|
Welcome to my website! For years I've been trying to combine 2 of my interests-photography and studying the American Revolution. By photographing American Revolution reenactments, I can now combine both interests. I now live in the Philadelphia area, so I'm centrally located to photograph many of the reenactments in the Delaware Valley region. My future goal is to photograph every major American Revolution reenactment. Plus, it's fun, and all reenactors want to share stories; they're storytellers! Ken "It was a pleasure to exchange cards. We are out of Lebanon, CT and I have reviewed website and was truly moved by your art." Brown's Company Interview with Noah “Ned Hector” Lewis-Black Revolutionary War HeroOne of the joys of photographing American Revolution reenactments is meeting spectators, event staff, photographers, vendors, and most especially reenactors, AKA Living Historians. I've known Noah-Ned Hector for many years. Besides being a reenactor, he is an educator. He is a dynamic speaker that keeps his audiences engaged and entertained. This paragraph from his website states his mission.
Noah and I speak at many reenactment events. Because of his background, I knew he would make a great interview. I asked him, and he immediately said yes.
1) From your website www.nedhector.com, I learned you were born in Germany. Do you have any memories of that time? Unfortunately not, I was 10 months old when our family returned to the America. 2) When did you relocate to the Philadelphia region? We were living at Ft. Knox, KY when Dad decided to retire in 1965. We moved from there to Philadelphia. Afterwards, in 1966, we moved to Aldan in the suburbs of Philadelphia. 3) Your college degree is in biology? Have you always been interested in history too? No. My interest in history came with my research in genealogy.
4) In your professional career, you were first a Bio-Medical Technician. Then you owned a small business. Did you ever believe your livelihood would eventually be presenting living history? Absolutely not! In school I’m not what anybody would have described as a scholar. In high school I was still being given speech therapy. The thought of talking publicly frightened me. Although I was not a discipline problem, I just really struggled in my academic classes. The last two years of high school I went to vo-tech for a half day. I remember when I graduated I went to my guidance counselor to let her know I was going to college. She said to me,”Oh no! don’t do that. I don’t think you will be able to make it.” The shame about it is, knowing my grades, I could understand why she would say something like that. I never saw my future where I would be talking to large audiences, writing scholarly research papers, and doing heavy duty historical research. I guess you never know where God will to lead you. 5) You stated it all started when presenting to your daughter’s fourth-grade class on biology over twenty-five years ago. And by chance, the teacher asked if you could also teach on Colonial America. Do you view that incident today as fate? Well, I never saw it coming. I don’t know if I would say fate. I believe there is another source that guides our lives. During the time when my daughter’s fourth grade class was happening I was also doing geological research on my family. I managed to get back to 1800 on my dad’s side. I hit a brick wall and couldn’t get back any further. I started thinking, well, 1800 isn’t that far from the American Revolution. Maybe I might find something there. I didn’t. But I started learning a lot of things about Black colonial people. To appreciate what I am going to say, you have to know that what I thought about black colonial people were. I believed that they all were slaves, that they all were poor, and if they were in the military they were nothing but manual laborers. If this was true I really didn’t have any interest in Black history during this period.
6) How did you learn about the patriot Ned Hector, the soldier you portray? During my research, I came across a book written by Charles Blockson called Black Genealogy. In this book, I learned about a man named Edward Hector. He was a bombardier and the teamster with Proctor’s Third Pennsylvania Artillery. He was nothing like what I thought colonial blacks were. He was a free man. He was with an elite fighting unit, the artillery. He was a soldier that fought in the Battle of Brandywine and Germantown. In the Battle of Brandywine he was noted for his heroic actions to save his wagon, horses, and armaments in the face of a British charge. And this was after he had been ordered to retreat and abandoned them. He was one of the first Black people to live in Conshohocken. He was so well regarded in his home community of Conshohocken that 16 years after his death, the people in this newly formed town in 1850, petitioned to name a street after him. I don’t know too many things named after Black people around 1850. 7) Have you changed your presentations/talks because of the recent civil unrest & racial inequality incidents? Good question! Through the years, I’ve started noticing that people seem to think of American history as their history and our history. I thought to myself that can’t be right. Whatever history it is, it is our history! We African-Americans tend to think of America’s multi-ethnic history as part of our history. In the same way, a non-African-Americans should embrace African American history as part of their. It’s not those peoples history, it is our history. Another thing that bothered me is although our culture is multi-ethnic, we really don’t tell about the Germans, Irish, Polish, women, Jews, Scottish, and so many other subgroups that make us Americans. So as I can I try to talk about other groups.
8) Besides presenting in schools and at reenactments, how else do you educate folks on the American Revolution and Ned Hector? I write articles for historical publications. I have found many of the historical sites, like Cliveden, Washington’s Crossing, Chadds Ford, have been open to including articles in their program books when they have a reenactments. Also many of the historical sites have made efforts to put up permanent displays that talk about the African-American like, the Museum of American Revolution, the National African American Museum in Washington DC, Valley Forge National Park, so it can be seen all year around. I appreciate institutions like this magazine that allows me to share the story with their readers. From time to time I am in videos, and TV broadcast. I was allowed to be in the video for the visitor center at the Valley Forge National Park and Washington’s Crossing. I feel all of these are important because they are helping all of us Americans to understand our history. 9) What do you hope adults and especially children will learn from speaking with you about Black soldiers in Colonial America? I am hoping that our children will be a lot less ignorant than we were about our history. I am hoping we black people will realize what a significant contribution we played in the founding of this country. I am hoping that the nonblack ethnic groups will understand.
10) Is there a question I should have asked? What is it you hope to achieve by doing Ned Hector? First, I hope to bring honor to a group of Americans that whose history was buried and ignored, who deserved our countries gratitude. Secondly, I hope to instill in my fellow African Americans a sense of pride for knowing we African Americans were not only the poor, or enslaved, or just manual laborer. But African Americans made a significant contribution to this country becoming independent. Thirdly, I hope to bring awareness to all Americans that African American history is American history and should be embraced by all Americans, because their actions helped us all to be free. Lastly, with this awareness I hope we will come to appreciate each other the way that we should.
Thank you for reading and Noah-Ned Hector for a great interview! Blog # 46 will be posted in May 2022. Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
Top 10 Photos You Wouldn't Expect Were From A Reenactment-Numbers 1-5In last month's blog, I reviewed 5 photos you wouldn't know were taken at an American Revolution reenactment. And this month, I'll discuss my other 5 favorites. These aren't ranked. I seem to like tin cups? Why, it's a simple subject and always seems to catch my attention. I have a few similar photos and, this is the best. I zoomed in very tight and used ON1 photography software to give it an antique look. What do you think?
Can you guess where this picture is? Hint, I've photographed reenactment events here and, it's one of the most magnificent homes in America. I shot it in 2017 at Mt Vernon, a photographer's paradise. I remember constructing this shot vividly. I was in the Lower Garden where the fruits and vegetables are grown, adjacent to the mansion. In the distance, I noticed sheep grazing with a small shed framed between a bevy of trees, a storage shed, with a bright puffy blue sky. It is the perfect setting and a wonderful photo.
This one I took in 2014 at the Battle of Brandywine is just funny. It puts a smile on my face every time I see it. When reviewing all my photo event galleries, I noticed having many excellent horse photos. Why? I have no idea? I've only ridden a horse a few times. And to be honest, I don't want to ride one again. But, they make great subjects.
Do you have any idea where I took this photo? Probably not. I took it in 2016 at Ft Mifflin in Philadelphia. The fort has many underground tunnels. Under the flag pole is this tunnel. At it's entrance, I noticed the sunlight shining brightly. Immediately, I went down to one knee and took a few shots. This one is the best. I knew this would look great in B&W.
Another photo that makes me smile is from the Battle of Short Hills in 2017. This small dog was walking his reenactor owner. His ebullient expression makes this a great photo. After asking to take his picture, I sat on the ground to get on his level. Look closely, and you can see the catchlight (a light source reflected off the surface of the eye) image of me. Photos like this I never forget taking!
Thank you for reading. Blog # 46 will be posted in April 2022. Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
Top 10 Photos You Wouldn't Expect Were From A Reenactment-6-10Photographing American Revolution Reenactments is fun. There are so many photography opportunities to explore at every event. None are the same. Sure, almost all have reenactment battles with numerous mass volley fire and cannon booms but, there is so much more. Visiting the British and American camps also has fantastic photo opportunities. But, now I search for more possibilities. I examined my numerous photo galleries on this website, over 7,800 photos, and selected my favorite ten non-reenactment photos. Many of them I haven't seen in years. I have numerous examples of horse photos. These two are my favorites. The first one was from the Battle of Brandywine in 2014. Sometimes, you get lucky. I noticed these horses moving their heads up and down in unison. To me, it appears like an optical illusion! Keep staring; you'll see it.
This other horse photo is just beautiful; taken at Mt Harmon in 2016. The light here is perfect. The horse glows. What a magical time of the day it was. The definition of photography is drawing with light. I did that here.
I took this marsh grass photo below taken at Ft. Mifflin in 2019 appears to me to be both an abstract and landscape photo together. It was fun to create. My shutter speed was set very slow, at 1/5 second while panning from side to side. I took many shots that day and, this one was the best. I also converted another similar photo to b&w. That one looks good too.
This photo brings back memories. It was taken at the annual Washington's Crossing event on Christmas in 2014. I was standing in the middle of the Washington's Crossing Bridge waiting for the Durham boats to cross the Delaware River from PA to NJ. It was cold, very cold that day with the wind blowing steadily. While waiting, I noticed the sun lighting up the trees further down the river. With the thick, puffy clouds I knew this would make a great photo. The hardest part was staying motionless. I did it.
A great photo opportunity always is a blacksmith demonstration. This photo shows a blacksmith from Ft. Mifflin in 2019. The blacksmith shop was in a small building at the back of the fort. I knew watching the blacksmith working on the anvil would make a great photo. My first thought was the appearance of making the hammer move. The building light wasn't good, so I set my ISO to 3200. To create motion, I moved my shutter speed to 1/80 of a second. That's moderately slow.
Thank you for reading. Blog # 45 will be posted in March 2022. Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
American Revolution Photos-2021 RecapIn blog # 19 (January 2020), I started a new, hopefully, recurring ritual. I recapped my American Revolution reenactment calendar year. My goal was to review my reenactment photography every January. But, because of COVID, this wasn't possible in 2020. There were no reenactments. Thankfully, because the pandemic had eased steadily, more events were held in 2021. Yeah! So for this blog, I'll recap my 2021 reenactment season. And, I'll start a new inaugural tradition by choosing my favorite photo of the year! This panorama inside Ft Mifflin during the recent Seige Weekend is the one I chose! I awarded myself a first place blue ribbon! In blog # 19, I featured another Ft Mifflin panorama. This time it, was the back of the fort near the Delaware River. How did I create this one? I stitched ten photos together in Adobe Photoshop. I stood on the highest mound with an excellent view of the compound. My waist and legs were still and, I twisted 180 degrees left to right. Every few seconds would stop, shoot another shot, always trying to remain level. I tried this technique a few times. If you have program that can make panoramas, try to create one. It's fun. This one was the best of the bunch. The clouds look great, the Delaware River is viewable in the top left corner, and the Philly skyline appears slightly in the top right corner! It's visible but, you need to look closely.
Plus, something significant happened to me this summer. My eyesight wasn't good. I needed cataract surgery in both eyes. The left eye was done in July (outpatient surgery) and, two weeks later, the right eye. Wow- seeing everything in focus again is incredible. Mt. Vernon, George Washington's estate, nestled on the Potomac River, was my first reenactment of the year, held in May. I've been here a few times. It's a memorable mansion with numerous additional buildings and speculator landscaping. Slave labor built this plantation; let's not forget that. In blogs #36 & #37, I review my trip. I didn't take many photos during this visit. I preferred to walk the grounds; it was a beautiful day.
In September, there was a new event, Battle at Chadds Ford blog # 41, to commemorate the Battle of Brandywine in 1777. A festival event with many family activities. Always feels great to capture a good volley firing!
The Revolutionary Germantown Festival & Ft Mifflin are the two reenactment events I've attended the most often over the years. Both are close to my home. What makes my photos different at Cliveden from the other events is the many trees located around the house. The beams of sunlight shine sporadic light through from the musket volleys. It's a distinctive, very cool effect! Every year at a Germantown reenactment, this happens like this photo.
Another event I attend almost every year is Washington's Crossing. They have two crossings. The practice one, about two weeks before the main event on Christmas Day. And the big one, on Christmas Day. Many families make this part of their annual Christmas celebration. This event has so much significance. I met a photographer from CA working for a photo agency who had on his "bucket list" to attend this event. He wasn't disappointed. Later, he e-mailed me and said one of his photos was selected. Funny, the client is from London, England! I chuckled when reading this. Ken Bohrer
Interview with Jocelyn Rouse- Marketing & Business Operations Coordinator at ClivedenLiving in the Philadelphia, PA suburbs, has many benefits. I'm close to many of the American Revolution reenactments held in this region. The Battle of Germantown now referred to as the Revolutionary Germantown Festival, I've attended thirteen years. It's one of my favorite events located in North Philadelphia and only about a 20-minute drive.
At this event, I always capture spectacular images. The 2010 event was special for me. I photographed from the 2nd floor in the mansion. What a unique photographic experience!
For this month's blog, I asked Jocelyn Rouse, Marketing & Development Coordinator at Cliveden (Chew House), to be interviewed. This historic site, located in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA, played a pivotal role in the American Revolution Battle of Germantown in 1777. The British 40th Foot, of about 120 men, barricaded the mansion. Washington's troops tried to penetrate it with no success. Thus, the American advance was halted. The battle was then lost.
1) Are you from the Philadelphia area? What is your educational background? I am from the Philadelphia area, and spent my formative years in West Philadelphia, Germantown, and Mt. Airy neighborhoods. I grew up and graduated from schools in the Philadelphia School District and I received my bachelor’s degree from Salisbury University in 2010. 2) What types of jobs have you had in your career? Before I came to Cliveden, I was an administrative assistant and secretary at a charter school for six years. 3) What are your primary responsibilities as the Marketing & Business Operations Coordinator at Cliveden? My primary responsibilities are promoting all things Cliveden through a variety of channels such as social media, our website, banners on Cliveden’s front gate; designing marketing materials, processing donations, support senior staff members, and maintain donor information.
Thought it was funny the young boy wearing a coonskin cap at this event! 4) What have you learned about the Chew family and mansion that you didn’t know before working at Cliveden? Before I worked at Cliveden, I didn’t know anything about the site or that it even existed, so working here has been a very eye-opening experience. I’ve learned that enslavement was in the North, and that the Chew family were participants; that Benjamin Chew, Sr. (1722-1810) was inspired to build his own summer home after spending time at Mt. Airy, the summer home of his friend William Allen; Ada Knowlton Chew (1877-1948) was a WWI veteran and after serving in France was instrumental in creating the Women’s Overseas Service League which is still in existence today. The list goes on and on. 5) Has Cliveden’s mission changed with all the civil unrest and racial inequality incidents happening in the US now? Our mission has not changed, but we are even more determined to share Cliveden’s complex history and work with other historical sites to tell more stories about people who are often left out as well as being a safe space for uncomfortable conversations. 6) If someone asks why visit Cliveden, what would you say? I would say people should visit because there is more to the site than meets the eye. Yes, the buildings and the Main House are amazing and yes, we are a Revolutionary War site, but it is the stories of everyone who was at Cliveden over its three centuries of history that really make this place special and can establish a link between the past and the present.
7) Amazingly, the house that was such an integral part of the Battle of Germantown is still standing. How was it able to survive all these years? The Chew family was instrumental in preserving the house. The family members who come to mind in working to maintain Cliveden are Anne Sophia Penn Chew (1805-1892) who became Cliveden’s caretaker after the death of her father Benjamin Chew, Jr. in 1844; Samuel Chew III (1832-1887; we refer to him as ‘Centennial Sam’) who really established Cliveden as Revolutionary War site during the 1876 Centennial celebrations; Mary Johnson Brown Chew (1839-1927), Cliveden’s caretaker after Anne Sophia Penn Chew’s death and who also kept the property in the family in spite of the city and state governments seeking to have the family sell the property; Elizabeth Brown Chew (1863-1958) who maintained the property after her mother’s death and her brother Samuel Chew IV’s (1871-1919) death; and Samuel Chew V (1915-1989) who was Cliveden’s last owner. And of course, all those who worked and labored at Cliveden enabled it to be preserved as well. Our staff has continued the family’s legacy as well. For example, we have Indow window inserts which protects the floors and collection from UV rays; we are in the process of having the chimney caps replaced, and our front gate on Germantown Avenue will undergo some restoration in the coming year. 8) How is the slavery issue addressed since the Chews at Cliveden held enslaved people? We address it honestly and directly, and we make it clear that the Chew family’s wealth and status was based on enslaved laborers. In the Carriage House Visitor Center, we have our core exhibit Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, that juxtaposes the Declaration of Independence against the fact that the Chews had enslaved laborers and that the word life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness didn’t apply to all people. We are also constantly doing research in the Chew Family Papers, an archive housed at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania that has about 230,000 documents. This year, our Education Director looked through the Chew Family Papers for information about the enslaved laborers who worked on the Chew family’s properties in Maryland and Delaware, and in 2022 we are planning to share this research through public programs and a partnership with the African American Genealogical Society.
9) Because of this country’s gun violence epidemic, there have been discussions at Cliveden on whether to focus the annual Battle of Germantown on the reenactments or hold more of a festival event. Have any decisions been made? As of now, we have an advisory task force that will help us plan programming around the Revolutionary Germantown Festival that includes more diverse stories of the American Revolution, and we will be working with our fellow Historic Germantown sites to have activities that highlight these stories during the festival. 10) Is there any question I should have asked? I was thinking of something a little humorous and light-hearted; how about many cups of coffee do we drink in a year at the office? Thank you for reading and Jocelyn for a wonderful interview. Blog # 43 will be posted in January 2022. Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
Battle at Chadds Ford 2021The Battle of Brandywine, held on September 11, 1777, was the largest land battle of the American Revolution. Almost 30,000 soldiers were involved, it encompassed a ten square mile area. That's a big battle. I'm fortunate to live close to the Brandywine Battlefield Park site. It's only about 12 miles from my home. The Battle at Chadds Ford reenactment was held at the Chadds Ford Historical Society to commemorate the Battle of Brandywine on the same day as the original battle, September 11. The day was sunny and warm. I arrived around 10 AM and searched for my friends. The highlight of most events is the battle reenactments. They're loud, smoky from the muskets/cannons, and just entertaining. It's fun for the participating British and American troops too. Below is a photo from this event that feels eerily realistic of a British soldier being bayoneted. It's one of my more powerful photos.
Bayonets were the choice weapon for the British and Hessian troops during the American Revolution because of the inaccuracy of the musket. During the war, most major British attacks have a bayonet charge.
The Chadds Ford Historical Society hosted a reenactment/festival event on September 11. It was the first time, I believe, at this site? The last time I remember a Brandywine event was in 2008? REENACTMENT PHOTO GALLERY The focus of the day is the reenactments. It's fun to see reenactors of opposing sides interacting with each other!
There were many fun activities, especially for the kids.
More fun activities for the kiddies. This time they got recruited and learned how to march.
And the recruits get younger all the time!
Sometimes photo opportunities happen unexpectedly. Like these 2 dogs getting to know each other better! Fun for the adults too, with live bluegrass music! They were good.
Thank you for reading. Blog # 42 will be posted in December 2021. Be safe & well and please get vaccinated! Ken Bohrer
My Camera Gear and Accessories Part 2 of 2In last month's blog, I described my photography gear. For this month's blog, I'll review my cameras and accessories. First, the camera; I bought the SLR Nikon D 500 last year. I've only used it a few times. The camera I had for so long is the Nikon D 300. Why the change? The camera was old and needed to be upgraded. I've had it for over a decade. Some of the features of this new camera are amazing.
Here is my primary camera gear.
The most significant advancement in this camera is the significantly high sensitivity of the image sensor (ISO). Previously, I couldn't photograph high school night events with my long lens because the ISO couldn't go high enough. I can now set my ISO to 51,200. To put that in perspective, during film days, the highest ISO would be around 1,000! Game changer. I've had all my lenses for over a decade, and they work perfectly. My primary reenactment lens is the Nikon 80-400 4.5-5.6 VR. You'll see on the lens hood (decal from sutler-Ron Mehalko of Revolution Wear) my photo interest! About 75% of the photos on my website are from this lens. I can handhold it because of the VR feature, and I can zoom in close, very close. This photo is a perfect example.
Only because of my lens could I have taken this shot. Another reason is that my camera has a crop sensor that magnifies the lens more. In blog # 24, I described what this means My Nikon DSLR (interchangeable lens) camera has a smaller crop sensor. It sees a narrower field of view. The good news is this smaller sensor magnifies my lenses by 1.5 times! Now my 80-400 mm lens becomes a 120-600mm. Also, to gain even more distance, I added a 1.4 converter which extends the lens even further. Now it's comparable to an 840mm. Why is this significant? The average eyes see around 50mm! I'm using my Nikon 24-85 2.8-4 lens more now because of photographing camp life. When I first arrive at a reenactment, I go to the campsites. I can capture many interesting photos early in the morning like, this one from Mt Harmon 2019.
The lens I use less often is the ultra-wide 11-18 mm 4.5-5.6 Tamron lens and the fixed focal Nikon 50 mm 1.8 lens. For the wide-angle lens, I use it when I want a broader perspective of the reenactment site. This photo from Return to the Hook 20213 in VA shows that. This event has been one of the most incredible reenactments I've attended. On the first day, a full-scale replica cabin was created. And later, on the last day it was burned to the ground. I was able to photograph from a tower, there were 2 of them, about 30-40 feet high. The vantage point for the reenactments was spectacular. I have no other photos similar to the one here. I don't use the 50mm lens at reenactments often. I'll use it when roaming the Continental & British camps. To get good photos with this lens, you have to work the shot, move around and shoot from different perspectives. But that's what I want to do to get an excellent photo. Here's an example of that sharp lens from this photo from Battle of Germantown 2012.
I bring my Nikon Speedlight SB 900 flash only occasionally. If I know there will be finite natural light, such as inside buildings/cabins, then I will. Without the flash, I couldn't take this cabin photo of reenactors at Valley Forge 2017.
Thank you for reading. Blog # 41 will be posted in November 2021. Be safe & well and please get vaccinated! Ken Bohrer
My Camera Gear and Accessories Part 1 of 2At the end of last month's blog, I mentioned having cataract surgery in both eyes. My surgeries went perfectly! The clarity and vibrancy of the colors I see now are spectacular. I learned that cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States. I'm able to capture some unique photos because of my photography gear and equipment. This photo of me from a photo friend is a perfect example. I'm getting ready to photograph something special at a Washington Crossing event. For this month's blog, I thought it would be fun to focus on my gear. Next month, I'll discuss my cameras, lens, and accessories.
When attending reenactment events, I always try to have 4 items. I'm always wearing a hat, most often my Ft Ticonderoga baseball cap. I bought it many years ago when I was still shooting film! It looks good, feels comfortable, and it shows my interest in the landmark fort. Another item I usually wear is a photo vest.
I get asked all the time where I bought mine. Over twenty years ago, my mom bought it for me as a birthday gift. She's deceased now, so I think of her every time I wear it! The company, Domke, stopped making them? I wonder why? The vest holds a lot of stuff, so much that sometimes I forget what pocket (10 of them) I placed something. I'm constantly patting myself to find something, usually my car keys. It's now starting to fray, but I'll always keep it. One item I always carry in the vest, knee pads. I purchased them at Home Depot for around $15. By being low allows me different angles and perspectives. This house photo from the reenactment event I photographed a few years ago, at Locust Grove in Louisville, KY is a perfect example. It's more prominent by me being crouched and shooting upwards. My last item is my footwear, always hiking shoes. Or what my young son refers to as my photo shoes. For foot stability, I won't attend an event without them, even during the summer. A funny situation happened at the reenactment wedding two years ago. While photographing the campsites, my left shoe disintegrated, just fell apart. I had no choice that day. On came my sneakers. Quite weird!
At every event, I'll have a camera backpack bag on my back. Here is my batch, and I have many. All are the same brand, Tamrac. Why? Not sure. They are all sturdy, reliable bags at an excellent price. I decide before each event what bag would be best for that event. My favorite is the orange one. It holds a lot of gear and accessories. Perfect for a busy reenactment day.
I use a rain cover from Aqua-Tech Sports Shield to protect my camera/lens in the rain or snow. It can be hard to attach, but it is the best & most reliable way to keep my equipment safe from the elements. I needed this protection from the snow/ice/wind in the photo below during a heavy snowstorm at Valley Forge National Historical Park, PA. When it's cold and snowing, I'll wear my NY Islanders knit cap instead of my Ft. Ticonderoga baseball cap to keep my head warm. You now know my hockey team and where I'm originally from! Go Islanders.
Thank you for reading. Blog # 40 will be posted in October 2021. Be safe & well and get vaccinated! Ken Bohrer
Attending a New Event-Jacobsburg Historical Society-Revolutionary War WeekendIt's always fun attending a Revolutionary War event for the first time. This one, this past May, was the Revolutionary War Weekend reenactment in Jacobsburg, PA. I learned about it from my photo friend, who keeps me updated on upcoming events. Felt great being healthy and vaccinated, so I was excited about my new road trip.
I'm always trying to photograph something unique. When walking around the American camp, I spotted this empty plate/cup on top of this block of straw. Nice photo, something different.
After the reenactment, I toured the John Joseph Henry House, an 1832 mansion. "Five generations of the Henry family lived in the home, filling it with musical instruments, books, tools, paintings, furniture, and numerous other personal belongings."
Across the street from the house is the Pennsylvania Longrifle museum. Included in the collection were numerous vintage muskets & powder horns. "The Pennsylvania Longrifle Museum features more than 100 historic arms on either permanent display or in rotating, topical exhibits. Displays feature Henry firearms dating from the American Fur Trade, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the American West, and the early twentieth century. Most of the firearms were made by the Henrys of Boulton..." The guides in the museum were knowledgeable about answering my questions.
Thank you for reading. Blog # 39 will be posted in September 2021. Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
Attending Mt Vernon's Revolutionary War Weekend Part 2 of 2In last month's blog, I reviewed Mt Vernon's Revolutionary War weekend reenactment and camp life. Always a fun event! In this month's blog, I'll discuss some of the extensive (around 500 acres today) mansion grounds. I didn't tour the house this time because of the large crowd and day's activities.
Below is a photo from the back of the mansion. Do you notice the size of visitors in this photo compared to the immense size of Washington's home? It provides a good perspective on how big it is.
Here is a photo of the Potomac River that I took from sitting in a porch chair. Can you imagine having this view every morning?
In the early afternoon, I took the bus shuttle to the wharf. First saw crops in the fields, sheep grazing, and this 16-sided barn, Washington's design. He created this new concept for more efficient grain processing and storage. Across from the barn is a replica slave cabin. We mustn't ever forget that this plantation was built and sustained on slave labor!! All of the founding fathers from southern states had and depended on slave labor, including Washington. Did you know that later abolitionist Benjamin Franklin had household slaves around the 1740s? The repercussions of not resolving this evil in the 1770s still resonate today? At least now it's being discussed and addressed at historical sites like here.
The greatest failure in our nation's founding was not resolving the slavery issue. The southern representatives during the 2nd Continental Congress meeting in 1775 wouldn't follow Thomas Jefferson's words in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal. Simply it was all based on economics. All of the founders knew this issue would haunt this country until resolved. And it has to this day!! Near the end of my day, I visited Washington's tomb. Yes, he and Martha & plus 23 other family members, are buried here. All the visitors I noticed showed respect and decorum around the tomb area.CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY! Can't wait to visit again. Did you know that Mt Vernon is open 365 days? Thank you for reading. Blog # 38 will be posted in August 2021. Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
Attending Mt Vernon's Revolutionary War Weekend Part 1 of 2For the first time in over a year, I attended an American Revolution reenactment. It was the Revolutionary War weekend at George Washington's Mt Vernon on May 1. It was a great day! In this month's blog, I'll focus on the reenactment. Next month, I'll discuss exploring the Mt Vernon grounds. I've attended this event back in 2017 and 2018. The other two times, I went both days. But, this year it was a one-day trip. I left my home at 6 am and arrived at Mt Vernon at around 9 am. The trip took longer because of the ongoing construction in Baltimore and Washington DC. I learned a few days ago that I received a $200 DC camera speeding ticket. Ouch! Luckily, I arrived early to secure a parking space. Although the website claimed there would be limited attendees, it was still crowded. It took about 45 minutes to enter the grounds because of security and COVID safeguards. Here's is a photo of everyone waiting to get in.
Once you enter the grounds, you're in the museum that you should visit. You will learn so much about George Washington's life and legacy. From the museum, I proceeded to the mansion.
My first stop was the 12-acre field for the dragoons demonstration. I missed George Washington addressing the troops because of entering late.
At every event, my goal is to capture 1-2 unique, memorable images. Most times I achieve my goal. Below is one for sure!
What I enjoy now more than the reenactments is visiting the camps. It's a great opportunity to chap with folks and observe camp life. Also, a wonderful time to create new photos.
The reenactments at these events are the main attraction. The spectators always enjoy them. They're loud with the smoke and noise from cannons and volleys of muskets in unison. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY!
Thank you for reading. Blog # 37 will be posted in July 2021. Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
My Favorite Destination Colonial Williamsburg-Top 10 Photos-#'s 1-5In last month's blog, I reviewed #'s 6-10 photos of Colonial Williamsburg, VA, my favorite retreat/relaxation destination. For this month, I'll review my favorite 5 photos. The image below, the entrance gate at Governor's Palace, is not a photo that would make you automatically think of Colonial Williamsburg. The front gate has two light brick columns with a stone unicorn on the left side and a lion on the right. Above the painted gate entrance is an ironworks design with a crown at the top. On either side of the main gate is a connecting high brick wall. To make this photo unique, I didn't focus on capturing the entire main gate. Instead, it's cropped tightly on the lion statue making the steeple out-of-focus. Would you agree, a more dynamic photo? The blue sky helps make the photo glow adding incredible detail to the stone lion. I did try to learn more about the palace gate by searching online and reviewing the books I had about Colonial Williamsburg. No luck. So I contacted a reference librarian at the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library Colonial Williamsburg Foundation who, graciously sent me this information. Restoring Williamsburg, by George Humphrey Yetter and Carl R. Lounsbury On page 231 “Colonial records show that “handsome gates” to the forecourt were specified for the new residence in 1710. The design of the present wrought-iron gates was based on excavated fragments and eighteenth-century English examples. The Portland stone lion and unicorn atop the gate piers were sculpted in London by William Aumonier. Similar figures at Hampton Court Palace inspired their general character.” #5
#4 This photo is different because it was taken with 35mm film. Remember those times? I'm not sure even what year I took this photo? Probably in the 1980s? I saw it when reviewing my numerous film storage pages. It's of the Chowning's Tavern and photographed at sunrise. About 10 years ago, I scanned the film to digital and made digital darkroom changes in On1 Photo Editing Software.
# 3 & 2 You never know who you might meet when visiting Colonial Williamsburg? In my 3rd blog, I described meeting historical interpreter Mark Schneider. Another unique event that I hope occurs again soon is Prelude to Victory. This event celebrates the anniversary of George Washington & the French General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau anniversary when their armies stopped in Williamsburg before proceeding to Yorktown, the last major battle of the war. I had the opportunity to speak with Marquis de Lafayette portrayed by historical interpreter Mark Schneider. Of course, he was in character. He has also interpreted "Bloody Ban" Banastre Tarleton.
We have corresponded a few times since we first met. I learned he's from Long Island, like myself. The photo above is him portraying ruthless "Bloody Ban" Banastre Tarleton during Under the Redcoat in 2011. This photo is of him mounted on his horse at the Capitol. I can feel the arrogance in his portrayal of the real Tarleton. I sent Mark this photo, and he enjoyed it.
The photo above has a different feel. It shows the boyish charm and appeal of the Marquis de Lafayette. Here is Mark's short bio from an article he wrote on Lafayette. Mark Schneider has worked for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for 23 years and has performed in a variety of roles from Historic Tradesman, Military programs, Actor interpreter, Theatrical interpreter, Coach & Livestock and now as a Nation Builder where he has been performing as the Marquis de Lafayette for 20 years. Mark’s passions are history and horses and he is able to bring them both to life at Colonial Williamsburg. #1 My favorite Colonial Williamsburg photo is also in my top 10 list that I reviewed in blog # 23. Let me show you how I created it before you see it. At my last visit to Colonial Williamsburg, I wanted to find the house with a ladder on its side. I remembered it was near the Capitol. Here it is. How would you compose a photo from this scene?
Yes, the best photo would be the side building with the ladder. That's what I did. Here it is with a new perspective. In blog # 3, I reviewed how I created this photo. It was early in the morning when I was walking around the streets near the Capitol. Behind a house was a storage building with a ladder hooked on it's side. Looking closer, I imagined the windows as eyes and the ladder a mouth. What an excellent photo this would be! Later in post-production, I cropped it to appear like a face. This photo still makes me smile! Does it for you?
Thank you for reading. Blog # 36 will be posted in June 2021. Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
My Favorite Destination Colonial Williamsburg-Top 10 Photos-#'s 6-10Thankfully the COVID crisis is improving. We now have a President taking this pandemic seriously. Plus, the vaccines are here-good news. Maybe by spring or at least summer, life will be getting back to normal? Some reenactment events are scheduled this year, yeah! I’ve mentioned in my 3rd blog that visiting Colonial Williamsburg is my top retreat/relaxation destination. Hopefully, I can go this year? I thought this would be a great time to review my Williamsburg galleries and select my top 10 photos. For this blog, I’ll discuss numbers 6-10. #10
#9
#8 Here is a simple photo that reminds me of what makes Colonial Williamsburg so special. When walking the largest outdoor living museum in the country-around 300 acres, you'll see horse-drawn carriages & wagons slowly meandering the streets carrying visitors. You do have to be careful walking in the streets if you know what I mean?
#7 The winter months in Colonial Williamsburg are unique. It is fun seeing the snow and makes for great photos like this one. It was taken early in the morning, the best time to shoot, and the colors pop. My perfect day is to arrive in town just before sunrise. I will bring a large coffee and my Nikon SLR camera attached with the all-purpose 24-85 mm lens. On most mornings, I’ll observe W&M students jogging, retired folks walking their dogs, and maintenance crews in their pick-up trucks cleaning the area. Between the Wren Building on William & Mary campus and the Capitol, a short distance of less than a mile, I get to stroll around the town where so many of our Founding-Fathers frequented. Amazingly, that Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Henry, and others walked these same streets. Even Benjamin Franklin, then postmaster, visited Williamsburg in 1756 & 1763 The building at the far right is the William Pitt Store a Children’s Boutique. It sells replica items from 18th-century hats to toys, games, and books.
#6 This photo is of the restored Capitol (rebuilt in the early 1930s) from the Under the Redcoat event in 2011. When only a specific focus area in the photo is in color is called selective-color. I changed it to b&w except for the British flag. Some people don't like this technique? I only do this on select photos to make them distinctive. For me, this photo just in b&w isn't as appealing. Do you agree?
Thank you for reading. Blog # 35 will be posted in May 2021 with my top 5 Colonial Williamsburg photos Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
Reenactment Religious ObservancesAt any 2-day weekend reenactment encampment, there has always been an early Sunday morning religious service. It's stated in the event schedule. I always try to attend. Usually, there will be between 10-25 British & American reenactors plus spectators like myself. The Christian observance usually lasts about 20 minutes.
When I first arrive I take a few photos. Then I'll put my camera down and participate in the service. From all my weekend reenactment photo galleries, British Brigade Deputy Commander Mark Hagenbuch is leading us. He reads a few bible passages, selects a few hymns, delivers a short sermon, and ends with a group prayer. At the end of the service, I feel comforted just like my regular weekly church service. It helps provide me peace and hope.
At an event in 2017, I noticed this cross made of sticks in front of a reenactors tent. I don't remember which camp it's from?
In my 3rd blog, over two years ago I wrote how much I enjoy visiting Colonial Williamsburg. They regularly had two events that I wish would be held again, Under the Redcoat & Prelude to Victory. Under the Redcoat is held first in late June. It depicts the British occupation (for about 10 days) of Williamsburg in 1781. The town is taken over by the British army and the reenactors set up camp throughout the historic area. Martial Law is declared.
On Sunday morning, a church service was held in front of the Capitol. All troops were required to attend.
Also, in my 3rd blog, I wrote about Prelude to Victory- This event celebrates the anniversary of George Washington & the French General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau and their armies stopped in Williamsburg for a few days rest before proceeding on to Yorktown for the last major battle of the war. On that weekend Sunday, there was a religious service at the side of the Colonial Williamsburg Courthouse. Besides American troops attending there also were many Williamsburg visitors. At any weekend reenactment event, I will check the schedule to learn what time and where the religious observance will be. When you're at an event try to attend. You will feel refreshed!
Thank you for reading. Blog # 34 will be posted in April 2021. Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
The Enduring Valley Forge National Historical ParkLast month, I reviewed two more core reenactment events I've been regularly attending, Washington's Crossing Historic Park and the Battle of Trenton-Old Barracks Museum. In this blog, I'll review the Valley Forge National Historical Park. I visit as often as possible. This past Sunday, 1/31, is a perfect example. We were in the middle of a massive snowstorm. Time to take some wintery photos!
My young son sure enjoyed playing in the snow with his sled! What a fun day.
Luckily for me, it's only about a 30-minute drive. Anytime it snows, I'm hoping I'll be able to visit and photograph the restored cabins/cannons. Below is a great example. It's cold and uncomfortable, but capturing great photos is worth it.
Most Americans know of George Washington leading his troops at Valley Forge in 1776. Many know that Baron von Steuben trained the Continental Army the essentials of military drills, tactics, and discipline? Did you know that many other famous Americans also were at Valley Forge in that encampment?
The list of famous Americans at Valley Forge during the encampment is long and impressive. Let's start with America's most famous eventual traitor, Benedict Arnold. Plus, the Marquis de Lafayette who's future relationship with George Washington, was almost like a father and son.
Add another future President, James Monroe, and Chief Justice John Marshall's who was Thomas Jefferson's bitter rival and 2nd cousin. And finally, one of those bizarre occurrences Alexander Hamilton and his future killer in a dual Aaron Burr. Wow, they knew of each other then. Did they communicate often at the encampment?
Today, the park is a spacious 3,500 acres with replica cabins/cannons, monuments & walking trails. In addition, Valley Forge regularly hosts encampments and special events including a Focus on Women & Civilian Contributions
Thank you for reading. Blog # 33 will be posted in March 2021. Be safe & well! Ken Bohrer
|
