The Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan, the eastern section of NJ, is close to NYC and holds one of my favorite reenactment events of the year. Most years I attend, it's held in late June, close to the actual battle date. 

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