Legends flightline re-enactors – different perspective

Sorry to disillusion you but “low port”, as that position is known, has been in use since the days of muzzle loading weapons.

Actually I’m not disillusioned at all Mike, it’s not whether it’s low port, high port or whatever, it’s the ‘carry’ that’s modern not the position. Not an easy one to explain really, but it’s similar to what happened on the set of SPR and latter Band of Brothers. Spielberg insisted on employing ex-regular army (all sorts of nationalities as well) as ‘combat extras’, so to be more realistic, and then to be instructed by a nam-vet ex-USMC instructor, to represent WW2 era Airborne and Ranger units 🙁
The result was trained soldiers used to modern equipment ‘carrying’ WW2 equipment in the same way that they instinctively carry the modern equipment they are used to, and instructed by someone with no specific knowledge of WW2 equipment of Airborne or Ranger units. The few WW2 re-enactment/living history people on the film set got so exasperated over this but had no say in the matter, but that’s the film industry for you. And I’m not even going to mention Tom Hanks portrayal of a British Airborne soldier in BoB. 😡
To 95% of people it does not notice but to some sad anoraks it sticks out like a sore thumb, in the same way that a stock military warbird restoration differs from a polished and shiny ‘pebble-beach’ style warbird restoration.
In the greater scheme of things it doesn’t really matter to the vast majority of people, but for a small minority of sad people there is a difference to looking good and looking damn good…….. 😉

Geneseo Eagle Squadron Guys

Hi Guys,

Heres a shot I took last sat. at Geneseo NY, I must say its nice to have these Chaps around they add to the ground photos.

Or hold a Thompson in that fashion…….that’s a ‘modern carry’…. :rolleyes:

And the 101st were issued with M1A1’s, not M1928’s….. 😉

And……..

Nope, put the anorak away…….. 😮

Sorry to disillusion you but “low port”, as that position is known, has been in use since the days of muzzle loading weapons.

You can get an even more realistic effect using tonal changes, softening and adding grain to the ‘film’.

And you can go the other way starting with old monochrome pictures.

I have got one from a calendar, although the aircraft was flying, but you can tell it’s a cut ‘n’ paste job ‘cos the offending “artist” has omitted the starboard tailplane of the poor Messerschmitt!! 😮

Seems a pointless waste of time, since there are so many genuine and first-class ground-to-air and air-to-air pictures on this Forum. There are much more useful ways to employ Photoshop techniques, also occasionally demonstrated here by the true experts.

Great stuff and what fun being creative! The trouble is, I have seen this taken to extreme where ground shots are ‘forged’ to make them look like air-to-air by removing the undercarriage and placing the aircraft against a cloud background…and they were published in a book that claimed they were taken air-to-air!!! Anyone fancy having a go at this on this thread?

The standard of these pics is superb! It’s certainly made my mind up about the merits of re-enactors. It shows that a photographer can make great use of the “extras” to create some wonderful shots. Period dress, or hi-viz vests? Mmmmm…. I’ll take the re-enactors every time!

It’s always interesting to me to see these shots. We of a younger generation see WWII as mainly B/W pictures, and those who were there saw it in full colour so which is really authentic? Sorry guy’s just having a philosophical moment… I’m ok now! 😀

Cheers

Justyn

well as everyone else is having a go…

Its something to do whilst waiting for the forum to sort itself out…;)

Flood.™

I think the Cones add a certain ‘something’ to this shot! or is it JDKs Airforce..!

Hi Moondance. That’s where Photoshop comes in useful. Another trick is to bend you knees to use the wing to block such things as a line of spectators or spamcans… As my photography tutor once put it “Your cameras isn’t fixed at 6′ above the ground.” 😉

Nice pic!

I thought the re-enactors greatly added to the flightline this year, and in this case, were probably considerably more accurately dressed than the machine behind. Well done all (shame about the spamcan and portaloo in the background!)

Maybe you guys don’t realise but the re-enacters are there in a security role not just to look pretty! Choice is yours, re-enactors or yellow vests?

once I walked around a corner to be greeted by a fantastic Vietnam war camp scene complete with Huey, jeeps, personnel, other vehicles and a few viet cong thrown in for good measure. I take my hat off to them as it brings history to life.

😀 😀
One of the prime instigators of this lot was an old mate of mine Roger Jerram, a few of us “WW2 types” used to ‘help’ the ‘nam lot out with their Army vs. Navy punch-up scenario they used to do in the main arena at Beltring a good few years ago….. :p :p

I’ve always had mixed feelings about the re-enactors, but I also managed to use this guy to very good effect, and again tried to give a period feel to the shot. I loved the shot of the pilot in front of Big Beautiful Doll! I thought the guys from the “101st Airborne” and their kit looked great, certainly some money’s worth in kit there. 🙂

This is my first post so please be gentle with me, BTW nice place you have here! 😀

Cheers

PJ

Nice shot…the chap you photographed is a huge Spitfire fan (called Steve….I wont put his last name here as he does not know about it….yet!!!) he is part of a bunch of chaps who are passionate and meticullous about their ‘art’. I think that they can add alot to a living history phot….better than the chaps in fluorescent jackets who seemed to get in all my shots. Next week, there will be fantastic living history displays at Beltring…once I walked around a corner to be greeted by a fantastic Vietnam war camp scene complete with Huey, jeeps, personnel, other vehicles and a few viet cong thrown in for good measure. I take my hat off to them as it brings history to life.

The scramble camp at Legends was good and amused my children when they saw my reproduction ‘Don’t just come and tell…….’ scramble board (from BoB film) that I painted for them

regards

TonyD

We have to have a certain amonut of people of the liveside walk to look after the aircraft. Much as my friends here know not to touch the aircraft, there are some who would like to fiddle or take a sovenier. These aircraft have to fly soon after the walk so care has to be taken that they have not been tampered with. The re-enactors were great this year and helped us out a lot. Thank you if any of them are reading this.

Good to be reminded of a reason to perhaps give it another go.

Glad the pics posted here give a reason for you to take more ground shots – your aerial pics also inspire – the one of the six Dragon Rapides taking off at Legends is simply excellant!! 🙂

I wish someone would tell him that you don’t hold a Thompson (Or any other weapon for that matter) with your finger crooked inside the trigger guard. 😡

Moggy

Or hold a Thompson in that fashion…….that’s a ‘modern carry’…. :rolleyes:

And the 101st were issued with M1A1’s, not M1928’s….. 😉

And……..

Nope, put the anorak away…….. 😮

Although health and safety might very well have a different opinion here…

Flood.™

Errrr, this was the case last year. And the wearing of H&S hi-viz jackets doesn’t really apply when the flightline walk is open to the public which is the example I was making and not when the flying side is live. You obviously misread/misunderstood the point I was trying to make about the re-enactors……… 🙁