From the Middlesex County NJ website

In the 1970s, Dr. Joseph Kler saved historic buildings from demolition and relocated them to Johnson Park. East Jersey Old Town Village would grow to become a center where the public could learn about the important history of central New Jersey. The family continued to remain active in the village for many years and contributed financially to the growth of the reading room.
 At most events, I'll meet you folks and learn new things. Because it was sporadically raining throughout my visit, I spent much of my time in the Church of the Three Mile Run, a 1970s replica of a no longer extant 1703 Dutch Reformed church. I met Carle Kopecky, who introduced and described an instrument I'd never heard of, the serpent, an early bass horn. He heard the reenactor demonstration between him conversing with visitors and walked to the front door, gazing outside. That's how I could get this candid portrait. It's a nice, relaxed moment.

The Indian Queen Tavern was located on Albany Street in New Brunswick from the early 1700s until 1971, when it moved to East Jersey Olde Towne Village. Many of its initial parts remain, including the main staircase, floorboards, framing, and stonework; portions of the tavern were rebuilt.

The Inn, not at its original site, is where Benjamin Franklin and John Adams traveled from Philadelphia to Perth Amboy and Staten Island to meet with British General Howe, and they shared a room in August 1776. The story goes-

According to legend, Franklin spent much of the night expounding on keeping the window open. He'd published a theory on the benefits of fresh air, believing that people in closed rooms were more likely to catch cold from each other. On the other hand, Adams feared the night air but eventually fell asleep to the sound of his bed partner.

On the first floor, a colonial-era tavern is displayed. I got low and composed the shot, incorporating the tree, bloom, and church in the background. Later, I converted it to B&W in On1 software. I'm now focusing on shooting more still life, a style of photography that focuses on capturing inanimate objects.

It was an off-and-on rainy day, which is not always suitable for photography. But, when sheltered, I noticed this woman holding this colorful umbrella with two kids walking across the village green. The photo is cute and makes me smile!

Below is the rear view of the reconstructed 1760s house from Piscataway, the Jeremiah Dunn House. What caught my attention at first was how colorful it was with all the shades of brown. But when looking closely, I noticed how disproportional the windows are in the rear section of the house. Why? Were these designed like this on purpose, or were there alterations made later? It's just a fun, colorful older house to appreciate.

Click here for the East Jersey Old Town Village -Revolutionary War Encampment photo gallery.

Thank you for reading! Blog #88 will be posted on June 1, 2025. Be safe & well!

The drive is fun for me. It takes about an hour and a half on highways and back roads from my home in the Philly suburbs. The only change is that some of the roads now have tolls. The temperature was mild, but the entire day was cloudy, with showers in the late afternoon.

Why is Mt Harmon a historic site to visit? Here is a brief explanation from their website.

Welcome to Mount Harmon, one of Maryland’s most beautiful historic sites. Mount Harmon is a tidewater plantation and nature preserve, and features a restored 18th century manor house, colonial kitchen, smoke house, formal boxwood garden, Carriage House Education & Discovery Center, prize house, replica slave quarters and tobacco barn, set on 200-acres nature preserve with nature trails, and a spectacular waterfront setting. 

Mount Harmon’s history spans more than four centuries, including the native Tockwogh ndians, Captain John Smith, Colonial and Plantation History, Revolutionary War and American History,...

As I first strolled the grounds, I visited the colonial kitchen and met Pat, the day's kitchen interpreter.  She was setting up for her cooking demonstration by getting the fire ready. There was no need to bring my flash because my Nikon D500 doesn't require much light to get a good photo. I set my camera ISO to around 45,000! The ISO controls the amount of light your camera lets in. Back in the days of film, the highest film ISO was 1600. My digital camera allows more than 28 times more light than the highest ISO film. Unbelievable. I can almost get a decent photo with virtually no light.

For this photo, I wanted to give it a nostalgic look. I muted the colors and added some filters in On1 software.

From 1750 to 1810, Mount Harmon was a tobacco plantation owned by the Louttit and George families. Historically, tobacco plantations were labor-intensive. So, this plantation, like others in the South, relied heavily on enslaved people who performed most of the manual labor. In addition, tobacco farming eventually destroyed the soil. This plantation was transitioning away from tobacco farming by the American Revolution. 

These historical sites are significant because they teach us about our past and history. While strolling the grounds, I noticed this wooden structure and learned it was called the Prize House. It was where tobacco was “prized” or packed tightly into barrels, known as hogsheads, for shipping overseas. 

One of the highlights of a festival like this is the activities and 18th-century toys/games targeted at kids. Here, I noticed this family, especially since the children were dressed in colonial attire, which made this a memorable photo.

Often, festivals focus on sutlers (vendors) selling all sorts of merchandise. Some were outside and protected with canopy tents; others were inside the Education and Discovery Center. I spotted this array of silver pieces there and thought it would make an interesting photo. I wanted to create an image with more of an antique look, so I added some customizing filters in On1 software to get this effect. It makes me think old.

Thank you for reading! Blog # 87 will be posted May 15, 2025.  Be safe & well!

Huzzah,

Ken Bohrer

I've wanted to get back into the basics of photography again for years. Shooting with a digital camera is relatively easy. The autofocus in my Nikon D500 is almost instantaneous. Not with the Nikon 2020 film camera: I forgot how limited it is. You press the autofocus button and hear this grinding sound as the camera tries to focus. The green dot in the viewfinder showing the shot being in focus takes a few tries. This camera is only for non-motion subjects, nothing with much movement like reenactments. This camera can't focus fast enough. 

I had shot three rolls of Kodak T-Max 400 film to be processed. One roll was blank. That happens with film; sometimes, for many reasons, you get nothing. The first three photos were from the Redcoats and Rebels Grand Tactical event in Mount Harmon, and the last two were from the 1777 Whitemarsh Encampment. The photo is my favorite film photo from these rolls. It's the tobacco barn about 100 yards from the main house. I purposely use the fence's leading lines to guide the viewer to the barn. I darkened the trees in the background and lightened the grass, and the soldiers sitting provided a sense of the scale of this big barn.

Now, I want to try to shoot one roll of 35 mm film at each event. Shooting 35 mm film is not the same for me as shooting digital. In any event, I'll take between 200 and 400 photos. My Nikon D500 can even shoot up to 10 frames per second in burst mode. The maximum number of prints on a roll of 35 mm film is 36. I compose every shot when shooting film, trying to make every image count. Why, film is expensive.

Each print film roll, color, or B&W costs about $10. Of course, you can buy in bulk, but I don't shoot enough film to justify that. Developing and scanning one roll of film costs around $20. Let's not forget about shipping! Using 35mm film is expensive, so why did I start using it again? 

Film is how photography started; it has existed for over 130 years. As I shared earlier, I started with film. I wanted to get back to the basics of photography and develop what I learned years ago further. It is unique even in post-processing. The only manipulations I did to these images were to crop each to either 8x12 (full frame-includes everything from negative), 12x12, or whatever crop I liked best. Unlike my digital photos, where I do extensive post-processing, including adding numerous filters for more impact, in On1 Software, for these B&W shots, in the develop module, I just selected Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Midtones, Shadows, Whites, and Blacks. After making the corrections, I applied burning (areas that need to be darkened) and dodging (portion of the scene to be lightened) techniques.

I took the photo of the little girl in the American camp for this photo. She was playing with her mom when she spotted me and smiled. I used only my Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens, so I needed to get close to her. What helped this photo was me sitting to get her eye level. Her expression is priceless!

Look closely at the photo; you will see grain, also called noise. Why is that? The film has small particles of metallic silver in it. Film grain appears as random specks or particles throughout the image. Pixel noise can occur in digital cameras, but that is easy to correct with many noise reduction plug-ins, not with film. I like noise, though, especially for B&W. Do you?

This photo is from the British camp adjacent to the Manor House. The significant adjustments were lightening the circular driveway and darkening the trees, which added a bit of contrast to the image. Again, simple changes I made by dodging burning when needed.

This photo is from the 1777 Whitemarsh Encampment event at Hope Lodge, PA. 

"It commemorates the time from November 2 to December 11, 1777, when General George Washington and the Continental Army were encamped in the Whitemarsh Hills."

What's fun at most of these events is the period demonstrations. I spoke to the printer about movable type and different fonts. I've been fascinated with fonts for a while, so we chatted. I ultimately chose Georgia for my blog font because it gives a nostalgic feeling.

I wanted to get close in this shot, so I focused on the "Ink Balls," a leather-based ink applicator used before rollers. The white covers guide your eyes to them. With my fixed Nikon 50mm lens, I had to move up, down, and around to get this photo. I didn't crop this image a lot.

As I've shared many times in my blogs, I'm fascinated with flags. I photograph some at every event. This one flew above the canopy where "Ben Franklin" demonstrated scientific experiments. This photo feels nostalgic to me. The film grain is more noticeable, too. That is especially true with a large percentage of the sky in the image; it just becomes more pronounced. I like it!

What is my goal when shooting film? I want to use it regularly, learn how to develop B&W, and scan it. Shooting film will help me further develop my photography skills. To change it a bit, I've been shooting Kodak color film at recent events, which I'll write about soon in another blog.

Click here for the photo gallery from my 2 rolls of film.

Thank you for reading! Blog #87 will be posted on May 1, 2025. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

About 15 minutes later, I was around the Colonial Capitol when spotting Mark walking towards me. I reintroduced myself and mentioned we have spoken many times here over the past 15 years. Sometimes, he would be in character, and other times not. He's also from Long Island, NY, less than 10 miles from where I grew up. We chatted for a few minutes. The next day, I contemplated that he would be a fantastic blog interview. Later that week, I emailed him, and he graciously agreed. What are the odds of meeting him again since I only visited Williamsburg for a few hours? Besides the photos of Mark in this blog, I have taken many more of him over the years.

1) We both grew up on Long Island, only about seven miles apart. What was your childhood like in Setauket, NY?

I had the best childhood growing up in Setauket New York on Long Island. There was history all around us. I had a neighborhood of friends living all around me on Shaker Hollow Road and we played sports games in the streets, ran around in the woods and went sledding in the snow at the bottom of the hill in winter. There is a historic Mill Pond close by that we would walk to and sometimes go fishing or ice skating in the winter. On the Village Green, but historic Caroline Church, I saw my first reenactment of the Battle of Setauket with my dear friend Douglas Little. Sometimes we would go to the Emma S. Clarke library, which was a beautiful 19th century building and fabulous library. In the summer we would enjoy riding our bikes to West Meadow Beach and spend the day there. Port Jefferson was close by and we would often walk the docks and look at the boats. Stony Brook was also close by and had lots of history. I still remember the flapping wings of the Eagle statue above the post office. I first became hooked on wargaming at a fantastic hobby shop called Waterloo in Stony Brook. I could not have asked for a better place to grow up and to this day, I still have dreams of the house I grew up in on 6 Shaker Hollow Road.
 

2) Setauket, NY, is now known for George Washington's Culper spy ring. When did you first learn of this crucial historical event, and has it changed your opinion of your hometown?

I first heard of Washington’s spy ring early on in my life. If you are born and raised in Setauket, you know about the spy ring because it’s all around you! The streets are named after these important figures in history. The elementary school has statues of them and in the auditorium, there are paintings of the great moments in the history of Setauket and the spy ring. I’ve always loved how much history was in that town. I think it was the reason I chose history as my profession.

When the television show came out, the first thing I thought was, that doesn’t look like Setauket! But I was glad Hollywood decided to tell the story of my hometown.

I worked on the AMC series “TURN” for two seasons. The final season I took a short leave of absence from Colonial Williamsburg to work full time as a Wrangler with the horses under Doug Sloan. It was a fabulous experience, and I got to meet all the principal actors as well as perform as a horseman in a variety of different roles. On my last day of filming, we filmed on the set that was supposed to be Setauket. My role that day was to be Anna Strong’s coachman. Anna was played by the very talented Heather Lind. In between takes, we started talking and she asked where I was from. I said, you are not going to believe this, but I’m from Setauket! She looked shocked and laughed. She said, does it look like this? I said, no! And we all had a good laugh.

3) When did you leave Long Island and why?

I left Long Island in 1988 after graduating from Ward Melville High School. The family was unfortunately selling the house in Setauket and moving to Virginia so my father could start a new job.

4) You worked with the US Army as a Cavalry Scout in the 1990s. It sounds like a job from the 19th century. How did you get that job, and what were your responsibilities?

When I arrived in Virginia, I began attending Christopher Newport University and studying History. Ive always loved the military and especially the Army and I’ve always believed in service to the nation. As a result, I left school and enlisted in the United States Army in 1993. I chose as my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) to be a 19Delta or “Cavalry Scout.” It does sound like it’s from the 19th century because it is! Since the domestication of the horse, and horses being used in war, cavalry scouts have been in existence in all armies. Though we have traded in our horses for Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Humvees and Apache Helicopters, the role is essentially the same; to be the “Eyes and Ears” of the Army and to perform reconnaissance ahead of the main force. I received my training as a Cavalry Scout at Fort Knox Kentucky.

Upon completion of my training I was assigned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (2nd ACR—Light) in Fort Polk Louisiana. I would remain there 13 months and then received orders to go to Germany and was assigned to the oldest cavalry regiment in the US Army, the First Squadron,  First Cavalry Regiment (1st Dragoons.) We we’re attached to the First Armored Division. Less than a year after my arrival, we were deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina with Operation Joint Endeavor, to enforce the Dayton Accords and disarm the combatants. I would spend roughly 10 months there and then returned to Germany. After a few more months there, I completed my 4-year tour in the Army and returned to the United States where I would secure a job at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and start completing my last year of school at Christopher Newport University.

5) You have worked at Colonial Williamsburg for close to 30 years! How did you get the job, and have your roles changed over the years?

This May will mark my 28th year at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. I started, after the Army in Historic Trades where I worked as a brick maker, carpenter and sawyer. When CW found out I could ride horses, they began incorporating me into some outdoor theater scenes and big reenactment weekends like “Under the Red Coat,” “Town Unchained,” and “Prelude to Victory.” These events recreated important moments in Williamsburg’s history during the American Revolution. It was also the first opportunity for me to do First Person interpretation and where I started to portray the Marquis de Lafayette and LTC Banastre Tarleton. I would go on to work with Coach & Livestock,, Theatrical Interpreters, Actor Interpreters with Revolutionary City and finally I was asked to become a Nation Builder and perform as Lafayette on a daily basis.
 

6) What is your favorite part of working at Colonial Williamsburg?

My favorite part of working at Colonial Williamsburg is its rich history. There is so much to tell! I’m honored to be able to work here where so much history was made. I believe all of the answers to the future, can be found in the past and with what we do here at CW, we are educating those next generations so that they can be better citizens of the future. I love the colleagues I get to work with who bring so much knowledge and talent. I love the horses too! History and horses are my favorite things! And it’s just absolutely beautiful here.

7. You have portrayed many notable 18th-century historical figures, including the celebrated Lieutenant General Marquis de Lafayette and the villainous "bloody" General Banastre Tarleton. Do you have a favorite character to interpret, and why?

I have played a wide variety of historical characters here in Colonial Williamsburg from Major-General Lafayette, to LTC Banastre Tarleton of the British Legion. I have also portrayed Colonel Armand, Benedict Arnold, General Rochambeau, Mann Page III and other assorted characters. For CW, the Marquis de Lafayette is my favorite. Lafayette was such an amazing person of history. I think of him as a 21st century man, living in an 18th century world. A person who is so compelling and inspirational. I love playing all of the different roles though because they are all quite interesting and important. A character that I portray outside of CW is Napoleon Bonaparte. I am thankful for CW for teaching me the art of Living History which I applied to portraying Napoleon in Europe since 2005. Growing up, I was always most fascinated with Napoleon more than any other historical figure and when asked to portray him in Europe, it was a dream come true! It has taken me to Europe over 50 times with events in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Spain. 
 

8) How would you finish this sentence? Colonial Williamsburg is important today because…

“It teaches the world about our rich past which includes triumphs and tragedies, but with that knowledge of what happened in the past, it will guide us to make better decisions in the future, by learning from our history.”

That interview was exciting to read. Thank you, Mark. It shows that if you have the appropriate skill set and patience, opportunities can happen—being in the right place at the right time!

Click here for the photo gallery of my latest visit to Colonial Williamsburg! 

Thank you for reading! Blog #86 will be posted on April 15, 2025. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

When I arrived on this beautiful fall day, I started searching for a young man wearing a three-cornered hat and his young daughter. Why? Last year, I met them here and took almost the exact photo of them, as shown below. The only difference is that the beautiful little girl is older. As we were chatting, he mentioned looking for me also!

The original image is in blog #66. Also, that first photo of them is featured on The Revolutionary Germantown Festival site to advertise their upcoming 2025 event!  

See, it's possible for two opposing sides with different viewpoints to sit down and chat cordially. The American is my good friend, well-known educator/reenactor in the Philadelphia region Noah Lewis, who portrays Edward "Ned" Hector-Black's Revolutionary War Hero.

To learn more about Naoh Lewis and Ned Hector, who he portrays, visit his website NedHector.com.

The Cliveden Barn and Carriage House, built in 1766, is now used as offices and a visitor center. It includes space for presentations and displays local artwork. Look at the concentration this guy has on this painting. What do you think, does he like it or not?

What's impressive is the original Cliveden mansion, which was the impetus for George Washington to lose a surprise victory over the British at the Battle of Germantown in 1777, is still standing! A small number of British troops barricaded themselves in the stone mansion, holding off a brutal assault that cost the American forces about 75 men. You can see sections of the house still damaged by the battle today. 

At this event always, there is a dedication ceremony to honor both American and British troops who perished in this battle. It's a very moving tribute!

Sometimes, we forget that there was once slavery in the northern colonies as well as in the southern ones. Only in 1847 was slavery in PA abolished. Benjamin Chew Jr. owned this summer property during the Battle of Germantown in 1777. He was the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Province of Pennsylvania and later the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. At that time, Chew held four owned four enslaved people in the year 1776.

From the Cliveden website-

Built as a country house for attorney Benjamin Chew, Cliveden was completed in 1767 and was home to seven generations of the Chew family. Cliveden has long been famous as the site of the American Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown in 1777 and for its Georgian architecture. New research is unearthing a more complicated history at Cliveden, which involves layers of significance, including the lives of those who were enslaved by and in service to the Chew family. This information broadens the meaning of Cliveden as a preserved historic place, exploring themes and stories of American identity and freedom. Traces of the history of the Cliveden property and its occupants can be found throughout the five-and-a-half-acre woody landscape.

Later in the day, Dinah, a once-enslaved woman at the Stenton House in Philadelphia, shared her experience of the American Revolution. It was revegetating hearing her story.

Click here for the photo gallery!

Thank you for reading! Blog #85 will be posted on April 1, 2025. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

I spotted this photo opportunity walking east on Duke of Gloucester Street. It was late afternoon, sunny, and prominent shadows were developing. I first noticed the white picket fence and then the bricked path, which showed good leading lines to the buildings in the back of the house. This image was one of my first shots of the day. I felt good being back!

One key component in post-processing that I haven't mentioned much before in my past blogs is the power and magic of cropping my images. I crop about 90% of my original photos either slightly or, in this photo, dramatically to focus on the subject! I usually decide quickly if the print should be an 8 x 12 or 12 x 12, but occasionally, I'll crop to no specific standard size. An excellent example is this picket fence photo.

As I strolled the town late afternoon, shadows were visible on everything, including this picket fence. The original shot shows more of the fence, including a distracting bush, which I knew needed removal. When reviewing in post-processing, I noticed these wonderful patterns, almost making it an abstract and even different shades of B&W. I really like this finished photo! The star in the top right corner adds a nice touch!

Many of my favorite photos just happen. You have to be ready all the time, react, and shoot. That's what happened with the photo of three Native American kids. I was near the Governor's Palace when I saw them pass me. It happened, it feels, in a second. I turned and took a few shots.

This one is the best for a few reasons. I cropped the image to follow the leading lines of the fence. The kids' attire is colorful, and by pure luck, they are in height order. I've said this often: being prepared always is the key to capturing that next great shot!

As I shared in the fence photo above cropping is such an important aspect of creating a good photo. Of course, the subject here is the shadow of Marquis De Lafayette. To understand how much I cropped this photo think of a post card. This image was cropped to the size of a regular US stamp! The original shot without cropping doesn't provide the same impact.

Simple is best with many photos like this one. While strolling Duke of Gloucester Street, I spotted these three reenactors (odd number in photos is best) sitting on this bench. It was chilly, especially since the sun was setting, but the light was good. They appear to be chatting. I'm wondering what they were discussing.

Here's the link to the photo gallery!

A few days after I arrived home, I learned something funny. My friend Sutler Ron Mehalko, whom I interviewed in blog # 14, was in Colonial Williamsburg at this time. It would have been amusing to run into him then!

Thank you for reading! Blog #84 will be posted on March 15, 2025. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

I hadn't planned to attend this event initially. But, the opportunity arose, so I left early on a beautiful Friday morning for my first stop in my "Happy Place" Colonial Williamsburg. I hadn't visited in years, so I was excited to stroll the town again with my camera, even if only for a few hours.

My often-traveled drive from PA to VA took about five hours. After strolling and taking pictures for a few hours, which I'll describe in my next blog, my drive south in the early evening to Chesapeake took about 1 1/2 hours. After a full day of driving and walking, I was exhausted when checking into my hotel room after getting dinner. I slept great.

After breakfast on Saturday, I drove to the reenactment site. Luckily. I arrived early to the site since parking was limited. After walking the site layout, about the size of a football field, I took the shuttle to the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation museum, a short distance from where the special commemoration was being held late in the morning. Now, I've been to many reenactment sites but never have any prepared such a moving memorial with dignities honoring the event with speeches and enough event wreaths displayed to form a semi-circle around the podium area. Afterward, I toured the fun museum; then I took the shuttle back to the reenactment site.
When hostilities with England intensified around the time Philadelphia's Second Continental Congress formed in Philadelphia, 1775, the most infamous British leader in the Tidewater, VA region, the last VA Royal Governor, John Murray (Lord Dunmore portrayed here), announced his proclamation giving enslaved African Americans their freedom. Many did escape to help the British! 

Besides offering enslaved people freedom, Dunmore was a villain to white landowners when he first removed gunpowder from Williamsburg's powder magazine in April 1775 and loaded it onto a British ship in the middle of the night during a rumored slave insurrection. In addition, with those formerly enslaved people, he created the Ethiopian regiment, an all-black unit! Interestingly, this happened the day after Lexington and Concord.

At the reenactment, Lord Dunmore read his proclamation. Here is his reaction afterward. Not surprisingly, the crowd booed resoundingly!

Here is one of my best photos of 2024. It's from the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation museum
 in Chesapeake, VA. In my yearly recap blog, #79, I wrote-

Once in the museum, I spotted a table with plates and newspaper. I took a few minutes to imagine the best composition and immediately decided on the one I envisioned. And "worked the shot" to get my desired photo.

Here's something you don't see every day: art-quality detailed decorative tiles in the main lobby men's bathroom! Later, I spoke with the Museum Director, who mentioned a special project they had using these tiles. However, there were leftovers. So, where to put them? Management decided the men's room was a good location—an excellent choice! I forgot to ask about the lady's room!

The reenactment was fun and educational. In a space about the size of a football field, they depicted the December 9, 1775 battle sequence. The actual battle encompassed many miles. A total force of around 600 men, including Dunmore's Royal Ethiopian Regiment of Foot, enslaved African Americans attempted a frontal attack against a breastwork of about 900 Patriots over the Great Bridge, which spanned the Elizabeth River, the primary way to Norfolk. The attack was a disaster, with 100 Loyalists killed or wounded. Here, it shows a British officer being shot as his troops advance. Seeing how the units try to replicate an actual battle is always enjoyable.

The reenactment was late in the afternoon and not too long—about 30 minutes. Once it had finished, I started on my long 7-hour drive home. Luckily, the traffic was good! These two days were great!

Click here for the photo gallery!

Thank you for reading! Blog #83 will be posted on March 1, 2025. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

The day included many pleasant experiences, including capturing my favorite photo of the year.  And in blog # 79, American Revolution Photos-2024 Recap I wrote-

What do you see? Doesn't it look strange for a wooden bowl flying in the air? That's what is fun about photographing events like this. You never know what might happen and must be prepared for the unexpected. This British officer was inspecting captured American troops, and suddenly, a wooden bowl flew in the air. It was contraband from his shoulder bag. I missed the first toss, but luckily, there was a second one; I was ready for it. It was his last toss. Even with the shadow on the soldier's arm, a flying bowl makes for a unique photo.

The Museum of the American Revolution organized this event. From their website-

In the fall of 1777, Philadelphia — the Revolutionary capital at the time — was seized by the British and occupied for nine long months, with Independence Hall serving as a prison for American prisoners-of-war. Join us as we recreate the dark days of the British occupation with Occupied Philadelphia

The British soldiers set up camp behind the now famous Carpenter's Hall. So many important historical events happened here. From their site-

It hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774 and was home to Franklin's Library Company, The American Philosophical Society, and the First and Second Banks of the United States.

Posters of the British occupation were displayed everywhere. I found these three crumpled proclamation flyers displayed together, hanging in the American Revolution Museum on a gray background. To create an antiquity theme, I knew converting it to B&W in On1 Software would make the best photo. It provides that nostalgic look I like.

Outside the front entrance to the museum was a street fair with crafters, sutlers (merchants), and city folks mingling and having a good time. But in September 1777, it must have been difficult knowing that British soldiers were everywhere. They couldn't possibly image having a Hessian officer strolling through their city.

Philadelphia has many iconic symbols, such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. In addition, the city is also known for other non-historical reasons, such as the highest-rated approval convenience store in the nation, Wawa (headquarters about 5 minutes from my home), soft pretzels, TastyKakes (yummy snack foods), and a fantastic sandwich called the Philly Cheesesteak. That was my choice for lunch. 

There are many cheesesteak options in Philly, each claiming to be the highest-rated. Campo's is near the museum on Market Street. I've eaten there before, but it has been a few years. How is this yummy sandwich made?

The traditional version is thinly sliced ribeye steak cooked with diced onions, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and cheese whiz spread or provolone cheese on a delicious hoagie roll. Of course, there are other versions, but this is the original and the one I enjoy with cheese whiz.

The seating arrangements inside are small, so I sat outside for lunch with my sandwich and diet coke, watching the crowd stroll by. I didn't know it until later, but there was also a marathon in town that morning. After lunch, I returned to the event for a little longer and reviewed my photos on my train ride home.

Here's the link to the photo gallery!

Thank you for reading! Blog #82 will be posted on February 15, 2025. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

Al was a proud Vietnam War Veteran, serving in the US Air Force, whose failing health was a result of exposure to Agent Orange. He retired in 1994 after serving over 26 years as a Police Lieutenant with the Woodbridge Township Police Dept. Al was an accomplished amateur photographer who gained satisfaction in capturing a "great shot". He enjoyed subjects such as lighthouses, birds, and he especially enjoyed shooting Revolutionary War Reenactments.

Al and I had known each other for over 15 years. Here's how we met. It was at a Washington's Crossing event when I was starting to photograph American Revolution reenactments. He saw me with my camera and introduced himself. I gave him my business card and thought nothing of it then, but we started emailing each other and never stopped. 

Al was always my biggest supporter. He was the first to view my new photo gallery sites and blog postings. When meeting new folks, he took the time to promote my photography and website. 

Al consistently updated me about upcoming events, many of which I didn't know about. And the ones he was attending. When spotting each other, a quick fist pump. Immediately then, we'd start chatting about our numerous physical ailments (that took a while between us), move on to what's happening with our families, and end with discussing photography stuff. We didn't stay together all the time during the events. Sometimes, we met for lunch. We'd each take photos separately for awhile and regroup later. In the last few years, we'd shoot the reenactments together and chat most of the time. Then, we say our goodbyes and email regularly. Below is a good example of our time at events—a lot of waiting and talking.

Al was always smiling, outgoing, and schmoozing. He was wholly involved in the American Revolution Reenactment community. His outstanding images have been posted on unit websites and for publicity purposes.  

By mentioning Al's name, I gained access to restricted events, secured special parking, granted exclusive admission to events, and more. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. We often joked about trying to save money by rooming together on overnight trips. So, we tried it on a visit to Mt Vernon, George Washington's home. That didn't work out well! We both snore loudly, so neither one of us got any sleep. That experiment ended quickly.

Here are a few interesting fun facts about Al: Before photographing American Revolution reenactments, he was interested in lighthouses. He also posted flower photos on Facebook almost daily. In addition, he was fond of hot dogs. and always searching for new locations to visit. The hot dog picture below was from an eatery near my home. They have since closed.

This photo of me on my website was taken by Al. Some of my other pals shared photos for this blog.

In my final email to him, I discussed my short trip to the Colonial Williamsburg region. Al in his last email to me, mentioned his upcoming surgery and stated

"I always had Great Bridge as an event to visit & then a visit to Williamsburg."

Unfortunately, that won't happen now. Al's been a great friend all these years, and I'll miss him.

Rest in Peace, Al!!!

Thank you for reading! Blog #81 will be posted on February 1, 2025. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

                    

It's that time of year when I reflect on the American Revolution events I've attended and select my 5 favorite photos. That's the hard part. In 2024, I attended 12 events, 3 new ones, and posted over 1,000 photos, with more yet to come. Also, I started shooting B&W plus color film again at events and even using an old Polaroid camera on Christmas Day while my kids were opening presents. In future blogs, I'll describe further.

It's always challenging but fun to review my years best; I had many good photos to select, even leaving off one of my most impressive cannon shots because these were better, not necessarily by photography rules, but because they resonated with me more.

Here is my favorite photo of the year. Look closely at this one from the British Occupy Philadelphia Living History Demonstration. What do you see? Doesn't it look strange for a wooden bowl to be flying in the air? That's what is fun about photographing events like this. You never know what might happen and must be prepared for the unexpected. This British officer was inspecting captured American troops, and suddenly, a wooden bowl flew in the air. It was contraband from his shoulder bag. I missed the first toss, but luckily, there was a second one; I was ready for it. It was his last toss. A flying bowl, even has the shadow on the soldier's arm, makes for a unique photo, doesn't it?

One of the rules of photography is creating shapes and leading lines. That's what I did here with the pistols. This photo is of British officers at the Assault of Ft Mercer event and portrays a duel between two British officers. In blog # 78, I reviewed this photo and mentioned-

Dueling is an arranged engagement in combat between two people with matched weapons. The most famous American duel was when Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in 1804.

The duel's pretense was that one officer was involved with the other officer's wife. Ooh, la la. I hadn't seen one portrayed at any reenactment event before. This photo, zoomed in tight, thus forming a triangle, shows the duelists' seconds (helpers) exchanging loaded dueling pistols.

It's common to shoot around 200 to 300 shots during battle reenactments. You are in constant motion, trying to capture the moments. You only know how many good photos you attained after reviewing them later. Then, a few times, you realize you captured an outstanding one, the photo you stare at for a few minutes. That happened here from the Assault on Ft Mercer. In blog # 78, where I discussed it in more detail. Here is some of what I wrote-

When first reviewing this photo, I thought he resembled a historical statue. He seemed so heroic with his firm gaze and clutching his bayoneted musket, staring down the enemy with his dead and wounded fallen comrades around him. Even the light emanating through the trees spotlights him, shaded in darkness.

This photo was from my early December trip to VA. It was my first time attending the Great Bridge Reenactment event. At most American Revolution reenactments, there is either a museum or vintage structure/house where you learn more about colonial history and /or find unique photography opportunities. Here, the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways Park Museum was a short bus ride to the reenactment site. It provided a detailed background of the battle with interactive exhibits.

Once in the museum, I spotted a table with plates and newspaper. I took a few minutes to imagine the best composition and immediately decided on the one I envisioned. And "worked the shot" to get my desired photo. 

A fantastic advantage of my Nikon D500 DSL camera is that I don't need a flash. The ISO (camera's sensitivity to light) on this camera is very high. If you remember the film days, the highest ISO was 3200. I shot this photo at 8000; my first guess was correct. I'll always need to check the camera's viewfinder to see if it's a good exposure. Most of the time, I'll get it right on either my first or second attempt. Later, in On1 software (post-processing), I created this image.

This photo, you can tell, is not from a reenactment. I took it when my family visited my in-laws during an extended vacation in South Korea. July and August are part of the rainy season there. Most days of our about four-week trip, it rained some every day. We were staying at a resort in the Eastern section of South Korea. On our first morning there, I woke up early and was moved by this magnificent sunrise over the Pacific Ocean (Sea of Japan/East Sea). Suddenly, I noticed a fishing boat leaving the dock. I knew there was a great photo opportunity presenting itself. I took a few shots with my portable Panasonic/Lumix Mirrorless DMC-GF6 with a 14-42 mm lens. The keeper shot was the boat directly on the sun reflection. Again, being at the right place and the perfect time makes a great photo.

Thanks to everyone for helping me achieve 100,000 visitors to my site. What an honor!

Some sad news: My good friend and photographer, Al Pochek, has passed away. I've known him for over 15 years, and we had some wonderful times together. In my next blog, I'll share my thoughts and stories about my friend. Here, he is standing next to me at a reenactment a few years ago.

Thank you for reading! Blog #80 will be posted on January 15, 2025. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

While strolling the grounds, I spotted a man with a pork pie hat (flat-topped crown and narrow brim). He looked familiar. I then remembered meeting him at another event a year ago. I said hello, and we started chatting. He's from the NYC region, so we discussed his job driving a bus and my favorite team since I was a kid, the NY Yankees! After our chat ended, the British reenactors staged a dueling scene that I had never witnessed at a reenactment before.

Dueling is an arranged engagement in combat between two people with matched weapons. The most famous American duel was when Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in 1804. Many of you might be familiar with Alexander Hamilton from attending the Broadway musical Hamilton. In this scenario, a British officer is having an affair with another officer's wife. That's the reason for the duel. In this photo, participants seconds (helpers) loaded the muskets and then exchanged them. The hands/muskets formed a triangle. I never took an image like it before.

Ah, cannon blast. As I've shared with my photo friends, if an event has a cannon, we must get at least one great image. This one could be my most illuminated blast yet. It just dominates the whole photo. The key is that the cannon was in the shade, under a tree. Most reenactments occur when the light is at its worst. When I first saw it immediately afterward, I went, wow!

When reviewing this photo, I thought he resembled a historical statue. He seemed so heroic with his firm gaze and clutching his bayoneted musket, staring down the enemy with his dead and wounded fallen comrades around him. Even the light emanating through the trees spotlights him, shaded in darkness. I applied minimal post-processing to this image. If photography had been back in colonial times, this photo would be an excellent recruiting poster!

Exciting historical news recently emerged from some excavating on this site. A Hessian soldier was identified from his skull among the remains of 15 Hessian soldiers. Two years ago, two Hessian reenactors and a photo friend showed me the site where the discovery occurred.

At first glance, I often know I will make numerous changes when post-processing. I knew immediately that this shot would be better in B&W because of the light. It was late afternoon, so there was a tremendous light contrast, especially on the column. I purposely added more grain to give the photo a gritty feel.

I was able to photograph some of Eugene Hough's flag ceremony in the late afternoon. It's a moving tribute, and I've seen him conduct this important celebration before.  

The Heritage Flag was gifted to Eugene Hough in 2017. The flag ceremony has been experienced by over 5000 people in 11 states, in both urban and rural communities. The ceremony conducted by Eugene Hough teaches history and respect for our country and each other.

Check out my photo gallery with over 80 photos from this event. Starting in January, I'll be writing two blogs per month. Currently, I post on the first day of each month. Now, I'll also post a new blog on the 15th. I have so much to write about!

Happy Holidays! My youngest son likes penguins.

Thank you for reading! Blog #78 will be posted on January 1, 2025. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

I wasn't sure about attending because a tornado had hit the Florida coast a few days before, and rain was expected all day. However, I was optimistic when I left that Saturday morning. It was cloudy most of the day, and the sun came out in the afternoon.

When I arrived, I parked near the main house. Two British soldiers escorted me to the commander. He asked my purpose and approved my being around the camp. While waiting, I met with an older British officer, and somehow, our conversation got diverted to my other interest tennis and players from an earlier generation, such as Sampras, Agassi, McEnroe, and Borg. 

I was the only photographer at the event. I wore my photography attire at events with my photo vest and Ft Ticonderoga baseball cap. Later in the day, I met the Event Coordinator. He mentioned that some American ladies acted as spies and tried to access the British camp. He told me British soldiers were escorting them out, and it would have been great if I had captured a photo of that. Unbeknownst to me, later, when reviewing my photos, it was my first photo of the day, and it was of that scenario. Sometimes, when photographing, we get lucky and surprise ourselves!

This photo reminds me of what you would see when visiting Colonial Williamsburg. This couple, dressed in colonial attire, was trying to enter the British camp and was being questioned by the British sentry.

This is a simple picture of an interpreter preparing ingredients for his colonial kitchen demonstration. I wasn't using a flash, so I needed to prepare my camera settings to get a properly exposed shot. That was easy because my Nikon D500 has an ISO, sensitivity to light, of up to 60,000. Recently I took some indoors shots at 40,000! If you remember using film, the highest ISO was only 1600. With the open window behind him, letting in a lot of light, and experimenting with different options, I settled on my ISO of 4000. Ah, the flexibility that is available today with modern cameras.

At events now, my goal is to create simple images, always keeping my eyes peeled for that next great photo. When I spotted this Hessian soldier resting on this fence, I knew that this was what I wanted. We were both walking around this big field, him resting after being part of a skirmish and trying to get some up-close shots. Then I spotted him on the fence, bingo.

The British and American camps were far apart at this event; I'm guessing around 100 yards. Reaching the American camp was a long walk but worth it. I was situated on a higher ridge looking down. What a fantastic view with McGill Creek in the background.

Check out my photo gallery with over 80 photos from this event.

Thank you for reading! Blog #77 will be posted in December 2024. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

As to the bird on the cross, having delved into vampire lore over the past year or so, I've read a lot on the crucifixion and religious symbolism. My guess is the carving is supposed to look like a dove. A dove took the form of the Holy Spirit and was symbolic of Christianity as part of the trinity. It was used as a precursor to the cross, which took the bird's place some time during the fourth century. Hollywood that depicts early Christians, especially those thrown to the lions in Roman arenas would not have displayed or worn a cross until the last century of the empire.

Thanks Harry!

I like photographing flags. I'll take some photos of any event that has one. Even as a child, I was fascinated by them. Growing up, we had a wooden fence in our backyard that resembled a fort. I made my own American red, white, and blue flag with stars and bars, attached it to a long tree limb that I cleaned, and attached it to my fence. When arriving home from school, I'd spot the flag fluttering before I went inside smiling. Some of my best photos have been of flags.

It's not this photo but last year, the North Carolina Museum of History used an image of a reenactor holding a stars- and- stripes American flag as the cover page for the spring 2024 edition of the Tar Heel Junior Historian periodical. When I took this flag photo at Fort Roberdeau, I felt it would be a good one—and I was right!

One of my photography goals at these events is to create unique photos besides reenactment ones. As I stroll at any event, I'm searching for photography opportunities. Before the raid scenario, I visited the cabin. I spotted the fruit bowl and other assorted items inside and knew this would make a good photo using the light from the open window. To give it a vintage look, I muted the overall color and added grain in On1 software, likening it to the days of film.

One notable aspect of this event was the interaction between the reenactors and the public. After the woods skirmish, the leader of the loyalist militia tried to persuade the public to follow the King of England. Most folks booed. It was fun bantering back and forth!

Check out my photo gallery with over 100 photos from this event.

Thank you for reading! Blog #77 will be posted in November 2024.  Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

It was also known as The Lead Mine Fort. It was built in 1778 during the American Revolution and occupied until 1780. The stockade, restored as a Bicentennial project between 1975 and 1976, features the reconstructed Revolutionary War fort, buildings, smelter, and a 19th-century farmhouse.

What was great about the programming at this event was the busy yet manageable pace of all the activities. There was minimal downtime. In this depiction, a group of settlers came across this cabin in 1778, where all of the inhabitants, men, women, and children, were massacred. Raids like this were a common occurrence living on the frontier. It was usual for neighbors and families to be loyal to the English, called loyalists or those who wanted to create a new nation, referred to as patriots. This time was our nation's first Civil War. 

The kids involved in the skit, especially the girls, were quite convincing. When they came upon their dead neighbors/family, they started crying and shrieking so convincingly that the young kids in the audience started crying and wailing. They had me rattled too.

These men in this region of PA were all experienced frontiersmen. They knew how to survive with help from no one. They were tracking those responsible for the cabin massacre. Read tales of what happened during these raids then and how horrific these times were. So, how did you determine who was on what side? Since it was hard to distinguish who was a Loyalist (loyal to England), they mentioned wearing yellow ribbons in their hats to differentiate themselves at this event. 

It's fun to watch reenactors speaking with families about the American Revolution. Reenactors enjoy interacting with the public, especially kids, and sharing their knowledge. Every time I speak with one, I learn something new. Ask a question the next time you attend an event!

I shot this photo near the end of the battle reenactment. The scenario was that Loyalists almost captured some women and young girls. They were able to avoid capture and ran to the fort's safety. At first, the girls walked, then boom, they started running to the fort. Unexpectedly, this girl just went airborne. She was fine, got up, and continued to the fort. Luckily, I acquired experience shooting action shots like this when photographing college football, lacrosse, and soccer events years ago. You're striving for the peak of action, which I captured here.

Around 4 pm, I left. After an hour of driving, I was looking for a restaurant to recharge myself. Now, breakfast is my favorite meal, and at that time, I saw a sign for Dennys. I last visited that restaurant a while ago, but I remembered they had a great breakfast. And they do. After a marvelous high-calorie meal, I was back on the road again. Before arriving home, the car GPS lady wanted me to see as many small towns and remote spots as possible! I drove, drove, and drove some more. I did get home late, but importantly, I was safe. Based on my short adventure, I highly recommend visiting Fort Roberdeau. 

Thank you for reading! Blog #76 will be posted in October 2024.  Be safe & well!

Check out my photo gallery with over 100 photos from this event.

Ken Bohrer

This Saturday was a perfect day for this event. Unlike the battle, it wasn't too hot, with a clear blue sky and puffy clouds. I left home early, and my car ride on the PA and NJ turnpikes was quick and relaxing, just over an hour. I was excited to meet up with photo friends and reenactors. At every event, something new happens. This event was no different. I had before-reenactment and after-reenactment moments.  

Around lunchtime, I saw a photo friend speaking with a small group of reenactors. He introduced me. They were from Louisiana, and it was their first time attending this event. I learned they spent the summer traveling the country and attending events throughout the US because of their summer break being teachers. Besides American Revolution events, they also were involved in the French and Indian War, War of 1812, and WW2 events. Wow! They were towing a trailer the size of a small RV with all their equipment.

After the reenactment, as I left to go home, I stopped by to say goodbye to my friend Ron at his sutler's (merchant) tent. He was conversing with a family, and I noticed the dad had a NY accent. I asked him where he was from. His response made me take a few steps backward. Yes, he was not just from NY but from the small town where I grew up, in the eastern part of Long Island. What are the odds? He graduated from my high school about ten years after I did. That's why these events are so much fun. You never know what will happen and what interesting people you will meet.

This photo encompasses what reenactments are all about. They educate adults, especially kids, about our nation's beginning, which means our struggles and accomplishments. Reenactors enjoy telling their stories with others. Don't be shy. Ask them questions; they want to share their knowledge!

Lately, I've been fascinated with Continental soldier canteens, and I now focus on finding special ones to photograph at every new event. They come in all shapes and sizes. At this event, I photographed four unique ones. The photo below shows a more common type in the shape of a barrel. They were...

"...constructed like barrels by experienced "bottle makers" with their distinctive rims of staves bound together by wooden hoops (later examples would use thin iron bands). The Continental Army ordered thousands of them. They were rugged and serviceable and held about a quart of liquid."

Over the years, I've taken many canteen photos. They always have something unique about them, usually in design and color. On my drive home, I thought that would make a great blog topic in the future.

With today's cameras and variable aperture lenses, sometimes it's easy to be lazy. You can stand in one spot and change your focal length to get the photo. Lately, I've wanted to challenge myself photographically, so I purposefully use my prime Nikon 50 mm 1.8 lens sometime during an event. 

The lens becomes 75 mm because my Nikon D500 has a crop sensor, which means it's magnified 1.5 times. This lens has a significant advantage: the aperture can be as open as 1.8mm, blurring out the background. This lens makes some great portrait photos.

Photography is not just about clicking a button; it's about visualizing the shot. This photo is a perfect example. I had a clear vision of capturing just the women knitting. With a zoom lens, I could have quickly taken numerous images at different photos without moving an inch. But with this lens, I had to work the shot, taking a few to get the shot I had envisioned. It's this thoughtful process that makes photography so rewarding.

Among my photo pals, there's a unanimous agreement that if an event includes cannon firings, we must capture at least one good one. At this event, I've included more cannon shots than ever before, each one unique. But this one, in particular, is the best, showcasing the fire and fury emanating from these cannons. The primary reason this image is spectacular is the saturated color.

One photo friend commented that the great color resulted from the cannon in the shade. I agree. The reenactments generally occur in open fields during the worst time of the day, around high noon. The sun is overhead, muting the colors and causing awful shadows. Not here.

When I first reviewed the photo below, I thought it was nice but nothing special. But I was wrong. When photographing reenactment events, I take many pictures, and only later, after downloading and reviewing, do I discover the best ones. At first glance, this photo appears cluttered, but it's pretty simple and tells a story. It's about an older couple eating a meal. 

The left side of the photo shows all the equipment they need for their weekend encampment. However, focus on the right side, which shows the couple eating. It's so uncomplicated and touching. But it gets me asking myself what's happening, and that's what all good photos are supposed to do. Sometimes, the everyday moments make for the most exciting images.

Thank you for reading! Blog #75 will be posted in September 2024.  Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

First, I needed to take my oldest son to a Saturday class he has weekly. Luckily, the school is only about 15 miles from the encampment. It was not a good start when we left home late. I arrived about an hour later than I hoped. It was also a rainy day—no downpours, but just enough rain that I needed to cover my camera while walking around.

Here is one of the last photos of my day: a simple photo of the dragoons practicing in formation. They were in an open field near the parking area. No one else was around. I followed them around and took about 20 shots. Unbeknownst to me, I captured a flying bird in this shot. I don't remember that ever happening before.

But, shortly after, I needed to drive home because my toddler wasn't feeling well. I missed all the afternoon firing and maneuvering drill events. Ah well, photographing some is better than not at all!

Some information about this historic site.

"Pennypacker Mills is a well-documented historic site of what life was like in the early 1900s. With a unique original collection, the mansion is fully furnished with antiques collected and documented by former Pennsylvania Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker reflecting his interests in early Pennsylvania history, German and Dutch settlers, Native Americans, the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. The collection also includes Governor Pennypacker’s political (1903 - 1907), genealogical and personal papers."

The house, built in 1720, is in the colonial revival style. You may wonder if George Washington visited this home. Yes, he did! It was his headquarters before and after the Battle of Germantown in 1777.

Post-processing my photos afterward is the most fun for me. The picture on the left shows how my camera sees the image in RAW format, with no changes. But, if you shoot in JPEG format, the camera automatically makes corrections and adjustments. With the array of tools, sharpening, filters, and sliders in On1 software, I can completely metamorphose photos as I did to the one on the right.

This level of control empowers me to shape the image to align with my vision and artistic intent. The process is similar to the old black-and-white film days when we tweaked the print using tools to dodge and burn to manipulate the exposure of select areas. However, with the advent of today's technology, this process has blossomed into a whole new domain. The difference in the quality of the images' created today is truly remarkable!

On the house tour, I felt like I was in a museum or antique store. The house had many portraits, paintings, drawings, and other exciting objects displayed throughout. The preservation of this house is outstanding. So many other similar historic homes needed painting or had water damage, but not this one. When taking the tour, this kerosene lamp caught my attention.

Later, in post-processing, I wanted to create a nostalgic photo. My first thought was to convert it to B&W. Then, with filters and tools in On1 software, I made this look like a nostalgic B&W image with lots of film grain added. It was so much fun! 

You can always learn something new at reenactment/encampment events like this. Here, a Brewster was demonstrating the art of making beer. He's using a blow poke, from research learned that wasn't around in the 18th century, to stoke the fire. I took the photo just at the right time.

Thank you for reading! Blog #74 will be posted in August 2024.  Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

It's hard to believe, but it had been five years, 2019 since I attended their spring encampment event. I left the Philly suburbs around 9 AM on a beautiful Saturday, taking the significant highways circling Philly, and arrived in NJ around Morristown about an hour later. These driving trips are relaxing for me.

Now, when I go, it's fun browsing through the gift shop to find where the book Jockey Hollow by Rosalie Lauerman is displayed. Why? Three of my photos are featured. Her book was on the front table when entering the visitor's center. The photo below shows the book.

Reminiscing about the photos in her book gave me an excellent idea for a future blog: to review some of my published images in books and magazines. There is no more incredible honor for a photographer than to have your work featured like that!

Good photos often capture simple moments and tell a story. I noticed this reenactor waiting for drills to start. Everyone else was staring straight ahead. He, though, was looking up at, who knows why? Maybe he was thinking about what is for dinner, or the sun is sure hot today. That's the fun of viewing a photo; we can only imagine.

I like to photograph canteens at these events. There is something unique about them with all their fancy designs and logos. I zoom in as tight as possible when shooting. This one was different because everything else besides the number 5 and the letter P wasn't recognizable.

The re-enactors practiced drilling and firing in formation when I positioned myself directly in front of them as if they were firing directly at me. I always wanted to sense what it feels like to have a musket barrel staring directly at you!

Later, when editing, I cropped as much as I could. I then added a canvas filter in On1 software to create this painting-like effect. 

You get this dark, cloudy, smokey effect from many muskets fired at once—almost like a solar eclipse. All your eyes can identify from the musket explosion is the initial fire blast from the ignited black powder. I have many pictures like this one on my site. I wonder if the reenactors realize the size and power of the musket blasts disseminating from them.

Thank you for reading! Blog #73 will be posted in July 2024.  Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

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This photo was taken at the Battle of Germantown event in 2019. Although I have hundreds of musket blasts on this website, this one stands out the most. At first glance, it looks like an abstract photo. I wonder if reenactors realize how much smoke, sparks, and fire their muskets produce during each volley. 

It's funny how you remember specific photos after so many years. Here is a perfect example. This photo is from the street battle at the Iron Works Hill event in 2011, which hadn't occurred in years. I remember it was a street battle in present-day Mount Holley, a small town with buildings representing architectural styles from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries lining the streets. The echo from the cannon and gun volleys that day was deafening. You can tell from the British reenactors how loud and painful it was for them. I have no other photo like it.

Someone recently commented that this photo from the Siege at Ft Mifflin 2023 looked like a painting. Yes, that's what I wanted to hear. I'm now exploring new ways of showcasing my work. This photo of the Schooner Northwind sailing on the Delaware River was initially okay but nothing special. I improved it in On1 Sofware. The significant change was adding the canvas filter, making this feel nostalgic, a painting. I want to make more aesthetic changes like this moving forward in my photography journey.

Some photos you always remember creating them. Colonial Williamsburg is my favorite location to visit. I've been there numerous times. In 2014, while walking early in the morning with a cup of coffee and my camera, I spotted a small building with a ladder hanging horizontally near Williamsburg’s Capitol building. From a distance, it looked like a mouth, and the windows looked like eyes. You see where I'm going. It was the first time I had noticed this during my many visits. With simple cropping, I was able to create this image. It makes me smile every time! 

Here is an excellent example of creating an image in post-processing. The original shot was good but missing something. The subject was the native American warrior with his war club from the Battle of Oriskany in 2012. But he  was not the focus area in the photo. In On1 software, I changed that by adding a radial blur filter to keep him focused and blurting everything else around him. It worked perfectly. My two-year son really likes this photo.

Thank you for reading! Blog #72 will be posted in June 2024.  Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

I've reviewed all of these photos before in other blogs. For all of them, I used On1 software in post-processing, and for some, I used enhancing filters to alter the image significantly. Post-processing is the fun part of creating an image for me.

One of my friends specifically mentioned this photo below. I took it many years ago at the Battle of Germantown in 2012 and liked it. I didn't think it was remarkable then, but I was wrong! I've taken hundreds of musket blasts similar to this for many years, and not one has the sparks flying and swirling like this.

I'm also now using a new photo editing program to create cinematographs (subtle movement). My friend Harry Schenawolf, editor of Revolutionary War Journal, used this photo in one of his articles, Matchlocks & Flintlocks. I made this photo a cinemograph, it adds a new perspective. Take a look. What do you think?

Before most of the battle reenactments start, I tell myself to remember to zoom in as close as possible to my subject. I'm seeking that unique perspective! By doing this, I captured some of my best shots. Here is a perfect example. During the Battle of Trenton in 2019, I could zoom in close as the reenactor poured powder into the flash pan. This technique is challenging because the reenactors steadily move during the street battle. I like this photo; it was hard to capture.

I've often commented on this photo in other blogs from the Battle of Chadds Ford in 2021. When I added the radial blur filter, I made this photo look like an actual war photograph, and it gives me chills every time I see it! I've never seen another photo like it.

This photo never fails to amaze me. When I took it, I had no clue that Spyglass had the Delaware River's reflection. There are similar photos like this in my gallery from the Washington's Crossing 2019 event, but this is the best one. I am still trying to figure out what I did to get this reflection. I tried replicating it at each new Washington's Crossing event but have failed. Maybe I'll never be able to capture this again.

This image is a composite from the Battle of Newtown 2019 event. Did I take the shots consecutively? No! Only after reviewing the photos later did, I notice taking the same Native American reenactor headshot of his left and right side. Each image separately is good, but combined, it's perfect. I didn't plan it, though!

Thank you for reading! Blog #71 will be posted in May 2024.  Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

My Nikon 80-400 4.5-5.6 VR lens is the only one I use during a reenactment battle.  I was only about 5 feet away when taking this photo of the Hessian soldier adding black powder to his musket's flash pan. 

My good friend Harry Schenawolf, editor of the Revolutionary War Journal, describes in an article "Loading and Firing a Brown Bess Musket in the Eighteenth Century" how an 18th-century musket is loaded.

Half cock the musket by pushing back on the hammer with flint attached (called a dogshead). Push the frizzen  forward, open the pan (or flash pan), and pour a small amount of black powder from the cartridge.

Here's another photo of me zooming in on a reenactor firing his musket as tight as possible. I never know what to expect. This time, I noticed his eyes closed and then the sparks plus the smoke from the musket firing. Being so close adds more drama, and so many times, I'm surprised by the results.

Catching the peak action is always the goal. The surrender here ends the first battle in Mill Hill Park. You notice the out-of- focus British/Hessian troops holding their muskets upside down. 

Before I explain the photo here, I want to mention a pleasant experience. I was at my usual spot just past the Jackson Street Bridge, waiting for the second battle to commence around 3 pm. Behind me, at the end of the townhouse, I noticed numerous folks coming and bringing food. I jokingly asked one guy carrying a crock pot thanks for lunch and asked why everyone was entering this home with food. He mentioned a neighborhood party every year at this reenactment. About 15 minutes later, the person I spoke with tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a bowl of chili with cornbread. What a lovely gesture! I thanked him and had a delicious afternoon snack!

At no other Trenton reenactment, I've attended was the cannon placed on the bridge. Usually, it was on a hill adjacent to me. I like catching the cannon blast as the British troops are charging. It makes for an exciting photo.

Sometimes, you notice an object you haven't seen before, even when visiting that location numerous times. That's what happened here. This considerable medallion was on the right side of the barracks, where the officers lived, about 20 feet up. I was curious about its history, so I contacted the Executive Director Michelle Doherty and asked. She responded and stated.

The lion and unicorn medallion on the outside of the building is original to the building and is the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. The Old Barracks was built in 1758-9 to house British soldiers during the French and Indian War. 

To enhance the medallion as much as possible, I used sharpening tools in On1 software. It brings out the detail in the lion and unicorn. It's a good reminder that even if you visit someplace often, on any new visit, you might see something different and unique.

Thank you for reading! Blog #70 will be posted in April 2024.  Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

There is also the two-week before practice event, which I attend more often; it's a festival. I came on Christmas Day this year. I left home around 10:30 for about one hour, mainly around the Philadelphia highway. It was a beautiful, sunny day with above-average temperatures.

Once I arrived, I met some photo friends and spoke with some reenactors. It was only a short time before I spotted George Washington entering the (McConkey's Ferry Inn) to plan the crossing with his officers. His lifeguards were protecting him outside. I first converted this photo to black and white and used a new photo post-processing technique, the canvas filter in On1 software, to make it appear like a charcoal painting. With his spyglass, George Washington viewing the Delaware River was the perfect choice for this technique. 

This photo shows the Delaware River and the Washington Crossing Bridge linking PA and NJ. It is near where George Washington and his men crossed on Christmas Day. I shot this panoramic on the PA side while waiting for the event to commence. You'll notice the entire bridge overflowing with spectators with a closer look. I've taken photos from the bridge a few times. You get a different perspective when the Durham boats are crossing; they appear so small in scale. You are also in amazement at how George Washington and his men managed this crossing in an icy, dark river with horses and cannons in a blizzard without being spotted by the Hessian troops. It was a miracle! 

The Washington Crossing Bridge with many spectators observing the crossing. Chief Artillery Officer Henry Knox met George Washington when he became Commander of the American Army in 1775 at Cambridge, MA, and a close confidant of Washington throughout the war. He was involved in many significant battles, including Trenton. This photo shows him walking behind Washington while addressing his troops before the crossing. Even though Washington is out of focus in this photo, you know it's him!

The 13 six-pointed Star Commander In Chief blue flag designates Washington in the boat. He followed typical European tradition by having a flag designed for himself as an army leader. Where the general was at any time, so was the flag. If you look closely here, you can spot Washington at the bow. 

When reviewing this image, I immediately considered emphasizing the flag's water reflection in my post-production process. I cropped the photo to show this and used the canvas filter in On1 software for the painting effect. I like the results!
Thank you for reading! Blog # 69 will be posted in March 2024.  Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

The influential photographer Ansel Adams said, "Twelve significant photos in any year is a good crop." For my 2023 photo recap, I'm selecting five of my favorites. Did I achieve the twelve significant photos for the year like Ansel Adams? Maybe? I chose from nine events last year and over 450 posted photos. This time, I didn't choose my overall favorite. I like all of them wholly for different reasons.

When photographing a person, you're always looking for human emotion. This photo from the 1777 Whitemarsh encampment does just that. You can feel his frustration as he attempts to fix his rifle. We can all relate to being just like this moment when we're doing something that isn't working just right! Ah, we do try!

My favorite photo of 2022 is similar to this one. It's from the Battle of Monmouth and has three British soldiers standing in a line, with one pondering about something. This photo again has three British soldiers, and they appear to be nothing special until you look closely at the placement of the three tin canteens. At the top left, the first soldier is starting to sip from his, the second is swallowing, and the third is putting the plug back in the canteen-just a perfect sequence. I couldn't have planned this!

Some photos make you smile, and this is one of them for me. It's from the recent Revolutionary Germantown Festival. I noticed this man with the three-corned colonial hat holding this adorable baby girl and asked if I could take their photo; he graciously said yes. It was my first shot of the day. Sometimes, that one is the best overall.

For the last few years, Ft Mifflin has offered, as part of siege weekend, the opportunity to cruise the Delaware River around the fort with Gloucester City’s Tall Ship, the Schooner North Wind. For this photo and two others of the same ship, #7, #8, and #9 in this photo gallery, I used On-1 software to create an old, period type photo by adding a canvas filter that makes the image resemble a painting. Just perfect!

Here is a simple but interesting photo from the Battle of Monmouth 20233 event. It follows numerous photography composition rules, such as not having the subject in the center of the frame, leading lines, and shallow depth of field. One rule I didn't follow was having my topic on the left side of the frame. It's okay because you notice the out-of-focus soldiers first, leading to the subject. It works.

Thank you for reading! Blog # 68 will be posted in February 2024.  Be safe & well, and Happy New Year!

I learned that reenactor/sutler Ted Hueskin passed away in November. I've known him and his wife, Sue, for over ten years, and at every event, we would say hello and chat for a few minutes. Wonderful guy! I have many photos of him over the years, including this one from the 2022 Washington's Crossing event, where he was one of Washington's lifeguards. He's the soldier at the left holding his musket with his left hand. RIP Ted!

Ken Bohrer

This year, again, it was a festival with a small number of Continental and British first-person interpreters, vendors, a replica of George Washington's mobile tent, a battle overview by Thomas J. McGuire, the commemoration of those who were in the battle, an exhibition from the Souls Shot Portrait Project, Storytime at 10:30 am at the new Literacy Nest and family-friendly activities. I thought of myself as an event photographer, not one photographing a reenactment. It was essential to see the big picture and capture the special moments.

The weather forecast for the day was intermittent rain with downpours. We got lucky, with only a few scattered showers throughout the day. Here was one of the first photos I took in the morning. I saw this man with the three-cornered hat holding this adorable baby girl. I got it on my first attempt; sometimes, everything works perfectly! Here is the link to this event's photos.

The day was about educating the public about the life of an American Revolution soldier. It's needed to start educating kids about our history accurately and honestly.

Reenactors are accustomed to having their photos taken. Just ask politely, and they will usually say okay. That's what I did here.

In all my years visiting this site, it still amazes me that this is the original house that played such a pivotal role in the outcome of the Battle of Germantown in 1777. The mansion is that old. At this event, author Thomas J. McGuire always provides an excellent oration of the battle and the role of this mansion in it.

There is always a commemorative ceremony by British and Continental troops for who lost their lives at the battle. On both sides, about 200 soldiers were killed.

Thank you for reading! If you need an event photographer for an event, please get in touch with me.
Blog # 67 will be posted in January 2024. I'll share my top 5 photos of 2023. Be safe & well and Happy Holidays!!

Ken Bohrer

Seoul is the capital of South Korea and the country's largest city, with a population of nearly ten million people. There is much to see and do in this safe, clean, progressive city. I wanted to learn more about Seoul's historical past.

We visited on a sunny, hot, humid weekday. There were few visitors that day.

The Korean Folk Village has more activities like this traditional dance ensemble. This village was bigger and had more to see. As I described last month, my camera was my compact and light Panasonic/Lumix Mirrorless DMC-GF6 camera with a 14-42 mm lens.

As my family was walking the grounds, crossing over a small bridge above a gently meandering creek, I spotted this heron searching for a meal. I'm not a wildlife photographer, but I did spot an excellent photo opportunity. Then, all of a sudden, the bird went from fishing to ascending into the air as I took the shot. It was fun capturing this moment.

With few interpreters on the grounds, many sites had mannequins depicting everyday life. My educated guess is that this couple was not typical villagers.

 Here was a photo opportunity I couldn't pass up. Somebody in this stone hut arranged all these colorful wooden figurines in neat rows. I wanted to know if they were for sale. My oldest son was inquiring about them. No one was around to ask.
As my family was strolling the grounds, I spotted this straw hut with a matching fence. At the bottom left, I noticed a stream of light. It just glowed. It made for a good photo.

Thank you for reading! 

Blog # 66 will be posted in December 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

The first restoration we visited was Jeju Folk Village (Jeju Minsokchon) on Jeju Island in the Korea Strait, about 50 miles south of the South Korean mainland. An underwater volcano's eruption approximately 2 million years ago created the island. We took a short, less than one-hour plane flight from Inchon airport to the island. We stayed for three days and two nights. The weather didn't cooperate, and it rained at some point every day.

It was a warm, muggy weekday, so not crowded with visitors. Unlike Colonial Williamsburg, there were no interpreters providing tours. Instead, we were strolling the grounds and reading occasional educational information on posted signs.

For this trip, I took my compact and light Panasonic/Lumix Mirrorless DMC-GF6 camera for this trip abroad with a 14-42 mm lens.  Photographers know this, but it takes a lot of work to focus on photography when you're with family. They don't understand why you're taking so long in one place and want to take the same shot from different angles and perspectives. Creating a photo must be done quickly. That's what happened here with these stone figures. I don't know what they symbolize but it makes for an interesting photo. 

Their site map/ brochure describes the Jeju Folk Village as a vivid and faithful re-creation of Jeju Island's traditional culture and history during the late Joseon Dynasty. It is committed to informing international visitors about Jeju's folk culture. 

This Dynasty was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. A critical element of Korean culture is an earthenware pot called onggi, which has been used for tableware and food storage since prehistoric times. They vary in size. The photo shows how big they can be.

This door was the entrance to the village. The colors were so vibrant I knew this would make a good photo.

My one-and-a-half-year-old- son enjoyed "meeting" this golden ox. He was in awe. In the stone homes, there were also mannequins dressed in traditional clothing. That way, you would feel what living in that period would be like.

Thank you for reading! In next month's blog I'll review my visit to the Korean Folk Village in the Seoul suburbs.

Blog # 65 will be posted in November 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

My drive that early Saturday morning was easy and fast. Like the actual battle, this event typically is stifling hot and humid. Not today; the weather was comfortable. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the afternoon reenactment because of a family illness. I had to leave early. But I still captured some excellent photos.

Many of my best and favorite photos I've taken in the last few years are not from the reenactments. Just simple, candid images of reenactors and camp life. This photo was a perfect example and a pleasant surprise. 

Notice how the tin canteens are in sequence for these three British reenactors. At the top left, one reenactor is sipping water, the second is swallowing, and finally, the last is finished. Only after carefully reviewing the photo did I notice this sequence. Sometimes, I'll see the patterns before taking the shot; other times, like this one, I'm lucky!

This photo is funny. I searched for where the horses were resting and grazing. One horse appeared to be eating the bark of a tree. I never saw that before. Not that I'm a horse expert. His handler was there, so I asked what the horse was doing. He said the horse was bored. I just chuckled to myself. Horses get bored, which is new to me. It sure makes for a unique photo, though.

I'll often take panoramic photos to show many reenactors at an event. Then, you get a sense of how big the reenactment was.

It's easy for me to compose panoramas now. I'll start in the middle of my subject, slowly rotate left to right, stop in short intervals, and take about 5-8 single shots. In On1 software, I stitch them together. Most times, everything works perfectly, like this one.

Sometimes, you see a photo. You know it's there; hopefully, you can capture it. Below is a perfect example. I was walking in a sloped area near the American camp and saw these two artillery reenactors relaxing above me around their cannons. They looked so natural and almost posing for a picture. I waited patiently for the flag to flap in the wind before I took the photo. Patience is the key.

Walking around the camps at an American Revolution reenactment event is fun. There are always photo opportunities to find. In this photo, it's the mom and her son just relaxing. The light was perfect, so it made a nice photo. 

Thank you for reading! 

Blog # 64 will be posted in October 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

Here is my favorite photo of my day. I followed many photography techniques using On1 software. First, I cropped the image to have the path lead to the highlighted red topped wooden garden shed. I vignetted the edges, added vibrance, and brightened the subject. So much fun!

When my photo subject is recognizable, like Mt Vernon, I'll photograph it from a different angle or vantage point. That's what I did here. I positioned myself on the right side of the mansion, getting this compressed view with different angles and leading lines. It feels like a maze to me.

Slave labor built this magnificent mansion. We must remember that. No matter how much we don't want to admit our nation's blemish, it's a fact. George Washington was ahead of his time as a Southern enslaver in many ways in that he struggled with the institution of slavery and wrote of his desire to end the practice, Maybe because he traveled outside the South to New England and as far west as Ohio Valley where he met all types of people including free-and enslaved African Americans. But let's remember he was a product of his generation, where slavery was the economic foundation of the Southern plantation economy.

Directly across from Washington's tomb is a slave memorial. During these troubling political times, visiting this shrine was vital for me.

What's fun about photographing American Revolution reenactments is the many fantastic photography opportunities. Just something so simple as walking around the American & British camps, you can always find a photo opportunity. Here kids were having a great time playing cards. Simple!

You never know who you might see at an American Revolution reenactment event. Maybe even a Buddhist monk? Plus, Mt Vernon is open 365 days a year. So, make a plan to visit if you haven't before!

Thank you for reading! 

Blog # 63 will be posted in September 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

The lens I use most at reenactments, around 75% of the over 8,500 photos posted on my website, is the Nikon 80mm-400mm f/4.5-5.6. My SLR D500 Nikon camera has a smaller crop sensor, magnifying the lens 1.5 times. This lens then becomes 180 mm-840 mm! But I need a lighter, more versatile one for the next few months. So I'll use my Nikon 24-85mm (36-128mm) 2.8-4 lens.

It's hard to believe it's been three years since I last attended Revolutionary War Weekend at Mt Vernon. For me now, on a 1-day round trip, 2 1/2 hours each way is the maximum I can handle. It's a pleasant highway drive with only traffic in the Washington, DC, area. Hurray, on this trip I had no speeding ticket!

I purchased my ticket in advance, so it was a quick, easy access through the Ford Orientation Center. Slowly I walked to the mansion and took this photo. The house lawn was full of people milling around the grounds. Because of my limited movement, my goal was to stay in the mansion area for the day's visit. 

I went to the back of the house to sit on a fan back patio chair. Can you imagine waking up to this view of the Potomac River every morning? Plus, it's incredible to think of some of the conversations held here with some of the most influential men of his generation. 

Where else can you meet George Washington and two Frenchman General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau on the left, and volunteer Marquis de La Fayette Washington's and Lafayette's relationship was so close that they were more like a father and son rather than a commanding general and his top-ranking officer.

In the summer of 1781 Washington did host Rochambeau & LaFayette at Mt Vernon right before the siege of Yorktown that essentially ended the American Revolution and major fighting.

Here is one of my favorites of the day. The continental troops were lining up for an inspection from General Washington. The reenactment, with regiments of men firing in unison, demonstrates how many American Revolution battles were fought. It's always impressive to see.

Thank you for reading! Happy July 4th!

Blog # 62 will be posted in August 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer



 

From my friend Harry Schenawolf, historian, author, and publisher of the Revolutionary War Journal's website, I learned the sizes of cannons used during the American Revolution. At most reenactments, the artillery units are using the smaller 2-pounder.

5) This photo, from the Battle of Iron Hill in 2009, is a favorite not because of the cannon blast but because of the crew's reaction. Yes, I remember the loud echo from the close when the cannon fired from this street reenactment. It can be so loud sometimes car alarms would go off.

4) This photo from Ft. Lee in 2018 reminds me of pyrotechnics from the 4th of July fireworks celebration. You never know what a cannon blast will look like; each is unique.

3) At first glance, some photos you just like. That's true for me with this photo from the Battle of Trenton in 2013. Instantly, I liked and thought it was different. None of my cannon photos before or after have this goldish, metallic color. Every time at an event, I want different and unique images. This photo does that.

2) I'll often zoom in as close as possible for cannon photos. This photo, from the Battle of Trenton 2016, was also a street battle in Trenton. I zoomed to 600mm, about six times what the average eye sees. Plus, to capture a good shot, my camera Nikon D500 is in burst mode and can shoot ten frames per second. Though fast, many cameras even have a higher count.

The cannon blast produces a lot of heat, smoke, and sparks. The photo shows what the eyes can't. That's why I zoom in often on cannon shots. I'll review it immediately on my camera to see if I captured a good one. I was happy this day!

1) I remember taking this photo vividly. It happened at the Battle of Ft Lee in late November 2017. The sun was setting, and the light was perfect. Plus, where the cannon was in the shade. These were just ideal photography conditions. 

Many times, after a firing, I'll review what I took before the cannon crews can resume again. After taking this photo, I thought it would be great, and it was a wow. I shared it with a photo friend next to me, who said the same thing. Just a spectacular shot!

Thank you for reading! 

Blog # 61 will be posted in July 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

I started reviewing all my galleries to find the best ones. I chose 80, possibly good ones to feature. Selecting my best ones was challenging, but I initially chose my top 10. 

10) The photo below is from the Battle of Germantown in 2016. After viewing it, a gun crew reenactor told me they had changed their safety procedures. The gun crews didn't realize how far out the blast went. One of my photos helped; such a good feeling.

9) This photo is different from all my other top 10 cannon photos. It was snowing at the Battle of Trenton in 2012. Looking closely, you can see the Chase (the barrel) exuding so much heat that the snow melts. 

8) This photo I've always liked. Part of it it's a simple composition, and the lighting is perfect. It's one of my best earlier photos, from the Assault at Fort Mercer in 2008.

7) After the flame from a cannon blast comes the smoke, most times, it swirls around like a morning fog. At other times it's a ball of fire with small pieces of flaming sparks, like here. This photo is from the Battle of Trenton in 2011. 

6) I often zoom in as closely as possible with my long lens on the cannon burst. If the background is dark, like in this photo from the Battle of Germantown in 2013, I get an almost painting-like effect from the smoke. It almost doesn't look like a photo at first glance.

Thank you for reading! Next month I'll review my top 5 cannon photos.

Blog # 59 will be posted in June 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

They are from the 30s and 40s, especially the film noir (dark film) genre. You may have never heard of this category before? Their popularity was during the mid to late 40s. This film style was gritty and urban, with stark lighting, flawed heroes, and shady characters. Fun movies to watch; you will be hooked! My favorites are Laura, The Maltese Falcon, and Double Indemnity. 

After a reenactment when reviewing my event gallery, I'll determine if the photo should be in color or B&W. For my reenactment portraits, so many of them color it doesn't have the same emotional impact! What do you think?

This photo is from the Washington Crossing event in 2018. It's George Washington using his spyglass to view the other side of the Delaware River, my favorite B&W photo.

Portraits make great B&W photos. Here is a perfect example. In color this photo, from the Assault on Ft Mercer 2022 event doesn't it inject the look of a tired, veteran America Revolution soldier? In blog #55, I explained taking this photo. 

This photo is from the Battle of Germantown 2017. It looks like it was taken in a photography studio. The natural light and his expression make for a beautiful photo which I discuss in blog #25.

I captured many good photos including this one, at the Washington Crossing 2017 event.The rowers were lining up to board the Durham boats. Converting him to B&W heightens his rugged features.

This photo was also taken at the at the Washington Crossing 2017 event. Instead of a rower he is a soldier. The B&W intensifies his weariness of the moment. If photography existed that Christmas night in 1776 this is how the soldiers would have looked!  

Thank you for reading! 

Blog # 59 will be posted in May 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

Luckily, one of my photo friends keeps me updated on future events. The first one usually occurs in April. There are fewer now because of our country's political environment. Many reenactments have now become festivals meaning reenactors are not allowed to fire volleys at each other. Why?

As my photo friend explained, many states in our area have enacted gun laws & that ban face-to-face encounters. So now is the time to attend an American Revolution reenactment while you still can. Here are five reasons why.

1) Learning about our country's beginnings is essential.  Many reenactors are experts on this period of history and are knowledgeable about the battles and 18th century colonial history.

This photo is one of my favorites. I took it at the Battle of Trenton in 2012. The setting was perfect because it was snowing. We all read how difficult it was for Washington and his men to cross the Delaware River. I dressed warmly that day, but it was still cold. Imagine what it must have been like for Washington's army without sufficient clothing and many without shoes. The sacrifices these men made are implausible!

2) You will always meet interesting people. I know many of the reenactors because I've been photographing these events for so long. But at every reenactment, I meet someone new, including spectators. I snapped this reenactor after a cannon demonstration at the Assault at Ft. Mercer 2022 event. Where else can you take a photo like this?

3) There are so many subjects to photograph at a reenactment. Sure, there are the reenactors, camp life, and the reenactments with all the cannons and muskets firing away, But, there is so much more. I saw a reenactor at the Battle of Short Hills 2017, walking this cute, friendly dog and asked if I could take his photo. I sat on the ground, saw those beautiful eyes and inviting smile, and took a few shots. This photo always makes me smile!

4) At most events, there will be children's activities. Many times, it will be drilling the "troops." I always get a laugh watching the kids playing soldiers and the amused adults watching.  I took this photo at the Ft Mifflin 2022 event.

5) At many larger reenactments, sutlers (merchants) will attend to sell their wares. So, if you were seeking 18th-century clothing or shoes, you can find them at these events. Now, some focus to reenactors, and others, such as my friend Ron Mehalko founder of Revolution Wear, cater primarily to spectators since he sells quality merchandise pertinent to the Revolution. This photo is from the Revolutionary Germantown Festival in 2023.

To learn more about the American Revolution, I recommend my friend's site, Harry Schenawolf, Revolutionary War Journal, whose website has a wealth of information on the people involved and battles that make our country's founding so fascinating. He's incorporated many of my photos into his articles. Thanks, Harry!

Thank you for reading! 

Blog # 58 will be posted in April 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

After parking and wandering around, I spotted the Thomas Clarke House. Here is where American General Hugh Mercer was wounded in the battle, carried to the field hospital, and died nine days later.

Below shows the crowd gathering as the reenactment was starting. The news said there were about 800 spectators. This reenactment was unusual because it began early at 9:30 am and ended around 2:00 pm, with the reenactment starting at 10:00 am. That's early! Wawa the convenience store headquarted near my home was there to provide free coffee. On a cold day it tasted perfect.

With this photo, I envisioned first how to construct it. I was on the main road looking down at the sloped open field. I moved around until I could capture the crowd, road sign, and the most challenging part, some reenactors in the photo. It created a special triangle effect.

I don't have a photo like this before, I believe. It shows the flash when the flint struck the steel lip igniting the black powder in the flash pan. It's just before the flash explosion. It's incredible with photos that you can see something in a new way that your eyes cannot! 
Only eight days after George Washington's victory, Hessian forces garrisoned in Trenton, New Jersey, defeated a force of British troops near Princeton, New Jersey. Although the two battles of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton were relatively small, they did help the morale of the patriot cause and helped increase many recruits to join the Continental Army. The photo below gives an idea of how the battle might have looked.

With all the muskets & cannons blasting away, it was hard to see clearly with the swirling wind and blowing smoke. During a real battle, it was almost impossible to see anything.

At any reenactment with cannons, I will capture a few good shots of flashes from at least one. I posted 11 in this gallery. At no previous reenactment event did I ever have so many excellent cannon photos. Here is the photo gallery link American Revolution Photos |Battle of Princeton 2023

Thank you for reading! 

Blog # 57 will be posted in March 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

For 2022, this is my top choice. Good photos tell a story, and this one does that. It's from the 1777 Whitemarsh reenactment. Notice the reenactor on the right pondering. Everyone else is looking to the left, but he's looking down, thinking of something. About what?

Was it to decide on what type of wine for dinner? Or when is his upcoming dentist visit? That's what makes this photo special. You don't know.

This reenactor asked me to take his photo at the Assault on Ft Mercer event. One of my photo friends recommended me to him. I found a quiet secluded spot near some trees and took about ten shots in ten minutes. I decided to use my Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens. This lens blurs out the background. I knew later it needed to be converted to b&w in post-production. Here he resembles an 18th-century soldier, weathered and battle-scarred. 

National events, such as the Battle of Brandywine, have many reenactors. It is impressive when they are in formation, especially the British soldiers. Yet it must have been frightening to watch in an actual battle. That's the feeling I wanted to reproduce.

To make the British troop formation feel massive, I was on my stomach and held the camera as close to the ground as possible, shooting upwards. The image, with a gray sky, gives a sense of foreboding!

This photo is of Washington's Life Guards at the Frye House at Washington's Crossing. This photo shows the officers starting to gather to discuss strategy for crossing the Delaware River. 

A reenactor spitting the paper from biting a cartridge while loading a musket is a photo I've been attempting to capture for years. When loading the musket, the cartridge black powder is first placed in the priming pan and the rest in the muzzle, followed by the ball and wadding. This photo of Noah "Ned Hector" Lewis, whom I had a blog interview about six months ago, shows that at the event at Ft Mercer.

Thank you for reading! 

Blog # 56 will be posted in February 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

On a beautiful Sunday morning in late September, I drove the short distance, ten miles, to the 245th anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine American Revolution reenactment. It was a National Event. What is that? 

Simply, it's a big event with more reenactors and programming. Each year around three large event sites are chosen. The last year this event was held here was in 2017. I'm fortunate to live in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where many important American Revolution events occurred.

How do I learn the dates of all the many American Revolution reenactment events? Two leading websites for the original 13 colonies, the British Brigade and the Continental Line, post reenactment schedules and unit websites. The midwest states have a separate reenactment organization, The North West Territory Alliance (NWTA). 

One of the reasons I enjoy attending a Sunday event is the Christian religious service. Usually, it starts around 10 am. This year, George Washington attended! I wrote about this, Reenactment Religious Observances, in blog #33,

This reenactment was one of the bigger ones I've attended since before the pandemic. This panoramic photo gives you an idea of how big it was. 

Here are the tentative national events scheduled for 2023.

Monmouth Battlefield-June 17-19

Fort Loudoun-September 30-October 1

In the morning, there was a recognition dedication of the Mass Grave on the battlefield. All the troops assembled. And an opening prayer was given by the Continental Reverend. 

Most American Revolution reenactments are rendered on the actual battle site, so reenactors want to show their respect for the brave soldiers who fought these battles. These ceremonies are always quite moving.

At a big event with so many reenactors, you can get a feel of how impressive having so many troops assembled is. For this photo, I was on the ground shooting upwards. It shows a different angle and perspective. 

The goal for me of any reenactment is to capture at least one excellent cannon shot. This one does that.

If you look closely at the photo, you might recognize Noah Lewis (Ned Hector), with whom I did a 3-part blog interview a few months ago. When portraying Ned Hector in many reenactments, he is a bombardier. What is that? It's an artilleryman during the American Revolution. 

Thank you for reading! 

Blog # 55 will be posted in January 2023. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

After leaving the train station, I was in Philly's Chinatown neighborhood. It's a fun place to people watch and, of course, food. But, the museum area was still five blocks away.

On my route was the National Constitution Center. It's a great museum I've visited a few times. Funny, I wrote this blog on September 17, National Constitution Day!

Diagonally across the street from the museum is the Christ Church Burial Ground. Benjamin Franklin is buried here. His funeral on April 21, 1790, was massive; at least 20,000 people attended. At that time, Philadelphia only had about 28,000 residents!

I was walking south on N 5th Street, which turns into S 5th Street, towards The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. The last time I visited the area, over two years ago, they were closed. 

The museum in the photo below is behind the bright red tourist bus. Now admission to the museum is free, how great is that! I visited for about 30 minutes.

Across the street was the Liberty Bell. Of course, that is a popular tourist destination.

 I had sub lunch at a Wawa, a chain of almost 1,000 convenience stores and gas stations located along the East Coast. Their headquarters is only a few miles from my home. 

Walking east on Chestnut Street for about three blocks was my destination, the Museum of the American Revolution. I was able to visit for a few hours. What fun!

In blog # 4, I wrote of my day at the museum. When you're in Philadelphia, it's a must-see.

Thank you for reading! Blog # 53 will be posted in December 2022. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

How, then, to describe Mt. Harmon MD?

This excerpt is from their website Home - Mount Harmon Plantation

Mount Harmon Plantation originated as a land grant of 350 acres to Godfrey Harmon by Caecilius Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, in 1651. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Mount Harmon prospered as a tobacco plantation. As you drive down the two-mile lane, through the tunnel formed by Osage orange trees, you will appreciate the isolation of those times, when transportation moved most freely by water. Three of the owners during the period had their own schooners to transport tobacco to the British Isles and return with furnishings and necessities for the house and farm.

There was no major American Revolution battle here or anywhere in MD. The closest was when General Howe landed 13,000 troops in Elkton, formally Head of Elk, during the Philadelphia campaign in 1777. 

It took me a little over an hour to get there. It was on a very, very hot Sunday. Some activities were canceled due to the extreme heat.  What's great about a reenactment is that you never know what to expect.

At this event were Spanish reenactors. I never saw that before. In this photo, they were praying before the reenactment battle. 

Attending reenactment events on Sunday is always fun. A Christian religious service, most times, will be held. I always try to participate.

Having special events for spectators happens often. One of the most popular events is the children's drill with wooden muskets. They pretend their 18th-century soldiers, and the highlight is when they charge with a loud scream. Fun.

When you visit Mt Harmon, you notice Brick Georgian Manor House circa 1730, surrounded by 200 acres of open space. This vastness is evident during the reenactment because when the reenactors are scattered far from the mansion, I can't get good photos even with my long lens. Pictures like this show the scope of this reenactment. Here is the link to the photo gallery. Thank you for reading! Blog # 52 will be posted in November 2022. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

My first blog doesn't at all resemble the format I use now. The layout, font, etc., are different. In my four-plus years writing this monthly blog, I've conducted interviews, visited historical sites, discussed many of my photos, reviewed many reenactment events, and even described a reenactment wedding I photographed in KY. Fun, fun, fun!

I remember my first blog interviewing David Hospador in June 2018. Wow-that time went by quickly. My first thought was to interview him at the Battle of Monmouth event. I bought a recorder to record the interview. He suggested reviewing the questions at home, where he had more time to think of his responses. Great idea! I have continued this technique with all my other blog interviews.

What photos do I include in this blog? I've already discussed so many of my best images before, so which ones? Then I realized some of my photos are unique. 

This one with the reflection of the Delaware River in George Washington's spyglass is a good example. In blog #24, I reviewed this photo and the one with the black powder poured from the cartridge into the flash pan.  Again both, one of a kind. This photo was from Germantown in 2012. I discussed it in blog #26. It became one of my first good and unique reenactment photos. I have many pan-firing photos, but none like this, with metal-looking slivers flying everywhere. When first posting this photo, I had no idea how rare this particular photo is!

Over three years ago, I had the honor to photograph a reenactment wedding in Louisville, KY. I describe my KY trip in blogs #s 11, 12, and 13. What a wonderful experience that was. Plus, the day before the wedding, I was able to visit a replica of Fort Boonesborough, a frontier fort founded by Daniel Boone and his men in 1775. As a child, my favorite TV show was Daniel Boone starring Fess Parker. Are you old enough to remember that show?

And lastly, one of my recently taken photos that, for me, resembles an actual war photo. In blog #41, Chadds Ford 2021, I discuss this photo. Through creative manipulation, I created one of my more powerful photos. Every time I see it, I get a different reaction.

I'm preparing for my next milestone, blog # 100. I hope to have at least five new, unique, never seen images to showcase!
Thank you for reading! Blog # 52 will be posted in October 2022. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer

Below is a photo of Noah that I found by accident when researching for another blog. He is very active in the Philadelphia region.

6) What are your thoughts on the future of American Revolution reenactment events?

I am really concerned about the willingness of our present-day culture to change the facts of the past because we like them. The other day I was approached and told not to talk about the musket. When I asked why I was told it was too scary. I replied don’t you think people should know it was an everyday tool of our colonial ancestors and not just a weapon for war? It was used for protection of home, hunting, and driving off predators by men, women, and children. I think if you give incomplete information, wise decisions are harder to make.

7) During the American Revolution, most free & escaped enslaved African Americans fought for the British. Is this a topic you also discuss in the presentations?

Yes! I label it “Black People Choosing Sides”. At first I was astounded by the fact that twice as many American Blacks fought on the British side as versus the American side. But as I thought about it, it made sense. The main driving force for the patriots was the country’s independence and their personal freedom. For us Black People, the predominant driving force was our personal freedom. And many of the American Black People made the choice of the side that was most likely to give that freedom. After all, it’s never good to be on the losing side. On the American side, an enslaved Black person, as a general rule, you were not promised your freedom. In fact, when Gen. Washington took over the army in Cambridge Massachusetts, he was bothered by the amount of armed Black people in his army. He was so bothered that he issued orders forbidding the recruiting of any Blacks soldiers in the Continental Army, enslaved or free. Later after reconsidering he changed his orders to allow free blacks people to be recruited. You may have considered that he could have these people fighting for him or against him. Also Lord Dunsmore, the Loyalist governor of Virginia, would make the proclamation saying that all enslaved Black People, belonging to rebels, in Virginia, if they would rise up and fight for the crown, they will be given their freedom! Now think about it and pretend you don’t know the outcome of this war. Who do you really think is going to win in a fight between Great Britain and a bunch of farmers and business people? Our American men are brave and are willing to fight, but they’re not well trained soldiers. However, the British are well-trained, well led, well supplied. It seems obvious who is going to win. On the American side, you as an enslaved black person, as a policy are not promised your freedom, but the British are promising freedom. So if you have a choice to make, what side would you pick? I must say I do find it astounding that so many Black People, slave or free, chose to fight for a country that had enslaved their people, not knowing if they were going to have their own freedom or not by the end of this war, but yet they fought! By the end of the war, 10 to 25% of Washington’s Army would be People of Color.

8)  Many of our nation’s founders were enslavers, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and even Benjamin Franklin. Should our opinions on their accomplishments be reevaluated?

Oh yes! Just like anything else, when we learned new information we reassess our perspectives. Where that reassessment will take us, I guess that’s up to the individual. I do believe this, the more complete information we have the better we can make our judgments and the better we can decide what we want to learn from it.

Below is a recent photo of Noah taken at Valley Forge  National Historic Park.

9) What resources, books, websites, etc., would you recommend learning more about African Americans during the American Revolution?

Of course, I invite everyone to come to my website, www.nedhector.com to learn more.

Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery-lwfsm.com

Africans In America-www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/home

I suggest visiting the many historical sites to learn and get a feel of history.

*             Museum of the American Revolution-www.amrevmuseum.org

*             Chadd’s Ford-www.chaddsfordhistory.org

*             Brandywine Battlefield-www.brandywinebattlefield.org

*             Bartram’s Garden-www.bartramsgarden.org

*             Mount Vernon-www-mountvernon.org

*             Valley Forge National Historical Park-www.nps.gov/vafo/index.htm

*             Independence National Historical Park-www.nps.gov/index.htm

*             Swedish Cabin-www.dcva.org

*             Daniel Boone Homestead-www.thedanielboonehomestead.org

*             Paoli Battlefield-www.pbpfinc.org

*             Cliveden-www.cliveden.org

*             Thomas Massey House-thomasmasseyhouse.org

*             Morton House-www.parrett.net

*             Peter Mott House-www.petermotthouse.org

*             Mouns Jones House-historicpreservationtrust.org

*             Deshler Morris House-www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/germantownwhitehouse

*             New Sweden Centre-www.colonialnewsweden.org

*             Washington Crossing State Park-www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/WashingtonCrossingHistoricPark      

*             Hope Lodge-www.ushistory.org/hope

*             Fort Mercer-www.sitesofnj.com/New_Jersey/Gloucester_County/Fort_Mercer/Web_Pages/Fort-Mercer

*             Fort Mifflin-www.ushistory.org/march/phila/mifflin

*             Monmouth Battlefield-www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks

*             Landis Valley Museum-www.landisvalleymuseum.org

*             Atwater Kent Museum-www.philadelphiahistory.org