Gettysburg National Cemetery

by Norm Powell

(Novi, Michigan)

Cemetery at Sunset

I took this photograph on my last visit during October of 2009. When visiting the hallowed ground of Gettysburg, trying to capture the essence of what it is and what it means, is a very difficult task. After visiting many of the sights, I decided to make my visit to the cemetery the last stop of the day. After walking the length of the cemetery, I had turned around, just before sunset, and came upon the area in the photograph. I saw that the shadows were growing long on the headstones and decided that this might make a worthy photograph. The lighting and low angle gave me an image that I feel paid proper respect to those who were laid to rest there — heroes who had made the ultimate sacrifice.