WWI "Machine Gun Insignia" original photograph with 22,500 officers and men alongside 600 machine guns — 1918

This is an original photograph by Arthur Mole and John D. Thomas in which they created the WWI machine gun insignia using 22,500 officers and men alongside 600 machine guns. 

Taken at Camp Hancock in Augusta, Georgia, under the direction of Brigadier General Oliver Edwards and Lieutenant Colonel E.P. Pierson, on December 10, 1918.

• The official "Machine Gun Insignia" 
• Created with 22,500 officers and men alongside 600 machine guns
• The barrel is made entirely of machine gun crews and their guns
• The lower points of each feather are also machine guns

This is an original photograph.

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About the artist

Arthur Samuel Mole was a British-born, naturalized American commercial photographer. He became famous for a series of "living photographs" made during World War I, in which tens of thousands of soldiers, reservists and other members of the military were arranged to form massive compositions. Although if viewed from the ground or from directly above, these masses of men would appear meaningless, when seen from the top of an 80-foot viewing tower, they clearly appeared to be various patriotic shapes (via anamorphosis). The key was to photograph the people from the one place where the lines of perspective would resolve themselves into intelligible images. His partner in this endeavor was John D. Thomas.

Source: Wikipedia

Additional historical background

Arthur Mole’s Living Photos

Arthur S. Mole and John D. Thomas patriotic photographs and the work of others

Patriot frames: the power of Arthur Mole's military 'living photographs'