Christmas Truce, 1914

Posted on December 25, 2014 by treshabarger

One hundred years ago today, the world was at war. When I think of war, I don’t think of countries or governments, but of people, individuals: men, women, children; those fighting the war, those affected by war (which is everyone). I’m re-posting my favorite Christmas story. Peace to all.

Peace to all

In 1914, during the Great War (World War I), an unofficial truce took place on Christmas Day along the Western Front. Some German and British soldiers took it upon themselves to celebrate Christmas by stopping the war, greeting each other, exchanging what small items they had as gifts (cigarettes, chocolate, etc.) and playing a soccer game. Peace broke out in more than one area and in more than one year.

There is a memorial in Ypres, Belgium commemorating this truce that was lead by the soldiers themselves.

Celtic Festival (3)

Posted on October 13, 2014 by treshabarger

More photos from the photography field trip to the Celtic Festival in McDade, Texas.

Something new for me was the caber toss, a sport from Scotland. Those poles start around 65 pounds and are about 19 feet tall. If the tosser is successful at tossing it end over end before it hits the ground, in the next round they get to use a heavier pole.

Tammy lifted the pole up high enough that it did, indeed, flip end over end before landing. A round of applause for Tammy!

Tammy, the caber tosser

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A shopkeeper sweeping the steps to his shop, getting ready to open for business

Shopkeeper opening for business

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A man with a half of a tomato on his head

Not a target in the archery contest, fortunately

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The king’s castle.

Sherwood Keep

Celtic Festival (2)

Posted on October 12, 2014 by treshabarger

At the Celtic Festival in McDade, we saw the archery contest with the long bow.

I actually got a photo of an arrow in flight.

In flight

At the end of the contest, all the archers drew their long bows at the same time, for the volley.

Archery volley

The archery target with all the arrows in it from the volley

Volley results

One of the archers, a woman in a black dress and black face mask

Masked archer

An archer approaching the line

Here is Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest at the Highland Games arena during the archery contest.

Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest

Celtic Festival (1)

Posted on October 11, 2014 by treshabarger

I attended my first Celtic Festival in McDade, Texas.

The field trip was hosted by Precision Camera & Video. They provided two professional photographers as instructors and guides and the rest was up to us amateur photographers. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot from the instructors.

All the “residents” of Sherwood Forest were friendly and happy to pose for photographs. I took a couple hundred photographs and, fortunately, a few of them are good enough to share.

This one is my favorite: the future caber tosser.

A baby, just learning to walk, in a kilt. So cute.

Future Caber Tosser

A father and daughter both dressed up in medieval clothes

Like father, like daughter

These two gentlemen greeted the crowd just before the festival opened for the day. Beautiful music they made. When they started to play, about 25 of us got out our cameras and clicked away, startling them. Their very own paparazzi!