Battle of Pea Ridge... Civil War reenactment

Battle of Pea Ridge... Civil War reenactment · 05:13 PM

I led a nature photography class yesterday, so today was my time to shoot instead... time for a little photojournalism, which I always enjoy...

This was the last day of the local Civil War Reenactment - the Battle of Pea Ridge, which occurred on March 7th and 8th, 1862.

I was very limited from where I could shoot, so I was primarily swapping out the 1.7X AF TC from the K10D and the FA* 300/2.8. So you may see several images showing "0mm" as the focal length - it's actually 510mm! I didn't have time to mess with focal length prompts when swapping, since battle was fast and furious...

The lull before the battle...

Taken at F/13, 1/350 sec., ISO200, 85mm with FA* 80-200/2.8:

Taken at F/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200 , 510mm:

The Battle for Pea Ridge begins...

Taken at F/6.7, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200 , 510mm:

Taken at F/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200, 510mm:

The effects of the massed fire was felt by the Confederate troops - taken at F/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200, 510mm:

A fellow trooper looks down in shock at his fallen comrade - taken at F/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200, 510mm:

Union Captain Rallies his troops. Taken at F/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200, 510mm (soft filter effect):

Taken at F/6.7, 1/750 sec., ISO 200, 510mm:

Union Artillery fire - taken at F/6.7, 1/500 sec., ISO 200, 510mm:

Here's a favorite of mine - a posed shot after the battle. You should see it full sized! I tried to make it similar to the posed shots from that era. It's almost like the commander's face is a reflection of the fatigue and grim realities of what happened in the real battle. Taken at F/6.7, 1/250 sec., ISO 200, 28mm (Tamron 28-75/2.8)

Crop of the above image:

As time permits, more images will be put up in my Civil War Reenactment gallery.

I am considering putting together a 2008 calendar for the reenactors - I know there's interest, just have to see what the feedback will be and if they are willing to buy one!

Cheers,
Marc

vievetrick · 10-28-2007, 05:25 PM

THESE ARE AWESOME!!!!!! I bet you would make more then a few bucks selling these as a calendar. Great series and great shots. I feel like I am there or your are there at the actualy Civil War

FotoPete · 10-28-2007, 07:35 PM

Great photos Marc! Love the sepia effect. Haha you should maybe soften the photos just a bit.

Too sharp for the day! =P

Peter Zack · 10-28-2007, 08:11 PM

Marc Excellent stuff. A couple are real stand outs. Starting with "Union Captain Rallies his troops" to the canon firing. The group portrait is excellent. For me what makes that shot work is the guy with the white beard and the other one wearing the jacket that doesn't fit. These guys look like they just came out of the woods or off the farm to join the Army (as many did in those days). The only one that doesn't work as well (not because of your picture abilities) is the 3 talking and smiling. Don't imaging there was much humour during the real thing although this looks like a quiet moment before the action.

NYpHoToGraphEr · 10-28-2007, 08:27 PM

Wouldn't you need model realeases if you want to use it for commercial use,
such as selling calendars?

m8o · 10-28-2007, 09:10 PM

Holy cow! A good friend of mine is a "Civil War Buff" (a yank @ that

). He's really into all this. I had never considered what a re-enactment might be link until these pictures. That shot of the row of rifles going off at once and other firing shots tell quite the tail of what the experience must be like. ... all that makes for compelling photography now doesn't it!

skaktuss · 10-29-2007, 02:32 AM

The last, non-cropped pic is the best I realy love it. Very realistic. A bit less saturation and will look like 100 years old.

Chako · 10-29-2007, 03:50 AM

No it wouldn't. He would have to blur it a little. Civil War glass of the time wasn't as tack sharp as our modern glass.

Anyways, nice photos. I am a bit envious. I have always wanted to take photos of such an event.

Syb · 10-29-2007, 05:41 AM

Hey! It's like we all think the world was in sepia then.
I would have liked to see it in the real colors.

Very nice shots, btw!

Syb

**Marc Langille** · 10-29-2007, 07:27 AM

JamesD · 10-29-2007, 07:36 AM

Absolutely spectacular. I'm sure a calendar would be snatched up almost immediately.

skaktuss · 10-29-2007, 07:45 AM

Still to much contrast

I hope You don't mind:

**Marc Langille** · 10-29-2007, 07:55 AM

Originally posted by NYpHoToGraphEr

Wouldn't you need model realeases if you want to use it for commercial use,
such as selling calendars?

This is a different breed - they WANT images of themselves. They love this sort of stuff, no question

That being said, I'll make sure it's covered...

Peter Zack · 10-29-2007, 08:28 AM

Marc, The softened image is great. I don't think it has to look like it was shot on a daguerreotype. These guys and other possible customers would want to see the detail with a little "old time" treatment. Again well done.

PeterAM · 10-29-2007, 09:58 AM

Those are great! I once had a discussion with some guys that were into that and was told that some of the really extreme participants have been know to starve themselves so that they look appropriately emaciated for photos. A bit over the top.
I remember seeing some PS actions, either in a book or on the web, that add an aged look to the picture;maybe worth a shot while you are playing around. Nice work.

Marc Langille
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10-28-2007, 09:10 PM	#6
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	Holy cow! A good friend of mine is a "Civil War Buff" (a yank @ that ). He's really into all this. I had never considered what a re-enactment might be link until these pictures. That shot of the row of rifles going off at once and other firing shots tell quite the tail of what the experience must be like. ... all that makes for compelling photography now doesn't it! Last edited by m8o; 10-29-2007 at 12:14 PM.

10-29-2007, 07:27 AM	#10
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,710 Original Poster	how about a little softening?

10-29-2007, 07:45 AM	#12
skaktuss Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Latvia Photos: Gallery Posts: 259	Still to much contrast I hope You don't mind: Attached Images

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10-28-2007, 05:25 PM	#2
vievetrick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,183	THESE ARE AWESOME!!!!!! I bet you would make more then a few bucks selling these as a calendar. Great series and great shots. I feel like I am there or your are there at the actualy Civil War

10-28-2007, 07:35 PM	#3
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	Great photos Marc! Love the sepia effect. Haha you should maybe soften the photos just a bit. Too sharp for the day! =P

10-28-2007, 08:11 PM	#4
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Marc Excellent stuff. A couple are real stand outs. Starting with "Union Captain Rallies his troops" to the canon firing. The group portrait is excellent. For me what makes that shot work is the guy with the white beard and the other one wearing the jacket that doesn't fit. These guys look like they just came out of the woods or off the farm to join the Army (as many did in those days). The only one that doesn't work as well (not because of your picture abilities) is the 3 talking and smiling. Don't imaging there was much humour during the real thing although this looks like a quiet moment before the action.

10-28-2007, 08:27 PM	#5
NYpHoToGraphEr Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brooklyn,NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 329	Wouldn't you need model realeases if you want to use it for commercial use, such as selling calendars?

10-29-2007, 02:32 AM	#7
skaktuss Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Latvia Photos: Gallery Posts: 259	The last, non-cropped pic is the best I realy love it. Very realistic. A bit less saturation and will look like 100 years old.

10-29-2007, 03:50 AM	#8
Chako Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sault Ste Marie, Ont, Canada. Posts: 563	No it wouldn't. He would have to blur it a little. Civil War glass of the time wasn't as tack sharp as our modern glass. Anyways, nice photos. I am a bit envious. I have always wanted to take photos of such an event.

10-29-2007, 05:41 AM	#9
Syb Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Near Utrecht, Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,221	Hey! It's like we all think the world was in sepia then. I would have liked to see it in the real colors. Very nice shots, btw! Syb

10-29-2007, 07:36 AM	#11
JamesD Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 536	Absolutely spectacular. I'm sure a calendar would be snatched up almost immediately.

10-29-2007, 07:55 AM	#13
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,710 Original Poster	Originally posted by NYpHoToGraphEr Wouldn't you need model realeases if you want to use it for commercial use, such as selling calendars? This is a different breed - they WANT images of themselves. They love this sort of stuff, no question That being said, I'll make sure it's covered...

10-29-2007, 08:28 AM	#14
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Marc, The softened image is great. I don't think it has to look like it was shot on a daguerreotype. These guys and other possible customers would want to see the detail with a little "old time" treatment. Again well done.

10-29-2007, 09:58 AM	#15
PeterAM Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Litchfield, CT Posts: 539	Those are great! I once had a discussion with some guys that were into that and was told that some of the really extreme participants have been know to starve themselves so that they look appropriately emaciated for photos. A bit over the top. I remember seeing some PS actions, either in a book or on the web, that add an aged look to the picture;maybe worth a shot while you are playing around. Nice work.