American Revolution battlefield

[Wicked Dark]

specifically the Battle of Saratoga which was the first significant victory in the War for Independence. Fought in the fall of 1777 it is now a National Park. I've begun a new Gallery (http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Travel/Historic-Saratoga-Battlefield/13094667_k9nNT#949241635_xvcyC)of my visit there this past weekend. Check it out if you have time.

This is a shot of the Neilson farm house - the only period building left on site. It was taken over during the battle by Continental officers and unfortunately became part of the collateral damage.

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Travel/Historic-Saratoga-Battlefield/P7259863/949239222_p325V-L.jpg

Victory at Saratoga kept British General Burgoyne from successfully invading Albany and thus controlling the Hudson River Valley. This kept the colonies together and increased their ability to wage successful war, although it would go on until 1784.

[casil403]

Great perspective here.

[Marko]

Yup I dig the shapes and comp here too.

[Wicked Dark]

thanks guys. Canadians participated in this battle as well as Germans, but alas on the wrong side. :(

[Mad Aussie]

These old cannons are very cool. Straight off an old warship and on to a set of wheels :)

The Battle of Independance ... was trying to get away from the English Rule? Or something else?

Nice shot.

[Wicked Dark]

I don't have any idea where the cannon came from...the Colonies didn't have a navy and may have scrounged them from someone else's ships. Can you imagine trying to maneuver those things around on those wheels? And yeah, the War of Independence/Revolutionary War was to get out from under British rule. It's amazing it worked.

[Mad Aussie]

Yeh I figured seeing as you mentioned the Canadians fighting against 'you' ... but the German's involvement confused me.

[Wicked Dark]

Oh I gotcha. Actually a lot of other countries who wouldn't recognize the independent state of America sent troops here in aid of the British. Then there were the mercenaries who were only in it for the money.

[Mad Aussie]

Always a lot more behind these things politically than first apparent I guess.

[Wicked Dark]

Oh yeah. Tons.

[AcadieLibre]

Very Nice.

[Wicked Dark]

moving on to the next area of interest - the American Hudson River Fortifications -

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Travel/Historic-Saratoga-Battlefield/P7259892/950494645_WNWSN-L.jpg

Basically a strategically placed line of artillery and troops kept the British out of Albany by successfully defending the road and the river.

More photos in the Gallery (http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Travel/Historic-Saratoga-Battlefield/13094667_k9nNT#950494645_WNWSN).

[Mad Aussie]

I like seeing the field of fire in this shot.

[Wicked Dark]

A shot of the British artillery line at the Balcarres redoubt, a position they took at Freeman Farm (Mr. Freeman was a loyalist and so didn't mind too much although he did have to flee later which kind of sucks). They surrendered the fortifications to the Americans and withdrew on October 7, 1777.

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Travel/Historic-Saratoga-Battlefield/P7259908/951415275_vMNLN-L.jpg

a few more shots are in the Gallery (http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Travel/Historic-Saratoga-Battlefield/13094667_k9nNT#951415275_vMNLN).

[Mad Aussie]

Cool POV again :)

[Wicked Dark]

thanks again.
Last but not least we move to the Great Redoubt, another British fortification they built to defend a hospital, supplies and the boat bridge across the Hudson. This was Burgoyne's final refuge before he fled and eventually surrendered.

Couldn't help the processing again. The battle took place in fall and so I wanted to ditch the vivid green of high summer. I don't know if it works, but I sort of dig it.

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Travel/Historic-Saratoga-Battlefield/P7259914/951472839_S6YdE-XL.jpg

[Mad Aussie]

I might have gone more for a sepia tone myself but I love the composition and perspective in this shot. It really gives me the feeling that the guns position is strong, battle placement wise. I like being able to see the field of fire including the river.

[Wicked Dark]

Yeah, the field of view is important to get the right perspective on these.

Here's one with sepia, I didn't want the series to become repetitive, so I branched out.

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Travel/Historic-Saratoga-Battlefield/P7259884/950495017_Fn5cC-XL.jpg

[Mad Aussie]

Another good one.

[Wicked Dark]

Thanks. I'm kind of a nut for Revolutionary stuff. I love forts, too. It's a sickness.