Sleepy Moggies, Snails, and Shootin' Nazis at Tutbury Castle

It's been a busy weekend with the camera, with a couple of small unplanned shoots on Saturday and a trip to an outdoor event on Sunday.  Saturday's impromptu shoots occurred during the hot weather as Yol and I tackled the garden, and the cats sought out places to hide, sleep and keep cool!

During the clearing out of the rocks from the garden (long story, suffice to say that I think we had lazy builders when it came to getting rid of rubble when the house was built) we uncovered some snails who'd been setting up home (well, mobile home) in a wet trug full of slab parts.  So, when they were set free to roam very slowly in the grass, I grabbed my camera and +4 magnifier adaptor, and got this shot:

Sunday saw the main photography action of the weekend, with a trip to Tutbury Castle with Yolanda.  The castle was hosting a 1940s themed weekend,  and so we loaded the camera into the car and off we went!

The population of the castle that day were really getting into the swing of things, plenty of people in 1940s costume and military uniforms, with vehicles and tents pitched up on the castle's lawn.  Before we'd even entered the grounds we were being watched from the castle walls by re-enactors in German military uniforms:

We also bumped into friends and fellow snappers Glyn and Claire Wade, who'd also chosen to visit Tutbury Castle and document the day's events, and so for various parts of the day we were shooting people mob-handed!

The castle itself consists of three sections of ruins, two of which are still accessible and can be climbed, and a newer section called the Great Hall.  All of the sections are somewhat photogenic!:

The main attractions of the day though weren't the venue itself, but the people in the various uniforms and costumes of the era.  Whether re-enactors or veterans, the military influence was everywhere, from the Gatehouse to the Castle. All of them were willing to stop for a photo, a real blessing for a portrait photographer:

The highlight of the day's proceedings was undoubtedly the battle re-enactment, with the German forces holding the castle and the Allies attacking across the grass.  A full safety briefing was given to the crowd beforehand, and then it was all kicked off with a bang!

The full set of photos from the day can be seen here on Flickr: 1940s Weekend at Tutbury Castle

Thanks for reading!