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Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's 19th Annual World War II Weekend.
Click image above to view the gallery
June 6th, 2009. There I was, standing in the middle of the Reading Airport Runway and all around me was one of the most detailed, well planned, and executed World War II re-enactments ever encountered. Rated as the best in the world, this particular event was special as it coincided with the anniversary of D-Day.
There were all sorts of military vehicles, personel, and aircraft on the move going about as if it was just another day on the base. Everywhere were encampments of tents, structures, foxholes and lookout towers. Both europe and axis powers were represented.
Virtually every two minutes some form of aircraft was flying overhead, be it a lumbering bomber or a souped up P51 mustang, noisily roaring through the sky, intermingled with honking jeeps, idling half-tracks, a few motorcycles and the occasional barking of orders of generals over the loudspeakers. It took me about five minutes to soak it all in, and about that long for my daughter Gabby, and my son Jaeden to get my attention and motion me over to the food stands, (someone spotted the italian ice).
Shooting digital to mimic film. I originally planned to shoot film to add some nastalgia. However, It was 90 degrees on the grinder, and I chose to travel light, so I left the film gear at home and took my Canon 40D and a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with 2X extender, and a wide angle.
To help me achieve a filmic look, I decided that for ground shots I would choose to shoot manual focus, using an old 35mm FD film lens that was modified for digital (old lens=old look). Since it was very bright and hazy, I knew many shots would either be blown, or flat, so I followed the old sunny F16 rule. Later I would apply both the Kodak Kodachrome 25 color and Black and White film curves to mimic the response of film for that era. Kodachrome was the first production color film available in 1942, but in short supply, and so most of the real war was shot on black and white.
I will say one last thing, and that some shots I set up, which did not have any tourists or modern equipment in view, look so realistic, that I swear it would be hard to date my photo from those of the past. The whole idea was to have fun, and my kids and I met that goal.
Well. That's enough, and thanks for reading. On to the pictures. I hope you like them. Click here to view.
