:26
You have captured a very peaceful scene of the vibrant green countryside. It is hard to believe the it was the secne of so much blood shed those many years ago and let's hope it remains as your lens has seen it.
meltemi (0) 2007-05-26 14:53
very well captured shot of a great perspective and very good sense of depth, thanks to the road leading towards the trees. I like that you included in the frame those big trees on the right very accurately. The view is fresh and refreshing with some good vibrant colours and hues.
MLINES (12516) 2009-01-31 12:49
Hi Bulent, I found this via your link, drive to work and very pleased i looked. The story about those trenches and how they played a part so many years ago is good to read about in your, always interesting, notes. A very historical place to see through your lens. TFS. Murray.
leo61 (0) 2009-02-16 11:09
I like your theme,"drive to work",I have a simillar one:"places I pass on my way to work".
And I like this image,thanks for stopping there.Great depth and nice green spring tones.These many horizontal shadows on the street make the composition perfect.
JudyR (1671) 2009-05-12 13:22
I've enjoyed your wandering through your portfolio, Bulent. Your wide ranging interests, artistic viewpoint, and attention to technique shine brightly through your work. I'm drawn especially to these wooded shots where my heart is stilled by the quiet and atmosphere. Just lovely. Thank you, Judy
serp2000 (41316) 2014-05-23 5:05
Hello, dear Bulent,
Well, today I can say this is familiar place for me too. ;) I have read about the Civila War in the States and this is one of the most interesting events of the World history for me.
Greetings to Bernie Franklin, I do remember we were looking for my address in Eagle Rock.
Thanks for a caps of my camera. Good reason to visit the US again ;)
Best wishes to you and Carol Jean!
- Copyright: Bulent Atalay (batalay) (36103)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2007-03-20
- Categories: Nature
- Camera: Nikon D-70, 18-70mm DX Zoom Nikkor
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Theme(s): Daily Drive to Work... [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2007-04-08 11:15