OK..this is the off topic forum..and this is about as far off topic from railroads as one can get! Every now and then, I get the urge to point my camera at something other than a train. Fellow fourm member Randy Moore invited me to go with him to Richmond Ky this evening to a nite fire event with the Civil war group he works with. A total of 4 cannons where fired, including One of the Two Mountain Howitzers owned by the 14th Kentucky lite artillery.
I had been around this stuff several times in the past, but had no idea what to expect trying to shoot a event like this after dark. 25 or so shots produced what I felt where 3 "keepers" Its hard to get the timing just right, not to mention trying to figure out F stop and shutter speeds for something that last for 4 or 5 seconds max. What you see below is pretty much what it looked like in person with just a small amount of post-proceesing in photoshop. Clicking any of the thumbs will produce a large image.
Randy prepares a charge before the event. Black powder and a little titanium produce a great effect after dark.
(http://jreb.org/v-web/gallery/albums/album10/randypowderpound.thumb.jpg) (http://jreb.org/v-web/gallery/album10/randypowderpound)
A trio of big guns fire in sequence just after sunset.
(http://jreb.org/v-web/gallery/albums/album10/nf3_082606.thumb.jpg) (http://jreb.org/v-web/gallery/album10/nf3_082606)
The KY 14th from the side of the firing line.
(http://jreb.org/v-web/gallery/albums/album10/nsf2_082606.thumb.jpg) (http://jreb.org/v-web/gallery/album10/nsf2_082606)
Standing behind one of the howitzers..
(http://jreb.org/v-web/gallery/albums/album10/nf1_082706.thumb.jpg) (http://jreb.org/v-web/gallery/album10/nf1_082706)
Excellent photography Emmett!!!