Best of the Best icon. Retro vintage style

Wow, 2025 was an incredible American Revolution reenactment year for me!

I attended 14 unique events and shared an amazing 1,323 photos on my site—the most I’ve ever posted in a single year!

In this post, I’ll share my 5 favorite photos from the first half of 2025. Then in my next blog on February 1, I’ll feature my top 5 from the second half of the year.

The highlight of my year was attending the two-day 250th anniversary of Bunker Hill in Gloucester, MA, located about 35 miles from Boston. Thanks to special access, I was able to capture one-of-a-kind images I’ll never forget.

Interestingly, none of my favorite photos shows cannons or muskets firing. Instead, they’re simple, powerful images that tell a unique story.

This shot, from Patriots Along the Perkiomen at Pennypacker Mills, shows a dragoon (mounted soldier on horseback) riding just feet from me. Focusing on his boot, I knew it would make a great photo—and I was right.

Here is a photograph that resonates with me like a timeless song—much like hearing classic songs from the early 70s like My Sweet Lord (George Harrison) or Maggie May (Rod Stewart), time and again,  always with enjoyment. After I converted it to black-and-white with ON1 Software, it became one of my favorites; the horse’s coat texture and direction hypnotize me. There’s a similar color version in the gallery, but this B&W rendition resonates more. 

This photo was taken during Day 1 of the Battle of Bunker Hill reenactment. I call him my “Michael Jordan reenactor” because he leapt from the boat without a running start—he seemed to fly. With special shoreline access, I was able to capture this incredible moment.

The 250th anniversary weekend of the Battle of Bunker Hill in June was one of my highlights in photography. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event and being there to document it made it truly special.

One of a photographer’s greatest goals is to capture raw emotion—and that’s exactly what happened here during a parody at Revolutionary War Day at Belmont Hall in Delaware. The scene portrayed local settlers debating whether to support the King of England during revolutionary times. What started as a spirited argument turned heated and even physical, and the reaction I captured is absolutely priceless. I didn’t realize I had this shot until later in post-processing.

When you’re looking at the small screen on the back of your camera, you rarely know what you’ve truly captured. When I first saw this image, I laughed out loud. I keep saying it: luck, awareness of what’s unfolding, and having your finger ready to click are the keys to great photography. And of course, a little help from editing tools like ON1 software always helps.

As long as you’re looking, there’s always something compelling to photograph. On my nearly one-mile walk from the SEPTA station, in Old City, the oldest section of town in Philadelphia, to the Revolutionary Philadelphia 1775 event at the Museum of the American Revolution, I spotted this door handle covered in locks—and stopped immediately. It was so unusual that I couldn’t ignore it.

I stared for a few minutes, wondering why there were so many locks. As a photographer with my camera in hand, I knew this had potential. I experimented with different angles and compositions, shooting multiple frames, and ultimately realized a tight perspective would tell the best story. Later, in ON1 software, the magic happened. Photos should spark curiosity and invite stories—this one does. Why so many locks? Whose are they? When an image makes your imagination run wild, you know it’s a good photo.

At the end of the day at Siege Weekend at Fort Mifflin, I finally got the moment I’d been chasing. All day long, the air was completely still—no wind, no movement—despite my hopes of capturing the massive flag on the Schooner North Wind sailboat in the breeze. I’d practically given up on it.

But then the photo gods stepped in. Just as the light softened, the wind picked up, the flag unfurled in full motion, and—almost unbelievably—a jet landing at Philadelphia’s International Airport with nearly the same color scheme lined up to land behind it. I fired off a quick burst of shots, and this one came together perfectly. Being at the right place at the right time!

In my recent blogs, you’ll notice more shout-outs to music artists. As a proud Baby Boomer, great music from my generation has been part of my life since childhood—and let’s face it, it never goes out of style! So, you’ll see more music references in future blogs.

Thank you for reading! Blog #103 will be posted on February 1, 2026. My next blog will be my 2025 Photo Recap, part 2. Be safe & well!

Wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous 2026!!

Huzzah,

Ken Bohrer