November 13, 2007: WWI Soldier Formation Photos

Clodfobble · 11-13-2007, 03:16 PM

I know they're a few days late for Veteran's Day, but these just arrived in my email today. The accompanying information says they were taken by Arthur S. Mole and John D. Thomas, during and just after WWI. This shield image was one of the largest of their series, made up of about 30,000 sailors and soldiers from Camp Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Some other patriotic formations they created:

The white accents in the eagle are uniformed nurses.

And finally, a victory shot, taken in January 1919.

glatt · 11-13-2007, 03:31 PM

Those are incredible shots! I thought there had to be something off about them, so I Googled the names. They seem to be totally legit.

The Hammer Gallery in Chicago apparently did an exhibition and has many more pictures on their site.

Quote:

Working with an 11 X 14 inch view camera Mole and Thomas spent a week or so preparing for these immense works. First sketching onto the ground glass and then making a map on the ground that helped determine the number of soldiers needed to create the photograph.

HungLikeJesus · 11-13-2007, 03:34 PM

That was back when Photoshop only had two colors.

Sundae · 11-13-2007, 03:38 PM

I saw these just the other day and considered them for an IoTD... then promptly forgot about it

The amazing thing to notice is the perspective - see how large the soldiers are at the front and how very small and far away the ones at the back are - these things are HUGE. In the Statue of Liberty there are twice the number of men in the flame of the torch than the whole remaining design (from Snopes, but only a partial quote so I didn't link).

Sheldonrs · 11-13-2007, 04:11 PM

"What did you do in the war grandpa?"

"Just stood around."

Nikolai · 11-13-2007, 06:18 PM

Now could they have used badgers to get the same effect, or wait maybe they could use this style to make a badger version.

as you can see the previous cellar post has got a little stuck on me

ViennaWaits · 11-13-2007, 07:11 PM

These are AMAZING, Clodfobble.. thanks so much for posting!

All comedy aside, can you imagine being a part of something this huge? What a fantastic way to commemorate the patriotism of the time. I just love these, especially the eagle.

Gravdigr · 11-13-2007, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikolai

Now could they have used badgers to get the same effect, or wait maybe they could use this style to make a badger version.

as you can see the previous cellar post has got a little stuck on me

SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!!!OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH It's a snaaaaaaake......

Fa- · 11-14-2007, 12:37 PM

awwww, it would be so great if these had happend on accident...

"Soldiers greeting there loved ones accidently create the statue of liberty"

LabRat · 11-14-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViennaWaits

can you imagine being a part of something this huge?

I was. For four years.

.

.

.

It was called marching band.

Very cool Clod, thanks!!

barefoot serpent · 11-14-2007, 02:24 PM

maybe Spencer Tunick will see these and be inspired to make... figures.

Sarasvati48 · 11-14-2007, 03:48 PM

The foreshortening alone is a feat of engineering...amazing photos...

axlrosen · 11-14-2007, 03:52 PM

Wow.

In the shield picture, it even looks like they've taken perspective into account, a la those amazing sidewalk drawings that have been making their way around the net: http://bouncechrissy.livejournal.com/155638.html

ViennaWaits · 11-16-2007, 11:01 PM

Oops.

Happy Monkey · 11-18-2007, 01:01 AM

You shoulda put it in the crack...

11-13-2007, 03:16 PM	#1
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	November 13, 2007: WWI Soldier Formation Photos I know they're a few days late for Veteran's Day, but these just arrived in my email today. The accompanying information says they were taken by Arthur S. Mole and John D. Thomas, during and just after WWI. This shield image was one of the largest of their series, made up of about 30,000 sailors and soldiers from Camp Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan. Some other patriotic formations they created: The white accents in the eagle are uniformed nurses. And finally, a victory shot, taken in January 1919.

11-13-2007, 03:34 PM	#3
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	That was back when Photoshop only had two colors. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

11-13-2007, 03:38 PM	#4
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I saw these just the other day and considered them for an IoTD... then promptly forgot about it The amazing thing to notice is the perspective - see how large the soldiers are at the front and how very small and far away the ones at the back are - these things are HUGE. In the Statue of Liberty there are twice the number of men in the flame of the torch than the whole remaining design (from Snopes, but only a partial quote so I didn't link). __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

11-13-2007, 04:11 PM	#5
Sheldonrs Master Dwellar Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,412	"What did you do in the war grandpa?" "Just stood around." __________________ Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and the world laughs AT you.

11-13-2007, 06:18 PM	#6
Nikolai Greener than the rest Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Near London Posts: 68	Badger? Now could they have used badgers to get the same effect, or wait maybe they could use this style to make a badger version. as you can see the previous cellar post has got a little stuck on me

11-13-2007, 07:11 PM	#7
ViennaWaits That's some bad hat, Harry. Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 83	These are AMAZING, Clodfobble.. thanks so much for posting! All comedy aside, can you imagine being a part of something this huge? What a fantastic way to commemorate the patriotism of the time. I just love these, especially the eagle. __________________ There is no smoking on this flight, but you can light up whatever you like once we land in Jamaica.

11-14-2007, 12:37 PM	#9
Fa- Jotter of Notes Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 11	awwww, it would be so great if these had happend on accident... "Soldiers greeting there loved ones accidently create the statue of liberty"

11-14-2007, 02:24 PM	#11
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	maybe Spencer Tunick will see these and be inspired to make... figures. __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading

11-14-2007, 03:48 PM	#12
Sarasvati48 Mystical Miscreant Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 46	The foreshortening alone is a feat of engineering...amazing photos...

11-14-2007, 03:52 PM	#13
axlrosen Major Inhabitant Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 125	Wow. In the shield picture, it even looks like they've taken perspective into account, a la those amazing sidewalk drawings that have been making their way around the net: http://bouncechrissy.livejournal.com/155638.html __________________ Warp Bill Gates

11-16-2007, 11:01 PM	#14
ViennaWaits That's some bad hat, Harry. Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 83	Oops. __________________ There is no smoking on this flight, but you can light up whatever you like once we land in Jamaica.

11-18-2007, 01:01 AM	#15
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	You shoulda put it in the crack... __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

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