I’d first heard of the annual WWII weekend event at Gettysburg while visiting the Eisenhower farm back in 2017. Part of the Gettysburg National Historic Park, Eisenhower’s former home sits on acres of farmland just beyond the many granite monuments erected to honor the fallen soldiers of the Revolutionary War. As a photographer and WWII history fan I knew I’d have to make a return trip to see the reenactment for myself. There was no way I could pass up the chance to shoot some film and find such unique subjects to photograph. I planned everything out and expected to visit the next year in 2018 but unfortunately it was rained out. When the fields become too wet the various vehicles and foot traffic tear up the turf around the Eisenhower home, which caused the NPS to call the event off.
I fell down a rabbit hole of message boards and training manuals as WWII weekend got closer, eventually picking up a PH-324 (basically a Kodak 35 in OD green paint) to shoot some 35mm film of the encampment. While I wasn’t able to get it functional in time for the trip, I’ve managed to fix the shutter mechanism (still need to readjust the focus). With my main camera out of action, I settled on my Mamiya C33 and a Canon A-1. Film-wise I grabbed a roll of Tri-X 400 for the C33 and some Ektachrome for the A-1, but more on the film below.
WWII weekend was full of great photo opportunities and interesting people. There was no shortage of vintage equipment and expansive displays, including the Sherman tank below. The reenactors themselves were incredibly friendly and willing to talk with just about anybody who would listen. My favorite shot from the weekend is the first in this post, showing an independent war correspondent reading a LIFE magazine with a Leica rangefinder around his neck. He was actually an Army photographer during the Korea/Vietnam timeframe but didn’t continue with a career in photography after he came back stateside. He mainly shot a 2x3 Graflex during his time in the service, and even had an example with some old film packs to show me.
The drive from NY to PA was long but so worth it. There was a great USO style dance Saturday night which was a blast, though I’m planning to come in more period appropriate attire next year. I had a chance to talk with some of the guys from the 167thPhotographic Unit who were set up at the encampment and did they have lots of information to share. The truck in the above set of photos was restored by a few of the guys and painstakingly replicated to match multiple reference photos they had of a similar truck in use by the 167th during WWII. Don, who rebuilt the unit’s canvas tent himself, was especially helpful in explaining their setup to me and what life was like during the war for someone taking photos in the Signal Core.
While I’m not a big fan of color film, I brought one of the two launch day rolls of Ektachrome I had sitting in my film fridge just to play around with. I had the film developed at Bleeker Digital Solutions in NYC and I’d highly recommend them to anybody who needs E6 film developed. This was also my first time shooting slide film so I was amazed to see the results when I picked up the positives from Bleeker. Below are some of the scans from that role, and I have to say I’m impressed with the film Kodak has resurrected from the dead. Now we just need it in 120 rolls…
