Pennsic War XLVI

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

Tuchux Charity Tournament

Pennsic War XLVI - 2017 #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #cooperslakecampground #dropinthebucket #tuchux #redlions #mma #fighters #bearpit #tournament #martialarts #armsarmor #armor #knight #tuchux

My Daughter Freja at the Tuchux Charity Tournament

Pennsic War XLVI - 2017 #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #cooperslakecampground #dropinthebucket #tuchux #redlions #mma #fighters #bearpit #tournament #martialarts #armsarmor #armor #knight #tuchux

Tuchux Charity Tournament

Pennsic War XLVI - 2017 #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #cooperslakecampground #dropinthebucket #tuchux #redlions #mma #fighters #bearpit #tournament #martialarts #armsarmor #armor #knight #tuchux

Tuchux Charity Tournament

Pennsic War XLVI - 2017 #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #cooperslakecampground #dropinthebucket #tuchux #redlions #mma #fighters #bearpit #tournament #martialarts #armsarmor #armor #knight #tuchux

Tuchux! Tuchux! Tuchux!

Stephanie Ray Glass I have finally queued up the Tuchux Charity Tournament from this past August for sorting and processing. I've been saving this one for you. #Tuchux #stephanierayglass #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #pennsiciscoming #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #simplicity #visage #girlpower #naturalbeauty #beautifulwomen #agameoftones #portraitgames #baddies #modelbehavior #quietthechaos #liveauthentic #portrait_shots #aovportraits #makeportraitsnotwar #pursuitofportraits #discoverportait #portraitvision

Lamia [Left to herself]

Left to herself, the serpent now beganLamia To change; her elfin blood in madness ran, Her mouth foam’d, and the grass, therewith besprent, Wither’d at dew so sweet and virulent; Her eyes in torture fix’d, and anguish drear, Hot, glaz’d, and wide, with lid-lashes all sear, Flash’d phosphor and sharp sparks, without one cooling tear. The colours all inflam’d throughout her train, She writh’d about, convuls’d with scarlet pain: A deep volcanian yellow took the place Of all her milder-mooned body’s grace; And, as the lava ravishes the mead, Spoilt all her silver mail, and golden brede; Made gloom of all her frecklings, streaks and bars, Eclips’d her crescents, and lick’d up her stars: So that, in moments few, she was undrest Of all her sapphires, greens, and amethyst, And rubious-argent: of all these bereft, Nothing but pain and ugliness were left. John Keats, 1795 - 1821 #keats #johnkeats #lamia #vampire #vampiress #vampires #vamp #seductress #vampyre #Nosferatu #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #vlads #vladspleasurepavilion

Languid Beauty

​​ Languid Beauty. Before moving to Wisconsin I had spent a few years working with the belly dancing community in Pittsburgh. The graceful, artistic movements combined with colorful, flowing costuming and often very comely dancers inspired me and helped shape how I photograph an wide array of subjects to this day. I've respect for how much work and attention to minute detail these performers often put into their craft. Capturing them is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had. At Pennsic this year I happened to be camped with one of my favorite dancers of all time, namely Samira Shuruk . Late one morning we worked together for a bit in Casa Bardicci, an amazingly detailed set piece recreating an Italian villa along the lake shore. After years of not shooting dancers it was truly a thrill to once again do so. So, an amazing set. An amazingly talented and beautiful dancer. All the right gear for the job and an open morning to just relax and enjoy "doing my thing." Pennsic was awesome! #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #bellydancesuperstars #the_bellydancer #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #vladspleasurepavilion #bellydance #bellydancer #scadance #middleeasterndance #dancephotography #italianvilla #casabardicci #veildance #lovebellydance #love_bellydance #bellydancing #dance #dancing #dancer #oriental #orientaldance #perfomance #passion #bellydancestars

The Garden of Earthly Delights

​​Camping at Vlad's Pleasure Pavilion has to be one of the more unique experiences I've enjoyed. This year was their 30th anniversary as a themed camping group. Their device was a stylized "XXX" with their bat symbol emblazoned above. (It figures I'd camp under the sign of the Bat!) Now if you have ever camped at Pennsic you'll have heard of Vlad's late night "shenanigans." (I can't speak to any of that. I kept me eyes closed.) All during the first week of the two week event the camp operates as the defacto place to stop by while out and about. For me, on the couple of nights I was actually on site that first week, this meant I never had to go looking for my friends as most of them would likely walk through the "front of the house." What I mean by FOH is in the way it's used in the entertainment/club sector. Basically Vlad's is set up as an "open camp" out front, with living quarters to the rear and cut off from the front. There's a giant "U" shaped space which is anchored at one end by a beer tent/bar, a stage complete with wings, carefully arraigned pavilions with open seating under awnings, all of which are meticulously decorated, and wraps around the open area. There's a giant fire-pit that languid dancers take advantage of while rhythmic drumming charges the pulsing energy of the night. For me though the true treat as an artist is that I am camped with many other artists. This year they culminated the fun of the first week with a three part performance playing out their interpretation of the famous 15th Century triptych, "The Garden of Earthly Delights" painted by Hieronymus Bosch. It was a three stage, multi act performance that was a blend of burlesque, tribal fusion, burner rave, traditional belly dance, all accompanied by a talented group of live musicians. I'd watched them plan out the acts, choreograph the dances and figure out the timing. Being around such a pool of talent and artistic vision was truly something I'll always treasure. So, not only do I not have to go anywhere in order to see my friends, I don't have to go anywhere to find artistic inspiration. @mercurial_creation @rosalieash88 @dj_cosmo @hakandances @reverandmother @Bagoasdances #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #Pennsic46 #sca #vlads #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #vladspleasurepavilion #gardenofearthlydelights #fireperformance #fireperformer #pyrography #firebreathing #fireflow #cooperslake #cooperslakecampground #travelpa #explorepa #burlesque #burlesquedancer #burlesqueshow #burlesquelife #juliadiverdi

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 Right Place

It was such a rewarding experience for me as an artist to be camped with other artists. Some of them I've worked with in the past. Camping in with a group that tries to not just "whoop it up," but actually puts on a real show makes for a very easy life for me. All I need do is wait and watch everything unfold. It's as if I live in the set of my imagination. The exchange of creative energy is pure, powerful and very sensual. So many times while having conversations, or photographing something I would physically feel a rush that made the hair on my arms stand up. #Pennsic #Pennsicwar #Pennsicwar46 #sca #reenachtment #medieval #medievalreenactment #societyofcreativeanachronism #cooperslakecampground #Vlads #vladspleasurepavilion #bellydance #tribalbellydance #tribalfusion #sworddance #shimmy #tribalfusionbellydance #tribaldancer #kirahabibilal #lovebellydance #love_bellydance #bellydancing #bellydancer #dance #dancing #dancer #oriental #orientaldance #perfomance #passion

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

As Real Men Fought

I thought I'd revisit a photo I took in the summer of 2006. It was a hot day at Pennsic War, and annual event in Western PA. Two heavy knights are sparring using as authentic of armour kits as can be made these days. Their weapons are made from rattan and thick, heavy rubber like you'd find on the bumper of cars. It's full contact martial arts, so this hilt to the face hit had to have rung the guy on the left's bell. Pardon the pun... #pennsic #pennsicwar #knight #knights #armour #armoured #armor #plate #mail #tourney #tournament #combat #armoredcombat #sca #scadians #societyofcreativeanachronism #arms #platearmour #middleages #medieval #Æthelmearc #aethelmearc #history #livinghistory