It’s hard to believe it’s been since 2018—there was snow on the ground that year—since I last attended this event at Fort Lee. I even had to double-check because I couldn’t believe it had been that long. One of my favorite cannon shots was taken here back in 2017, and you can see it pictured just below. Why is Ft Lee remembered?

"Fort Lee Historic Park, a 33‑acre cliff‑top site in Fort Lee, New Jersey, offers scenic overlooks of the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge, and a visitor center alongside a reconstructed Revolutionary War encampment featuring a blockhouse, battery, and soldier quarters. Originally fortified in July 1776 as “Fort Constitution” (later renamed Fort Lee in honor of General Charles Lee), it formed a key defensive position opposite Fort Washington (located on the northern end of Manhattan Island) to prevent British ships from sailing up the Hudson during the American Revolution."

The drive from my home in Media, PA, to Fort Lee, NJ, via the PA Turnpike and NJ Turnpike (immortalized by Simon and Garfunkel's song "America" in 1968) took about 2½ hours—roughly 125 miles—just as expected. That’s about the maximum round trip I can comfortably handle these days. The route is straightforward: enter the PA Turnpike near Philadelphia, head east toward the Delaware River, cross into New Jersey to join the NJ Turnpike northbound, and continue toward the George Washington Bridge, then into Fort Lee.

I hadn’t driven this route in quite some time, so my main goal was simple: exit before crossing the George Washington Bridge. Excellent plan—except it didn’t happen. I missed the last exit and ended up going over the bridge, only to turn around on the other side. Ahhhh! I now consider it a small “donation” to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The day itself was perfect—cool but not frigid.

In the past, when photographing reenactments or festivals, I focused solely on the event itself. Now, I make a point to capture anything that might make an interesting subject—like the George Washington Bridge. When I reviewed this photo later, I felt it would look best in black and white. I processed it in On1 Software, and for me, that choice gave the image a timeless, old-style feel.

Did you know:

• Opened in October 1931, it briefly held the title of the world’s longest main-span suspension bridge at 3,500 ft—surpassing previous records by nearly 90%—until the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937.
• Designed by Othmar Ammann, the bridge was built with foresight: though initially constructed with a single deck, it was engineered to accommodate a second deck, which was added in 1962, expanding from 8 to 14 lanes.
• Today, it’s the busiest motor vehicle bridge in the world, with over 100 million vehicles crossing annually—about 290,000 per day.

This is something you don’t see every day! When I was at the section of the park closest to the bridge, I spotted a group of construction workers casually enjoying lunch, perched between the upper and lower sections of the bridge. It struck me as such a unique moment—so relaxed, as if balancing high above the river was no big deal. I can’t help but wonder how loud it must be up there with all that traffic rumbling by.

Photographing them wasn’t too difficult thanks to my Nikon 80–400mm f/4.5–5.6 lens, which let me zoom in tight. Since my Nikon D500 has a crop sensor, that lens effectively behaves like a 120–600mm lens on a full-frame camera. How can this help? The average person's eyes see around 50mm! So, I can see more up close. Plus, these shots were handheld, no tripod. Sweet, for moments like this!

Do you see it? Sometimes my imagination plays tricks on me. While walking through the wooded grounds, I spotted what looked like a frog perfectly camouflaged against the bark of a tree—nature’s disguise at its finest! The knobs became its big eyes, the red dot a distinctive spot, and just below, a wide mouth. Can anyone else see the frog hiding in plain sight, or is my imagination taking over?

Simple is better—especially at reenactments. That’s why this flag shot caught my attention immediately. I’ve always been drawn to flags; I've shared this in my blogs before.

I grew up in a newly built Long Island neighborhood in Suffolk County, where most homes sat on quarter‑acre lots with fenced‑in backyards. Ours had around an eight‑foot fence made of rough bark, almost like the walls of a frontier fort. To me, it was my fort even making my own flag: I found a sturdy four‑foot stick, painted an American flag onto a piece of cloth, and proudly mounted it on my backyard stronghold. I thought it looked amazing.

So at this event, even with all the dramatic shots—many good musket and cannon blasts with bright orange flashes—this simple American flag image resonated with me the most. It brought me back to my childhood memories.

You never know what will catch your eye at a reenactment, and sometimes the quietest moments are the ones that stay with you.

Something happened that had never occurred before. The reenactment was slowly progressing toward the far end of the park when I turned around—and suddenly, the bridge stood in full view, unobstructed by trees. Instinctively, I spun around, pivoting horizontally, and fired off three quick shots. Then, without missing a beat, I returned my focus to the unfolding scene in front of me.

The results exceeded my expectations. It was later in the day, and the setting sun cast a warm, golden glow—the lighting was absolutely perfect. Moments like these remind me that you never know when a great photo opportunity will appear, even in the midst of a reenactment!

Click here for the Fort Lee Photo Gallery!

Thank you for reading! Blog #102 will be posted on January 1, 2026. My next blog will be my 2025 Photo Recap. Be safe & well!

Wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous New Year!!

Huzzah,

Ken Bohrer