Larry Wilcher...rest in peace...3/17/2011

Larry Wilcher was a fixture at Fort Boonesborough, Kentucky. His friend Bill Farmer brought dirt from the cabin where Wilcher set up as a trader. The pouch went into the coffin.

Several hundred friends laid the beloved Larry Wilcher to rest today in Liberty, Casey County, Kentucky. No more words are necessary.

Larry's passing...

Larry "Heavy" Wilcher died just before midnight on March 13, 2011. Funeral arrangements are pending, and will be posted when obtained.

He ain't Heavy...Larry Wilcher

Melanie and Larry captured in a private moment during a Fort Harrodsburg history event this year. (Photos copyright John Bramel)

Things have gotten tougher for Larry Wilcher.

Known throughout the close-knit historical reenactment community as "Heavy,"

he got not so heavy after cancer wrote its name on the pages of his life log.

A fixture as a trader at historical events and a personality as good and strong as tent canvas,

Larry's battle with cancer has been tough. His efforts have been as strong as a 42-inch Colerain blackpowder barrel.

Now he'll have to get stronger.

He learned this week that, despite his efforts and all the trials, cancer has dealt him a major setback. Instead of revealing some very personal information on the worldwide web, you can write Larry's lifelove, at mkkuntz@hotmail.com, and she'll send you updated condition status.

In short, doctors are trying to get Larry well enough so he can get out of the hospital and go home.

You know Heavy. I know Heavy. When he gets to the house he's going to reload that barrel--this time with a double-charge of powder and buck-and-ball--and he going to take aim, again, at defeating this thing. His aim will be true.

You can help steady that aim with a simple gesture: Send him a get well card. Mail it to Larry Wilcher, 1146 Shelby Street, Junction City, KY, 40440. Melanie and Larry's strong family who are surrounding him as I write this will make sure Larry gets that card. Heck, you owe it to him for all those great trader deals he's given you over the years.... .

I know his mind: He's got Fort Boonesborough  trade faires and events he's got to get ready for. "I'll be set up in the first cabin to the left as you come through the front gate."

See you there, pardner.

Bad weather...no problem

Cody and his brothers, who served as best men.

Storms battered down on Cody Boone and Christy Edelen's wedding day this past weekend.

It simply didn't matter.

We moved inside the Marion County house that Cody helped his dad build...themselves...by hand...using horses to pull the logs from their woods.

A stunningly beautiful bride. A dashingly handsome groom. An incredibly beautiful home.

Wow.

Joanne and I filled the place with studio-quality lighting, because everywhere we looked it was picture-perfect. The overall shot with Cody was done with a specialty lens, a distortion-free 12 mm Nikor lens we use for architectural jobs...and shots like this one.

As usual, click on the image to make it bigger.

If you're lucky, in about a week Christy will give you the password to see all the online images...almost 400 of them.

All images copyright BRAMEL PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Senior Superlative Part 2

WCHS Senior Superlatives Part 1

Each year I shoot and produce a project for the Washington County High School Yearbook. It's big fun for the kids. It's big fun for me. Here, in no particular order, are the 2011 Washington County High School (Kentucky) Senior Superlatives.  Click on the image to bring it up larger. Each one should be self-explanatory.... .

Kendall Taul just can't stand the wait

Kendall was in the studio this week (www.jbphotosource.com) and Joanne and I did his senior pics...he's a 2011 Marion County High School (Kentucky) senior. Altho his proof book won't be finished until another few days, he wants a sneek peak.

Here you go, Kendall. This kid is first-class. Joanne and I have know him like...well...forever. Yes, he's Beverly's son.

Here's the track shot larger so you can see the Photoshop CS4-applied "wind" filter. Click on the pic and it'll get even larger for you. There are five studio lights at work here, and I left the senior ring in color. This image would make a great locker poster, which we offer.

Old Fort Harrod

Speaking of John Curry... .

Here are some pics he had me take this summer at the Fort Harrod State Park Settlement and Raid event he organized this summer. The dates for this year's event have just been announced: June 18 and 19, 2011 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. For more information, go to www.oldfortharrod.org/.

You'll see these pics and many more used in upcoming state and regional advertising to publicize the event.

In case you photo buffs are curious:

•  The top images of multiple natives...I used a slew of slaved Nikon flashes to fill in shadows that were everywhere. I just thought the image would look much better with even lighting throughout.
• The pipe-smoking pioneer woman...the natural light is coming from the right...she is shaded by an awning with the flag slightly backlight. I used spot metering in the trusty Nikon D3 to nail the exposure.
• The Shawnee squatting in a tree is all natural lighting...that's actually early morning light bouncing off the fort walls that's creating the wonderful light. I used my unerring Sekonic L-758 DR in incident mode to determine the exposure, which was so tricky that I didn't trust the Nikon D3 in spot meter mode.
• The tomahawk-throwing woodsman...it took several runs to determine that an exposure of F5/shutter speed 500 @ asa200 was spot-on.
• The Colonial soldier with musket...easy. Just depress the shutter release button halfway to lock the focus on the gun's lock, recompose, then finish depressing the shutter release button...perfect.

(All photos copyright John Bramel)

John Curry on the Green River

John Curry is quite a guy.

He is one of Kentucky's best-known living historians and reenactors, a book author, National Muzzelloading Rifle Association representative and magazine columnist, 18th Century longhunter expert, outstanding outdoorsman and survivalist, and many other things--and a friend of mine.

John calls upon me for all his photo projects. I shot this picture--and a ton of others--on an outing this winter on the upper Green River. We're either in Adair County or Casey County, Kentucky--we're so deep in the backwoods I'm not sure where. The photos were produced for upcoming magazine articles and inclusion in an upcoming book, all about 18th Century longhunters and their explorations into the upper Green River region.


Yes. It's cold. The temp was running about 32 degrees F, the snow blowing and wind howling, and the Nikons kept functioning flawlessly. This image was shot with the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 12-24 mm f4 G ED lens, which never comes off the Nikon D300 body.


Usually when I shoot projects with John I have to use fill-flash to get under the wide brim of that hat. On this day--bright overcast--the snow covering made for perfect fill light. By the way...I was dressed in modern clothing and packing about 25 pounds of camera gear in my always-present "thinktank" (thinktankphoto.com) gear.

Sarah and Robbie's "save-the-date"

Ten years ago if you'd told me I'd be doing wedding announcement photos by having my bride and groom jump into a lake...no way.


We're doing more and more of this kind of stuff in the studio--or outside the studio, as in this case--and I love it. The digital files created can be used for all types of things, such as this save-the-date, which I designed and did the layout for Sarah.


In case you didn't notice: These are two beautiful kids. I think Robbie has a real "Tarzan" look when he's wet, and Sarah is, of course, a stunner. Can't wait to shoot their wedding. I'll post some of those pics when I do.


The overall "jump" shot, Joanne took that one. I was shooting the couple jumping as they came straight at me. Joanne's "side" view worked better for the layout. I captured the water level view by nearly breaking my back laying with camera--yes--at water level, shooting with my Nikon D3 and Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8.


The shoot was done in late fall. Sarah recently mailed the "save-the-dates." I didn't want to post pics before Sarah got the exclusive with her mailings.

Here we go!

Okay...here we go.

This will be a spot where you can: Keep up with some of the stuff I've photographed, whether it be in the studio or elsewhere; keep up with studio promotions, happenings, etc.; see ramblings I've sent into cyberspace for whatever reason; learn about photography products I've found that I think others might also like; and even sometimes offer tips and instructions.

I promise to keep it interesting.

Want to participate by commenting or asking questions? That would make it even more interesting.