For the next few months, I will challenge myself photographically at upcoming American Revolution reenactments. I needed surgery that would prohibit me from lifting anything heavy. My procedure was in mid-May. My Doctor said my recovery might take three months. Usually, I would carry a backpack full of gear, including all my lenses and accessories. Read blogs #39 & #40 about my photo equipment. For a few months, I won't have a backpack, just me shooting with one lens on my SLR Nikon D500 camera. So, which one to choose?

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