Bob Crum

Photos by Bob Crum.

Sage advice says have a game plan. I didn't have one. I didn't know how to prepare one because I didn't know what to expect. Logical, right?

Last weekend I attended the Blue and Gray Civil War Reenactment presented by the Rotary Club of Moorpark. My first adventure as a Civil War correspondent. Though both sides hurled canon balls at me, my nifty foot work frustrated their efforts. I escaped unscathed to write this account. But I digress.

The Moorpark Blue and Gray Civil War Reenactment is touted to be the largest west of the Mississippi. Hundreds of Reenactors come from all over the nation to participate. Indeed quite an extraordinary pageant.

This year the event featured the 9/17/1862 battle of Antietam. That battle engaged a total of 131,000 soldiers; the Union soldiers outnumbering the Confederates by almost 2 to 1. Total one-day casualties estimated at 23,000.

For my challenge, visualize this scene: The venue larger than a football field. Hills to my right and left. From behind the crowd-control rope and not far to my right sat several Union canons. Perched on the left hilltop a battery of Confederate canons. I'm nervous!

KABOOM! Countless Union soldiers marched down the hill from the right as the canons fired. To the left a battalion of Confederates soldiers waited. Dozens of soldiers scattered here and there prevented photographing them all at one time. Besides the numbers, they were all a considerable distance away! More than one disaster at hand. What to do?

How do I convey the impact of battle in this situation? Zoom in and grab some closeups? Will they portray the intensity of the battle? Naturally, impact could be enhanced by capturing photos of rifles firing or the flash of a canon firing but timing was hit and miss... so to speak. While I focused attention on one group of soldiers, or a canon, action was happening at several other places. My dream of a long career as a Civil War correspondent was dissipating like gunpowder smoke.

Forget photos, time for recording some "action" video. But anticipating a large crowd, forget tripod. But shooting video on a monopod is troublesome.

Challenges loomed large! Action occurring simultaneously everywhere. Canons firing! Union troops fighting valiantly on my right. Confederates advancing on the left. Then, oh oh, here come the cavalry charging down the middle. Pyrotechnics fired here and there! Well, while attempting to record EVERYTHING, I'd often forget to pan the camera S___L___O___W___L___Y! As a result, many pans would not only turn a turtle upside down, they even make me dizzy! Also best not to ask me how many times, in the heat of excitement, I turned the camera switch to video but forgot to press the “record” button. Good grief!

I also had to consider composition & exposure. My camera's video quality is exceptional but zooming is not push button and focusing is a pain. Though I had a wind screen on the external microphone, wind noise nevertheless recorded. In total, like scrambled eggs slathered with gear grease topped with pickled seaweed, I got an unholy mess! I need to practice more? NO! I need to win Mega Millions and buy a camcorder!

Somehow I managed to capture some usable video and a few photos. But photos can't do justice to the intensity of the exciting battles. I was impressed and encourage you to attend next year and enjoy this spectacular event in person. You will be delightfully entertained... and amazed. Don't forget ear plugs! Those canons!!!

BTW, a little Rotary bird named Scott told me that the Fillmore Rotary Club sponsored the Moorpark Rotary Club. Kudos Fillmore Rotary!

Happy photoing.

Email comments, suggestions or questions to bob@fillmoregazette.com

For reference: http://www.moorparkrotary.com/Stories/2017-blue-gray-civil-war-reenactme...