Nikon – Page 57 – Circadianreflections Blog

Civil War Days- Sharpshooters

July 17, 2012July 17, 2012Posted in California, Events and Fairs, Photography, TravelTagged American Anti-Slavery Society, American Civil War, American Civil War Association, California Historical Artillery Society, Civil War, D700, Duncans Mills California, National Civil War Association, Nikon, Photography, Reenactors, Reenactors of the American Civil War, Sharps rifle, Travel5 Comments

“Ravenous, the gods of war demanded men- lots of men. Northern armies were at first manned solely by volunteers, with each state assigned a quota based on population. But in 1863, after volunteering had slackened off, Congress passed a federal conscription law for the first time on a nationwide scale in the United States.” ~The American Pageant, 9^th edition, Thomas A. Bailey and David M. Kennedy

APPLY IN PERSON AT COMPANY TENT.

The sign says:

Col. Berdan’s Regiment.

Sharp – Shooters!

30 more Respectable Men Wanted to Complete

Captain J.H. Baker’s Company!-The famous company “C” of Michigan

Many are called but few are chosen!

This company consists of gentlemanly men-none other need apply- as it is the “Crack Regiment” in the Army of the Potomac & “home” of the famous “California Joe”!!

OUR WAGES ARE HIGHER THAN OTHER COMPANY’S!

As many furnish their own Rifles, but the Government supplies each man with of Berdan’s Improved Sharp’s Rifles, while will fire 1 ¼ miles, at the rate of 18 times per minute. We have no drill but Skirmish Drill, no Picket duty; our manner of warfare is like the “Guerillas” or Indian. Our uniform is “Green”, color of the grass and foliage, and You are privileged to lay upon the ground while shooting, picking your position; no commanders while fighting. Be one of the elite & join

Co,. “C”, 1^st Reg’t. US.S.S.

GENTLEMEN – This is a beautiful chance for those wishing to see something of this life away from home. The $100 BOUNTY, LAND WARRANT,&c,. same as in all other Regiments.

APPLY IN PERSON AT COMPANY TENT

Jan. 1, 1863 H.L. HURLBUTT-U.S. Gov’t Authorized Recruiting Officer

Union Colonel Hiram Berdan proposed forming units of outstanding riflemen, largely equipped with Sharps rifles, in 1861, and as a result the 1st and 2nd regiments of US Sharpshooters were organized.

The Sharps weapons were the most advanced breechloaders in America when the war began. The Union bought 9100 Sharps rifles and more than 80,000 Sharps carbines during the war. Confederate forces

bought small numbers of these weapons. The rifles were used by the US Sharpshooters, while the carbine was mainly a cavalry weapon. Both were single-shot, were accurate up to 600 yards, and could fire at a rate of about 10 rounds per minute.~Chronicles of the Civil War John Bowman, General Editor

The 1st Sharpshooters fought on the Peninsula and at Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. The 2nd Sharpshooters’ first significant action was at Antietam.

Both regiments fought at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. For the entire war, both units had casualty rates approaching 40 percent. ~ Chronicles of the Civil War-John Bowman General Editor

As able-bodied men got scarcer bounties for enlistment were offered by federal, state, and local authorities. A man with a gift for making money might pocket more than $1000.00!

Nikon D700, Nikkor 80-200mm + 1.4x Tamron TC and 28-105mm AF-D. Duncans Mills, CA.

The Sharps Rifle (broeder10.wordpress.com)
Civil War Living History Encampment in Easton (janetserra.com)

Civil War Days-Artillery

July 16, 2012July 16, 2012Posted in California, Photography, TravelTagged CA, Civil War Days, Civil War Field Artillery, D700, Duncans Mills, Living History, Nikon, Photography, Reenactors6 Comments

I had the pleasure of spending Saturday afternoon at a Civil War Reenactment in Duncans Mills, CA. Follow me to the year 1863 where these wonderful reenactors bring this period of USA history to life.

“Soon after his defeat of the Federal Army of the Potomac at Chancellorsville in May 1863 General Robert E. Lee decided for the second time to invade the North with his Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. There were a number of reasons for his decision. Even though Lee had just won a brilliant victory, things were bad in the Confederacy and getting worse; Ulysses S. Grant was about to secure Vicksburg for the Union, inflation was running wild in the South, and badly needed European recognition had not come, the Confederate government was torn by partisan squabbles, the Union blockade along the Southern coast was growing steadily more effective, and antiwar sentiment was fading in the North. A major Confederate victory on enemy soil might ameliorate all those problems. Moreover, after their string of victories Lee and his men had begun to believe fatally, as it turned out- that they were virtually invincible.

General James Longstreet, Lee’s second in command since the death of Stonewall Jackson, objected to the invasion from the beginning. Longstreet entreated his commander to purse a defensive strategy in Virginia and send troops to reinforce Braxton Briggs in Tennessee.

Longstreet’s idea was sound, but Lee insisted on his invasion plan; his instincts invariably told him to take the offensive. Thus in early June 1863, The Army of Northern Virginia pulled away from Fredericksburg and headed for Pennsylvania with about 80,000 men.” – Chronicles of the Civil War by John Bowman, General Editor

Artillery

“Designed to fire at high angles, dropping low-velocity explosive shells behind the enemy’s cover, Howitzers exemplified the traditional artillery that predominated during the Civil War.” –Chronicles of the Civil War by John Bowman, General Editor

Confederate Sponge rammer loading the cannon-

“Artillery in the 1800’s fought side by side with infantry units because the range of the big guns limited them to visible targets. Like the infantry weapons, Civil War-era cannon were muzzle loaders and required a crew of eight men to aim, load, and fire the weapon.”~Thomas’Legion; The 69^th North Carolina Regiments, located at www.thomaslegion.net, written by Matthew D. Parker, was first published to the internet on August 27, 2005 and accessed on July 16, 2012.

Stepping away-

FIRE!

The infantrymen marched right into the face of a firing cannon. Many didn’t live to tell about it.

It was a fun afternoon and I have quite a few photos to go through. I hope to share more soon.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 80-200mm w/Tamron 1.4x extender

Nikon Recalls some EN-EL15 Batteries

July 12, 2012Posted in Gear, Nikon, PhotographyTagged Nikon, Photography, Photography Gear, RecallsLeave a comment

Nikon has recalled some lots of the EN-EL15 battery which used on the D800/E, D7000, and the Nikon 1 V1 cameras. Instructions and more details are here.

“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” Carl Sagan

July 9, 2012July 9, 2012Posted in Astrophotograhpy, California, PhotographyTagged Astro Photography, Carl Sagan, D700, Long Exposure Photographs, Milky Way, Nikon, Wide Field AstroPhotography2 Comments

Even with all the light pollution I think this came out pretty well.

I was happy to see I still was able to get to my Internet server when I arrived home after midnight this morning. I hope this bodes well for my week. “)

“He ain’t wrong, he’s just different but his pride won’t let him do things to make you think he’s right” ~Willie Nelson

June 14, 2012June 14, 2012Posted in California, Photography, TravelTagged California, Columbia State Park, Cowboys, History, Nikon, Photography, Travel, Travel and TourismLeave a comment

“He ain’t wrong, he’s just different but his pride won’t let him do things to make you think he’s right” ~Willie Nelson, originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

Quote from Willie Nelson’s song Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be Cowboys.

…but I’ve always liked cowboys.
This was taken on an impromptu stop at Columbia State park last year. This part of the state is rich with history and folklore. Cowboys being a big part of that folklore.

Columbia State Park was once a town that sprung up during the California gold rush. It was declared a National Park or Open Air Museum in 1946. About 30 buildings remain. Some of which are the Saloon, the Wells Fargo Express, the Pioneer Emporium, Black Smith, hotel, the bakery, and stable. You can take a Stage Coach ride and pan for gold here. The staff all dress in period costume. I’ve been here a half-dozen times and loved every visit.

Transit of Venus June 5, 2012

June 6, 2012June 6, 2012Posted in Astrophotograhpy, California, Nikon, PhotographyTagged Astrophotography, Nikon, Nikon D300S, Photography, Sun, Transit of Venus, Venus, Venus Transit4 Comments

This Transit was a rare event. A once in a Lifetime event for those of us on the West Coast, USA. The next Transit of Venus happens in 2117. I doubt anyone alive today will see it. I didn’t want to miss this special day. I had work on Tues. the afternoon of the Transit. I knew I’d be missing First contact and the first 2.5 hours. No time-lapse for me since I wouldn’t be satisfied not having it from start to finish, but I wanted to see it and if the sky was clear get a photo or two.

The sky around my hometown was full of fluffy clouds all day. The forecast had called for clear skies, but kept changing as the weather kept proving them wrong each hour. Monday, a friend invited me to join him at NASA Ames. Tues. he emailed me updates about the sky condition. Just after 2PM he emailed, “the sky is “mostly clear”. I called my friend Dali and invited him to meet me at NASA Ames then quickly gathered my gear after work, and drove the 12+ miles to get there. I was thrilled to discover commute traffic was light heading north allowing me to drive 65mph the whole way up.

I met my friend Dali in the parking lot and together we found my friend John who stands 6’4″ a good head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd that gathered there to view the Transit.

I set up my tripod and camera/lens/solar filter and started taking photos of the Sun with Venus making its way across the Sun. On my photo above the large black spot is Venus, and the smaller black dots are Sunspots.

John and many other amateur astronomers had set up their telescopes and were allowing people to get a closer view of the Transit. He’s also a Nikon user like me. He kindly let me hook my camera up to his telescope to get a bigger photograph of Venus transiting the Sun. I’ll post that soon.

Thank you John for sharing your scope, and space with me yesterday it was fun, and send my thanks again to your daughter for the goodies. The coffee cake I sampled was delicious!

Dali’s photos of the Transit are here and here.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 80-200mm @ 200mm + Tamron 1.4x extender= effective focal length 420mm| f11| 1/200s| ISO 400| Manual Priority| Tripod

“I’m waiting for you Morning Star…herald of the dawn.” ~ Deborah M. Zajac

May 25, 2012Posted in California, Landscapes, Nature, Nikon, Photography, TravelTagged Convict Lake, D700, Eastern Sierras, Landscape Photography, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Sunrise, WinterLeave a comment

“Rise quickly for I am numb with Winter’s morning chill.
My fingers ache for your warm embrace.”~

That’s my plea every sunrise shoot, and to be honest most nights too! My fingers are the first to go numb, and I’ve not found a hand-warmer or pair of gloves to keep me warm enough to thwart the chill.

This is a shot from Convict Lake taken the third morning of 2012. Seeing sunrises like the one my friends and I saw on this morning make the early rise, drive time, and standing in the cold worth it!

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