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Moorpark Reenactment 2008
So, last weekend (Nov 8-9) I had a chance to shoot another installment of annual Moorpark Civil War Reenactment.
As always, participants arrive in advance and most of them spend the nights in the field, in the period accurate tents.
1. Confederate camp
Of course, not only the tents are "period", so are the dresses, and pretty much everything else. So I thought I'd make this picture more "period" looking, too :-)
2. Historic Citizens Association members
I spent both mornings walking around the camps (USA and CSA) and taking candids. People were prepping for battle, having breakfast, chatting and simply having good time. Many came with the whole familes.
3. Father and son
Of course, I wasn't the only photographer around. This gentleman portays the actual war correspondent one every event - and he actually takes pictures, too:-)
4. That's how these things were done in XIX century
After several presentations, reviews and necessary marching the battle begins. Typically such battles would be started by "skirmishers", whose primary task was to mask the main force and at the same time to figure out the enemy plans and layouts
5. USA skirmishers in action
Another typical initial phase of such battle would be some cavalry dog fight.
6. Cavalry clash
Then, of course, it would be time for the queen of the battlefields - artillery.
7. Richmond Howitzers fire upon US forces
The battlefield was carefully prepped by the "pyral" team, and boy did they make an artillery impact realistic.
8. "Artillery" Explosion
And then, of course, there were a lot of rifle shooting from both sides.
9. CSA company fires upon attacking Northen troops
10. USA forces fire back
11. CSA soldiers counter attack
12. ...Inflicting heavy losses upon the "yankees"
As always, one of the most spectacular events of the both days is the "twilight battle", held on Saturday after the sunset
13. US Cavalry is waiting for the sun to set down
14. Dog fight at night must be *fun*!
15. CSA troops attack at Mechanicsville
Unfortunately for South, US army used the hills to position their artillery, which eventually decimated the attackers.
16. US artillery at Mechanicsville
A small gallery with a few more selected pictures (40 out of 1,600+) is here: http://nik.smugmug.com/gallery/6533981_2yfXQ
Enjoy!
As always, participants arrive in advance and most of them spend the nights in the field, in the period accurate tents.
1. Confederate camp
Of course, not only the tents are "period", so are the dresses, and pretty much everything else. So I thought I'd make this picture more "period" looking, too :-)
2. Historic Citizens Association members
I spent both mornings walking around the camps (USA and CSA) and taking candids. People were prepping for battle, having breakfast, chatting and simply having good time. Many came with the whole familes.
3. Father and son
Of course, I wasn't the only photographer around. This gentleman portays the actual war correspondent one every event - and he actually takes pictures, too:-)
4. That's how these things were done in XIX century
After several presentations, reviews and necessary marching the battle begins. Typically such battles would be started by "skirmishers", whose primary task was to mask the main force and at the same time to figure out the enemy plans and layouts
5. USA skirmishers in action
Another typical initial phase of such battle would be some cavalry dog fight.
6. Cavalry clash
Then, of course, it would be time for the queen of the battlefields - artillery.
7. Richmond Howitzers fire upon US forces
The battlefield was carefully prepped by the "pyral" team, and boy did they make an artillery impact realistic.
8. "Artillery" Explosion
And then, of course, there were a lot of rifle shooting from both sides.
9. CSA company fires upon attacking Northen troops
10. USA forces fire back
11. CSA soldiers counter attack
12. ...Inflicting heavy losses upon the "yankees"
As always, one of the most spectacular events of the both days is the "twilight battle", held on Saturday after the sunset
13. US Cavalry is waiting for the sun to set down
14. Dog fight at night must be *fun*!
15. CSA troops attack at Mechanicsville
Unfortunately for South, US army used the hills to position their artillery, which eventually decimated the attackers.
16. US artillery at Mechanicsville
A small gallery with a few more selected pictures (40 out of 1,600+) is here: http://nik.smugmug.com/gallery/6533981_2yfXQ
Enjoy!
"May the f/stop be with you!"
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That movie took place during the American Revolution, several decades before the American Civil War. A good movie to watch that captures part of the Civil War is "Gettysburg (1993)" which stars Martin Sheen among a few other well known names.
Nikolai, that looks like it was great fun to watch and shoot. I really like 13.
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Yes, these are fun, you just no be smarter than me and protect your equipment from the dust better. As I mentioned in the "tease" post, my 17-55/2.8 IS literally "bit the dust". :cry On the same note, just checked Canon website, the repair is complete :ivar , hope to get it back next week - my models can't wait...
what Silver said. Similar settings (New England, East Coast), different confilct (Colonies vs England instead of North vs South). I also believe the military technology didn't evolve too much over those hundred years, the primary difference would be more people were using rifles (with the threads inside the barrel) instead of the plain smoothbore muskets. So in many aspects it's a very similar scenario visually...
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WOW, what a wonderful series of images of the event, I really liked them all, but the last set taken at evening time, are just too cool!!! Especially showing the canon and rifle fire.
Very nicely done!!
Kindest Regards,
Craig
Craig
Burleson, Texas
And watch for them egrets, I heard contact with water is a bit worse for the cameras than a sand
appreciate your kind words!
Apparently some top ppl liked my work, so a few days ago I was asked if I'm ok to let them use few of my piccies for a full spread article in reenactment-devoted newspaper. And after I said yes, a reenactment devoted magazine became interested. So it looks like I'll get some of this stuff published in a couple of months.
At this point I decided to do it pro-bono, according to the whole spirit of the reenactment movement and basically use this venue as a free (national!) ad campaign for myself. And as a good sign, last night the email delivered the first (but hopefully not the last:) of the fabled "Who loves you, baby!" messages, informing me that people finally started purchasing pictures from this event :-) :ivar
Kudos to you for these great captures.
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Jeff
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That's Wonderful news, Looks like good things are coming your way.
I think it's great that you donated your images originally to the Re-enactment, they really do put so much into their Hobby/Lifestyle.
Congratualtions, Please keep us informed of what's going on with this.
Kindest Regards,
Craig
Craig
Burleson, Texas
Thanks, Craig!
BTW, I just realized that both publications are national:
Camp Chase Gazette
Citizen's Companion
That's great news, Nik. Congratulations.
Regards,
And as to your suggestion - it is actually closer to the reality than you might have intended
Now there's a tease.
maybee for your second picture(Historic Citizens Association members), try to scan some olds book, and composite in photoshop, to give a more realistic effect... an exemple here : http://pix.nofrag.com/a/b/5/a2ee4ee84ef26c7f846ccb47bfcd3.html
www.adamstravelphotography.com
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