For day 26, I wrapped up the locations in Roswell that I needed to shoot. A fairly short day compared to some of the days I have had. I made images of the mill area and of the period homes and structures.
Yesterday was day 27 and my son Ian decided he wanted to go and spend the day with me and wanted to take pictures as well. We stopped by Gilliam Park, but the events of the day before were over and the reenactors were packing up. They did give Ian a really cool souvenir, a brass button from a Federal Officers Uniform. Thank you Mr. Jerram for that, he really enjoyed it and it was the first thing he told his brother and mother about when we got home. Ian and I then went to the area of the Battle of Peachtree Creek. We made images at several locations and braved the rain for a walk at Tanyard Creek Park. I made some good images, but may go back for a few more that I missed while trying to keep us dry.
Category: Clint Brownlee
Photography Day 25 is Done!
Yesterday was day 25 of photography for the War Was Here project. I spent the day at Barrington Hall in Roswell, where they had a reenactment of the Federal occupation of Roswell and the arrest of the Roswell Women mill workers. I mainly focused on the portrait project of reenactors and I made some fantastic portraits of Federal soldiers and civilians. They were all great models and a few of them “hammed it up” as well. It was great fun and a great group of people to be around. Everyone is very much into their role and during the “arrest” on the town square, the mill workers were mingling with the spectators and asking if they knew what was going on and then the Federal Cavalry and some infantry arrived and read Sherman’s orders to arrest those that were aiding the rebellion and march them to Marietta, where the would be taken up north by train. The interaction with the spectators was really great. The Federals were trying to “arrest” some of the spectators too. They all were so into their roles, that it really gave you the feeling that the event was real. I have to wonder what the people driving down Mimosa Blvd. thought when the Federal Cavalry came into the street on their horses with their weapons drawn, to stop traffic, as the infantry marched the mill workers down Bulloch Ave.
I hope to have some preliminary images posted tomorrow. I have a lot of images to edit. I am looking forward to the events that are happening in East Atlanta this coming weekend. If you are looking for something to do, check out the events listed on this page: B*ATL. I will be out at Gilliam Park making more reenactor images. Should be a fun event with artillery demonstrations and lots of other goodies. If it is not raining, Wendell Decker, will be there making Collodion images in the tradition manner. He is a master of his craft and a true artist. If I get some period clothing I am going to get him to make my portrait. I think it would be great for the picture of me on the book jacket. That is assuming my book gets printed.
Photography Days 16, 17, and 18 are done!
Last Friday was my 16th day of Photography for the War Was Here project. I started the morning at Pigeon Hill and hiked to the top of Little Kennesaw Mountain. Here I photographed Ft. McBride. Not only did I use my regular digital camera, but I actually shot some real film. I used my pinhole camera that takes 120 film and I shot in a 6 by 9 format. The images should be really cool. Got a lot of comments on the camera too and had to explain what it was and how it worked to some people that had never seen one.
Yesterday, I went back out to Kennesaw Mountain and since it was the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Kolb’s Farm, I made images of that area. Not much of the battlefield is left. The Kolb house is still there and is the only period home on park service property. They use it as a residence for a park employee. From here I photographed the Cheatham Hill area, both from the Federal lines and from the Confederate lines. I then went to the 24 Gun Battery that was part of the Union line.
Today I took the boys with me back to the mountain and we went to the top to make images and enjoy the view. After that we went to the visitor center to the museum to cool off and have a snack. From there we went to photograph some of the historic homes that were used by different Generals as headquarters and are still standing today. Some are well kept, others are unoccupied and are in need of preservation and repair. The one that Union General Schofield used, was in the middle of an apartment complex for senior citizens. They had a small community garden in front of it. Over all, the boys and I had a good time today and I was able to make some good images.
Days 19 and 20 will come this Friday and Saturday while I am out at Kennesaw Mountain for the 150th event. It should be really interesting. There will be lots of living history presentations and of course artillery demonstrations. Hope to see some of you there. If you are coming out there, you should bring a lunch because they do not have any food vendors set up. They will only be selling drinks and packaged snacks.
Photography days 13, 14, and 15 are done.
Over the last three days I went to multiple locations along the Brushy Mountain, Mudd Creek, Lost Mountain Line. I was able to make images in places that were occupied on those days. The highlight was yesterday, when I went to look at lines of earthworks with Jeffery Wright. He showed me some of the earthworks and artillery batteries the he helped save from destruction due to development and to a new location that he is working to preserve. The area is under development, but the developer has agreed to save the works and has them fenced off. Those works are pretty unique as they are Federal Artillery Batteries. We also visited the Confederate batteries that the Federal batteries were aimed at. We were there yesterday the 18th, which was 150 years to the day, that they were used during the Battle of Latimer’s Farm. There was a thunderstorm moving by about a mile away while we were there. I closed my eyes for a moment to imagine the thunder as the roar of cannons. It is hard for me to describe the feeling I have while being on these battle grounds on the anniversary of the battle. It certainly has a special energy to it. We also went to couple of location that are on private property. We did get permission. One of these other locations was on Pine Mountain and Mr. Wright had not been there, but only had seen part of the trenches from the road. We knocked on the land owners door and got permission to go through their woods. We were both very surprised to find about 300 yards of very well preserved earthworks and what appeared to be a four gun artillery battery. That is a property that needs to be preserved. We also went to one of the largest and most strangely designed set of works I have seen. They are on Brushy Mountain and are in a place that needs to be preserved from development as well. Over all it was a very productive three days. I will start photographing Kennesaw Mountain tomorrow. There is so much there, I think it will take me about a week to photograph, plus a couple of days at the 150th celebration that is taking place the 26th through the 29th.
A Project Within A Project
So, a new project has been born within my current War Was Here project. It is something I can do in parallel and shoot all the images for both projects at the same time. The new mini project is going to be a portrait series. I made a portrait at the Resaca Reenactment that really resonated with me and I have decided to make all the portraits in a similar style. The subject was standing with his back to the wall of a white canvas tent. I was able to “blowout” the white background and ended up with a sort of modern look that seems to work well with the juxtaposition of the period attire. The portraits will all be of reenactors, both military and civilian. I have acquired a portable backdrop and will use it along with my speedlights to recreate these portraits. I will have to travel light since I will be on foot and away from the car at most reenactments. I still don’t have a title for the side project, but I am sure it will come to me in time. Below is the portrait that I made at Resaca. All the rest will be styled after this one. I can not decide which one I like better, but eventually the images will let me know. I usually lean more toward black and white, but for some reason I like the color one. Must be the contrast with the black and white image he is hold in his hands. Or the blue coat.
Where will I be?
I have been asked, by some of my new friends and some of the reenactors I have met, to post what events I will be photographing next for my project. I will be photographing much more than just these events though, as my project is to cover as much about the Atlanta Campaign and The March to the Sea as possible. Below is a list of events I will be at in the near future. I have added a page to my site to list the events I will be attending. Here a is short list for the near future.
June 14th: Memorial service on Pine Mountain for Bishop-General Leonidas Polk. The closest address is 1436 Beaumont Dr. NW. Kennesaw, Ga. 30152. The event begins at 10:30. I will most likely be there by 9 to take pictures of any reenactors there as well as the earthworks at the site.
June 14th: 150th Anniversary Commemoration, Life of Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk!
The Kirk House, 1888 Burnt Hickory Rd. NW Marietta, Ga. 30064. This is the location of Polk’s last headquarters. The event will feature reenactors, artillery demonstrations and special guest from the past.
June 20th – 22nd: Sherman at the Gates, reenactor encampment on the Marietta Square. I will probably be there Friday and maybe Saturday. Check here for details: www.MariettaCivilWar.com
June 26th – 29th: Kennesaw Mountain 150th Event. This will be at many different location through out the park. I will be there each day, trying to cover the different activities and events at all the different locations. If you are a reenactor and want a portrait or would like images for your unit. Contact me through my site and I will arrange to meet you at a specific place and time.
July 12th – 13th: Federal Occupation of Roswell. I will be here both days as the reenact the arrest of the Mill Workers. Here is a link: http://www.roswellgov.com/DocumentCenter/View/6337
Photography days 8,9 and 10 are done
I have finished days 8 and 9 of photography for my project. Last Saturday was day 9 and I spent the day at Pickett’s Mill and photographed the reenactment. It was a great reenactment and came home with some really great images. I have already had the image of the cannons firing made into an 11 x 14 print. It looks great, can not wait to frame it.
I finished up day 10 today. I took the boys with me back out to Pickett’s Mill, where I made images of the Federal Lines and Battery. We had a nice hike and the rain held off for us. I also worked my way back down County Line Rd. and made a few images of where the lines extended toward Acworth.
Pickett’s Mill Reenactment Images
Here is a link that will take you to the images I made this past weekend at the Pickett’s Mill 150th Anniversary Reenactment. When you open the link you will also see a gallery for the Resaca Reenactment.
I have only edited or altered a few of the images in these galleries. I will be picking out the best shots later and adding a special gallery selected images that are my favorites.
Pickett’s Mill Reenactment: Cannon Fire
I thought this shot was really cool and wanted to share it with all of you. It is straight from the camera. All I did was crop to 8×10 and add the copyright at the bottom. I did not adjust anything.
Both cannons were firing at the same time. These are 12 pounder Howitzers placed at the location of Key’s Battery during the battle.
Photography Day 6 and 7, Done!
On May 28th I photographed the area where the Battle of Dallas took place. This was a really great day. It was the 150th anniversary of the battle to the day. I was able to make images of some earthworks that were used in the battle. They were still deep enough to be defensible positions. The highlight of the day was photographing a historic home that was used as a Headquarters by General McPherson. It was also used as a field hospital. Today it is a law office. I went in the office to introduce myself and ask permission to photograph the house. They gave me permission and then we talked for awhile about the house and its history. She gave me a tour of the first floor and showed me the room used as an operating room. Then, she really surprised me, by bringing out a box containing human bone fragments. One was obviously from an amputated limb since it had been cleanly cut with a saw. She then told me about some of the strange things that happen in the house from time to time.
On the 29th I went to Pickett’s Mill to make images of the earthworks and key points of battle and the terrain. Since the park was closed on the actual anniversary of the battle, this was the first day I was able to get in there to photograph it. The lines here were occupied frm May 27th through June 6. I will be going back tomorrow to photograph the reenactment.
War Was Here 