Photographing American Civil War Era Cannons
When I photograph American Civil War era cannons, I try to get:
The whole cannon from several angles
A photo of the whole display including any monument which may be present
The carriage or pedestal upon which the cannon is mounted
Any informational sign or plaque about the cannons or the display
Markings stamped onto the cannon - paying attention to the muzzle face, the trunnions, the top of the tube, and the breech area. Markings give information about the place and year of manufacture, name of inspector, and registry number.
Finally, anything which seems unusual about the cannon, the display, or the setting.
I photograph the whole cannon in profile
I also photograph from several angles
Markings frequently can be found on the breech (back end) of the cannon.
Date of manufacture and type of cannon can often be found on the trunnions (or inspector's initials)
Some markings can be quite small - note the "792"
Some cannons may have markings on the muzzle face. A photo of the muzzle can also show whether the cannon is a rifle or smooth bore.
Other cannons have markings on top of the barrel
Screws or screw holes may indicate where equipment was installed - in this case a mounting point for a sight. Also note the marking and the vent (touch hole for firing).
Cannons captured and displayed as trophies may have the circumstances of their capture engraved on the cannon
An anchor (US Navy) or the initials "US" (US Army) may be stamped on top of the barrel
Nearby signs can contain important information
And remember to get a photo of the whole display!
Occasionally, you may find cannons with more extensive designs engraved into or even cast onto the barrel. These typically are on top of the barrel.
And then there are the cannons that European Royals had made to show off... good luck with those...
