Pennsic War XLVI

So I ended up going to Pennsic War 46. While I was onsite during of the 2 weeks of the event, I mainly spent time running around visiting my immediate family. It was a whirlwind trip, and at first it was a bit disorienting. One minute I'd be somewhere in "Time." The next I'd be with those whom I don't spend enough time with. It was all amazing though. As I write this my mind is flogged from the over 12 hour drive home (yay for road construction on 80 west!). I just needed to process and post ONE photo. It's not the best of them. I will need time to sort and review everything. I shot this as I was walking around the lake on a clear summer night. The moon was shining brightly having been totally full the night before. I began with this photo location, which is way at one end of the event grounds, and I meandered all the way to the "Castle" at nearly the other end. I can't wait to share the really good ones! #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #archery #viking #camp

Order of the Pelican

This amazing piece of stained glass art was created by my campmate Q Phia Sherry, pictured on the left, as an award to Lucius Aurelius Valharic. He was being elevated into the Order of the Pelican. As per the SCA website, "Members of the Order of the Pelican are recognized for great service to their kingdom or to the Society as a whole, usually for many years and without thought of reward. They are chosen by the Crown in consultation with the Order. They are addressed as "Master" (name) or "Mistress" (name). Their insignia is a "pelican in her piety," a pelican piercing her breast to feed her young with her own blood." #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #sca #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #cooperslakecampground #Vlads #vladspleasurepavilion #orderofthepelican #stainedglass #stainedglassart #artglass #curiouspath #qphia

After the Storm Passes

Pennsic War XLVI

After the Storm

The lake at Pennsic a few hours after a small group of scattered thunder storms rolled through. One of the things you can count on in early August in western PA are scattered storms that can brew up quickly, soak you really well, and then clear out. You'll find out right away if you've set up your tent in a drainage area, as well as how well you've staked down your tent. If you've set up a big piece of canvas and it's not taught enough great bags of suspended water form, sometimes bringing the whole mess down. On the plus side sometimes these storms cool things down. This one brought in a perfect, cooler, less humid evening. #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #cooperslake #cooperslakecampground #naturalpennsylvania #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutstayout #getoutthere #lifeoutdoors #optoutside #loveoutdoors #scenicpa #travelpa #explorepa #theoutbound #ventureout #in2nature #thegreatoutdoors #naturewalk #getoutdoors

The Final Blow

One of the events that I looked forward to the most while I was at Pennsic War 46 was the Tuchux Charity Tournament. While watching the big battles where thousands of people in armor bash each other is fun, I really like watching the one on one matches of this tourney. Basically it's MMA in armor and using weapons made of wrapped rattan with high density rubber warheads. It's an awesome display of martial skills. Within the first five minutes I pointed out the Knight on the left to my kid. I told her, "you watch that guy, he's going to make the final round." There are four "bear pits" in which an evenly divided number of fighters are grouped. The are randomly paired and the weapons randomly handed out. The fighters never know what they'll get, it could be a spear, a sword, an ax, etc.. Then through displays of martial skill, ferocity and guile they try to beat each other. The winner stays in the pit and gets a mark. They go many rounds until the top two of each pit then fight. Eventually there are only two fighters from all four pits left. This shot is of the winning blow being delivered by Sammick, clan leader of the Red Lions Tuchux. All proceeds of this event go to support the Drop in the Bucket Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to chronically, and terminally ill adults. #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #sca #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #cooperslakecampground #dropinthebucket #tuchux #redlions #mma #fighters #bearpit #tournament #martialarts #armsarmor #armor #knight

Whirling Through Time

Whirling Through Time. Life's been somewhat chaotic. My time skips by like a whirling, flat stone on water. Every time I smack down I am focused on something. Each contact is different than the last, I have a brief period for me to focus, resolve, plan, and then it's time to fly off the next splash. I know it's like this for everyone though, so I don't feel concerned. I actually have been relishing the little splashes. Some are a brief period of creative formulation. My approach to shooting is becoming more precise in how I want to render a scene. With each session I feel the whirl of the stone as it skims across the water, the front lifting up to catch air as it sails once more into the sky! Winter will be fun once I am trapped in my office with all these photos to process! Until then I like to just take morale breaks and process a photo, just for the heck of it. Today I really need one.

Waiting

The thing about camping at Pennsic War for me is that it gave me a chance to really relax and just be me. I occurred to me at one point that I probably bother a few people. I don't play out a fictional "persona." I'm just the same me in all the settings. When I would talk to people it wasn't to the character they were trying to portray, but to the person. My photography was the same approach. I didn't run around, trying to find the best thing to photograph. I didn't look at Pennsic with an eye as to what it was trying to portray. Instead I shot it the way I saw it, when I saw it, and most importantly, when I felt like shooting. I tried to set up a number of special sessions, and then waited to see which of the many ideas would come back to me. A lot of my time was spent just sitting around camp, waiting for those moments to come. Honestly, being down by the lake wasn't so bad. #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #sca #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #cooperslakecampground #naturalpennsylvania #wildernessculture #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutstayout #getoutthere #naturelover #lifeoutdoors #optoutside #loveoutdoors #outdoorsy #outdoors #nature_perfection #scenicpa #travelpa #explorepa #theoutbound #ventureout #in2nature #getoutdoors

Pennsic War XLVI

#Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #archery #viking #camp

Brotherhood

One of the most striking things about the SCA to me is their sense of "Brotherhood." These men and women from all walks of life, with a myriad of different "real world" experiences, are all drawn together by a sense of mutual respect and admiration. Being "Knighted" in this organization is a culmination of many years of social interaction. A building of trust and respect by ones peers. It's sometimes a certification of one's leaving behind self destructive behavior. The Gold Chain of a Knight in the SCA is not just a decoration. It's the acknowledgment of Brotherhood into a league of peers whose respect you've earned. #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #knight #knights #knighting #medievaltimes

House Hedgehog

Pennsic War XLVI

Pennsic War XLVI

#Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #archery #viking #camp