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Portraits of WWII re-enactors

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pentaxpete

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Here are some portraits of WWII Re-enactors taken at the 'Temple at War' event, Cressing Temple Barns, Essex ( England) with my 1962 Rolleicord Vb + fill-in Flash from a Philips 25CB unit + 1993 outdated ORWO NP22 film which I processed in Promicrol 1+14 for 11 mins @ 20oC.
Temple at War 2017 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Temple at War 2017 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Temple at War 2017 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Temple at War 2017 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Temple at War 2017 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
LENS is a 75mm f3.5 Xenar
 
Hi pentaxpete,
I really do enjoy looking at your work. The pictures above look as though they could have been taken on the set of a war film in the 40s or 50s when they knew how to handle Black and White. How you do it with your old film stock is amazing and a real treat for the rest of us to see.
 
Hey! Nice Eclair CM3 Camflex Motion picture camera in the first still, but it was first produced in 1947, so its a bit out of context there...

(Sorry to be a stick in the mud...)

Nice photos!
 
I commented in the TLR Users group, but am happy to see even more photos from the event here. I have to agree with Willyekerslike, you really know what you're doing in every aspect of the process from the taking to the developing. Wonderfully done!
 
Just as nit picky, but the actor with the bandoliers of ammunition across each shoulder and the long barreled machine gun is also out of context. That is I think an M1 which did not come into regular use until well after the 2nd WW. That era would have used a .3 Browning, not the M1.
 
For information.

The Temple of War 2017 was covering the last 100 years of military history, not just WW2.
 
The man with the crossed bandoliers is holding an M60 machine gun, which first entered service in 1957. Most famous for its heavy use in Vietnam, it is still in service today.

Great shots!
 
I have a difficult time w/ the subject matter. That said, your work with is seems excellent, Peter.
 
Just as nit picky, but the actor with the bandoliers of ammunition across each shoulder and the long barreled machine gun is also out of context. That is I think an M1 which did not come into regular use until well after the 2nd WW. That era would have used a .3 Browning, not the M1.
It's a M60 7.62 mm cal. machine gun that was adopted by the U.S. military in 1958, in W.W11 it should have been a Browning .30 cal. machine gun.
 
I have a difficult time w/ the subject matter.

Me too. And I'm lucky not to have such around here.
The same time I watch movies/documentaries about wars. Well that is reenactment too. I'm seemingly contradicting myself...
 
benjiboy : you must be a 'Weapon Enthusiast' to know all the technical details -- in was just guessing the period -- 'ZULU' is one of my favourite films -- I like Stanley Baxter and Michael Caine in it !
 
It always amazed me in the movie Zulu, that the Zulus, who fed themselves and their families based on their ability to kill prey with spears, could only land their spears in the backs of another Zulu.
 
benjiboy : you must be a 'Weapon Enthusiast' to know all the technical details -- in was just guessing the period -- 'ZULU' is one of my favourite films -- I like Stanley Baxter and Michael Caine in it !
I'm a former Royal Marines small arms instructor
 
The man with the crossed bandoliers is holding an M60 machine gun, which first entered service in 1957. Most famous for its heavy use in Vietnam, it is still in service today.

Great shots!
His uniform is Vietnam era as well so the gun is appropriate.
 
That is why this soldier from the Crimea war (I believe) was showing off his rifles and bullets ---Konica VX400 Super in Pentax MZ-5 just processed.
Temple at War : Glorious Konica Colour! by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Look at the size of the round he's holding a .45 rifle bullet like that would go through three men at a time, the Martini-Henry rifle was designed for fighting off human waves of charging drug crazed tribesmen in victorian colonial wars.
P.S. The crossed rifles marksman badge on his left sleeve means he can shoot a group of three rounds at a distance of 25 yards on a 9 inch square target that can be covered by a penny.
 
Last edited:
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I like your first shot with the BBC reporter holding a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta B. Slightly ironic that we were using German cameras but it is absolutely true that they were used because they were so good. That shot has a lovely 3-dimensional quality to it. I think you are very brave (and skilled) to take photos that matter on such expired film. I may take unimportant shots on expired film but I am not confident enough of the results to try it when I care about the results.
 
Nice photos. The rifles of the victorian era are a hoot to shoot, if you can find them in good shape and have the ability to reload for them.
 
Nice photos. The rifles of the victorian era are a hoot to shoot, if you can find them in good shape and have the ability to reload for them.
Yes they are. I have a .450 Martini, also a late 1930s BSA heavy target rifle .22 rimfire, aka the "baby Martini". I guess a '98 Krag could be considered Victorian?
 
Here are some portraits of WWII Re-enactors taken at the 'Temple at War' event, Cressing Temple Barns, Essex ( England) with my 1962 Rolleicord Vb + fill-in Flash from a Philips 25CB unit + 1993 outdated ORWO NP22 film which I processed in Promicrol 1+14 for 11 mins @ 20oC.
Temple at War 2017 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Temple at War 2017 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Temple at War 2017 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Temple at War 2017 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
Temple at War 2017 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
LENS is a 75mm f3.5 Xenar
This soldier despite the deaths head collar dogs on his uniform is not a member of the S.S, he's a tank lieutenant, and the badges on his chest are the tank assault badge and the wound badge.
 
Yes they are. I have a .450 Martini, also a late 1930s BSA heavy target rifle .22 rimfire, aka the "baby Martini". I guess a '98 Krag could be considered Victorian?

Swiss Vetterli, '73 Trapdoor, '96 Krag here. An old friend has a Martini Henry, one like it is on my short list.

Don't know why I've never shot a photo of them with my dry plates and plate camera.
 
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