2 May 2015 - Kent and East Sussex Railway 1940s Weekend

[Mike Farley]

An excellent day out with considerable photo opportunities due to the way that the organisers and friends entered into the spirit of the event (WW2) as can be seen in the sample images below.

As Tom says, a very enjoyable day and well done to those at the KESR who organised the event so well. There were not quite the same number of displays as the Bluebell Line's "Southern at War", which is next week, but it was not as crowded either. There were a lot of re-enactors who were very willing to pose and I have certainly come away with a few keepers. We were lucky with the weather as the rain which was promised earlier in the week, but we had an overcast sky which was beneficial for people shots.

Some shots to follow once I have processed them.

[Mike Farley]

Shots of taken of members while attending the event.

[Mike Farley]

Ron in action photographing some favourite things.*

Ron in photographic action

Ron 2.jpg (116.49 KiB) Viewed 5340 times

* An in joke which will be explained in a later post. You had to be there.

[Mike Farley]

This chap is a regular attendee at re-enactment events and I have seen him on other occasions, although this is the first time I can recall seeing him smoke a pipe. In this instance I struggled to find a clean background where he was standing and this was my best effort. It is somewhat frustrating that the marking on the carriage behind him is right behind the smoke, but that's photography. It is also what Photoshop is for.

[Mike Farley]

A while back, a judge did not warm to an image of mine featuring an attractive young woman peering from a railway carriage, mainly due to the lack of eye contact. I wonder how he would feel about a spiv looking straight at him while eating an ice cream which looks decidedly unauthentic for the era?

[Mike Farley]

I believe that this chap is dressed as a US airman. There were quite a few people milling around in American military outfits by the end of the day, but they were not there first thing in the morning when we arrived.

[davidb]

Here are some of my photographs taken on the day -

1. They're teaching them early these days!

2. Entertainment at Bodiam

3. Mike doing what comes naturally!

[davidb]

and some more -

4. The closest any of us got to Bodiam Castle - a view from Bodiam Station. It's a bit flat but then I did need to use my 300mm lens to get it.

5. What 'My Favouite Things' do - entertain

6. Sorry Ron, not the most flattering image!

[davidb]

Last batch -

7. Another familiar face

8. Crane in Tenterden Station

9. and just to prove that we DID visit a railway!!

[Mike Farley]

This young woman seemed to be new to the re-enacting game and seemed unsure of the attention she was going to get. Mind you, and I'll say this before anyone else has an opportunity, it was yours truly pointing a camera in her face.

I think that she might have left early as I did not see her later in the day.