So today I shot a re-enactment of the Battle of Monmouth at, fittingly, Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan. I don't get re-enactments. As if it wasn't bad enough to actually participate in the actual war, to participate in it for no real reason boggles my mind. And here are a few other things I don't understand. Were soldiers back then (American Revolution, for those who didn't know) really so stupid as to march with drums to announce their presence? It's like, "Here I am! I'm gonna kill you now!" Why the hell wouldn't they sneak up in the middle of the night? I don't get it. And another thing... With all the shooting, at nearly point blank range, I might add, not one soldier "died." Huh? How can we bring our kids to this re-enactment, tell them that this is what war was like back in the 1700's, and then not have a field littered with "dead" bodies? (Apparently in Massachusetts it's actually a law that no one can "die" during a re-enactment. But we're in New Jersey. Still, what's the point?) One last rant. I think New Jerseyans inflate the importance of this battle. Sure, the good guys won, actually it was more of a draw from what I hear, and to the Americans that was a win, but until I moved here I'd never heard of the Battle of Monmouth. I think they inflate its importance just so they can run around in their costumes. I guess I could be wrong.
I'll give them this though. It's fun to look at. The uniforms look pretty authentic, and uncomfortable as all hell. I feel bad for the horses standing right next to the cannons... At least the re-enactors have a choice in the matter.
One other gripe I had today. Not with the re-enactment itself, but with one particular member of the audience. Apparently in the course of doing my job, I got in his way. So the big man with a 200mm f/4 lens attached to a prosumer body, with everything mounted on a monopod (we call people like that "photo-weenies") took it upon himself to whack me right in the small of my back with said monopod. Really? I asked for his name and address so I could file assault charges, and he ran away. Moron.
Anyway, I've babbled more than enough. Here are some photos...
I'll give them this though. It's fun to look at. The uniforms look pretty authentic, and uncomfortable as all hell. I feel bad for the horses standing right next to the cannons... At least the re-enactors have a choice in the matter.
One other gripe I had today. Not with the re-enactment itself, but with one particular member of the audience. Apparently in the course of doing my job, I got in his way. So the big man with a 200mm f/4 lens attached to a prosumer body, with everything mounted on a monopod (we call people like that "photo-weenies") took it upon himself to whack me right in the small of my back with said monopod. Really? I asked for his name and address so I could file assault charges, and he ran away. Moron.
Anyway, I've babbled more than enough. Here are some photos...
2 comments:
i remember shooting that last year!
The thing you have to understand about 18th century warfare is that command is essential, but with all of the smoke and noise it's hard to hear a man's voice sometimes. Drums are crucial for conveying orders on the battlefield, with every order having its own drum call. Think of it as the 18th century version of our modern radios. Anyways, thanks for the fantastic pictures!
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