To write my monthly blogs, I've had the opportunity to review many photo galleries. It's been fun reminiscing on when and how I took all these photos. One photo technique I've been somewhat neglecting the last few years is motion-blur photos. This procedure is created by either moving the camera at a slow shutter speed side to side or a program I use On1 Software. It has a radial blur filter, a photo technique that produces a directional blur. I chose my favorite 10 to review for this blog and next month. They're not ranked. 

Reenactments educate and entertain spectators. Of course, they don't show the horrors and brutality of real American Revolution battles. Photography didn't exist yet! This photo from the Battle at Chadds Ford in 2021 reminded me of the great war WWII photographers. Two preeminent ones were Joe Rosenthal (flag raising at Imo Jima) and Robert Capa. You have seen their photos before.

When I finished processing this photo with the radial blur filter, it felt painfully realistic; so many soldiers in the American Revolution died in this horrific way. What do you think of it?

This photo is from the Battle of Monmouth in 2009. I have many excellent photos taken that day! To achieve this motion effect, I moved the camera back and forth slowly. This photo shows constant movement in all directions. My eyes are wandering everywhere-one of my favorite images. 

This photo is from the Battle of Germantown in 2011 with the continentals charging the Chew House. I converted it to B&W and used the technique of selective color, only coloring particular objects in the photo. The movement of the soldiers here is perfect. It's not easy to time the panning at just the right speed.

Here is another Battle of Germantown in 2012 photo of soldiers storming the Chew House. I used a radial filter in post-processing to produce this moving effect and reduced the filter amount on the charging soldiers near the steps.
This photo was from Mt Harmon in 2011. I remember vividly walking the grounds, and suddenly, these galloping dragoons rode directly towards me over a modest hill. Quickly, I knew this would make a fantastic panning photo! So, instead of moving the camera back and forth horizontally, I moved my 80-400 Nikon VR lens vertically, extending slowly to attain this effect. 

Thank you for reading! Blog # 48 will be posted in June 2022. Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer