September Storm Photos

[Anders]

All,

Pics are availible now at www.zphotos.smugmug.com

Remember you can purchase a complete CD of the event from Julio at jzangroniz@comcast.net

Pards,

[Swag]

Nice thanks for posting that even though all the photos of me are from behind O well great photos any ways, definitely will be picking some of these up.

[Julio C. Zangroniz]

Friends,
I'm starting to get peppered with questions and queries about the "September Storm" Event Photo CD.
With the hope that I don't have to answer the same question day after day after day, I'd like to post some details about how anyone can go about ordering a copy.
The cost of the CD, which will have well over 300 individual images, is $30, which includes shipping, and your check should be made to Zangroniz Photography, and mailed to 4011 Muncaster Mill Rd., Rockville, MD 20853. Don't forget to include the address where you want us to mail the CD.
The Western Maryland Heritage Foundation will get a percentage of each and every sale to further the organization's historical preservation endeavors, and Zangroniz Photography is mighty proud to be part of that effort. We didn't have to do it. But we wanted to do it.
Right now, I'm *almost* ready to take the master (prototype, if you will) CD to the photo lab that will reproduce it, and I expect to ship all the orders we already have on hand by mid-October, at the latest. The only delay, as far as I can tell, is the exact time that the lab can get to our order. Unfortunately, we don't have enough orders to catapult this project to the head of the line, so we have to stand in line and humbly wait our turn.
Allow me to remind you that the September Storm EVent Photo CD comes with a FULL Satisfaction Guarantee, so if you don't like it, for whatever reason, simply return it to the address above and Zangroniz Photography will refund your purchase price--so you have absolutely *nothing at risk* when you order this Event Photo CD.
But you should have a pretty good idea of whether you like this product or not by simply perusing, at your leisure, the contents of the two "September Storm" galleries on exhibit at www.zphotos.smugmug.com, because that is *exactly* what you will get for your money if you decide to purchase this CD.
Zangroniz Photography is *very* proud of this particular product.
We assure each and every one of you that it is very unlikely that the reenacting community will have a better product of this sort available to it from anyone else, at least in the very near future. The bar has been set, and it's pretty high. We intend to keep it that way.
Gathering the visuals for this Photo CD took A LOT of effort --and A LOT of cooperation from the reenacting community --for which we humbly thank each and every one of the event participants. And let's face it, it also took a lot of luck, for which we thank the Good Lord.
Good fortune smiled upon Zangroniz Photography --and upon the world of CW reenacting-- all that weekend, and we have a collection of images that, though far from perfect, is about as good as anyone could have hoped for.
I am glad I was there for you, the reenacting community. I am glad that the Western Maryland Heritage Foundation saw fit to put its trust on Zangroniz Photography (a *really* wild gamble, in my opinion!) and I was glad to come into contact with one of the finest groups and individuals in the world of living history. Thank you, one and all.
My thanks for your trust and support!
Julio

[Frenchie]

Julio,

Pff! "Wild gamble", my heinie. When you want something done right, you get the best talent available. The WMHF did it smart, that's all. Thanks for making me look good, not hot and miserable like I felt

[Julio C. Zangroniz]

Frenchie,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I truly appreciate it.
I assure you that your comments do wonders for the individual ego, but... do they mean anything for the reenacting community at large?
I honestly don't see much general appreciation for the service that I endeavor to provide this particular community --at least not enough to keep my business as a viable, on-going financial venture. After close to 20 (twenty!) years, I still can't cover basic expenses.
All though the year, as I attended the 5-6 events I participated in 2007, I would hear a lot a reenactors declare something along these lines: "Where have you been this year? We used to see you all over the place..."
And it's true, I am, simply, no longer able to get around as much as I used to in years past, for I simply cannot afford to participate in reenactments as much as I once did.
A lot of it has to do with "job burnout." I have been to so many events since 1988, and photographed so many scenarios and/or individuals, that the task is no longer sufficiently challenging to make me *want* to come out and "do" yet another event. Zangroniz Photography probably has, without a doubt, the most extensive archives about Civil War reenacting (over 300,000 individual images, the last time I sat down to do an estimate). Offhand, I cannot think of a single individual and/or organization that might challenge this claim.
This entire situation is part and parcel, in fact, close to the *totality* of why most professional photographers opt to "pass" on Civil War reenacting, other than doing a casual, one-day assignment for one publication or another. There is just no viable market there.
Nowadays, it only takes about *two* weddings to provide me with *more* income than I can realize from an entire year of photographing Civil War reenacting --a situation that would cover even those years when we would do 20-30 events a year. For there is, to paraphrase a famous writer, "no there, there," at the risk of sounding repetitious.
And unfortunately, since I am not financially independent and I do have to continue to earn a living, I, like most other professionals photographers, have to go with "where the money is." And that means that I will have to spend more time photographing weddings (which in all honesty, I dislike considerably) rather than Civil War reenactments (which I love, but unfortunately are events that invariably fail to provide me with sufficient income to just stay afloat).
I wish things were different, but that's the harsh reality.
Again, I thank you for your kind words of praise.
I honestly hope I can continue to come out for particular reenactments, but the economic realities are what they are. The circle of life, I guess.
Sincerely,
Julio

[Frenchie]

Julio, I understand your point and feel as much regret for the cold, hard facts. As someone said to me recently, "It is what it is". Triste, non? Many more people get married than engage in this hobby and you have to go where the heat is.

[Julio C. Zangroniz]

Frenchie,
D'accord, mon ami.
C'est la vie... et c'est la guerre.
As you say, it is what it is.
All we can hope for is for better days ahead... pretty much what the men(and women!) of 1861-65 probably hoped for themselves.
In any case, I sincerely wish that the reenacting community enjoys the photographs of September Storm. It was a joy to have the privilege to be there for you --you all!
A bientot!
Julio

[FWL]

In any case, I sincerely wish that the reenacting community enjoys the photographs of September Storm. It was a joy to have the privilege to be there for you --you all!
A bientot!
Julio

Thanks Julio I know you are in it for a modest profit but I expect there's allot more motivation than money. I have taken a year off from reenacting (it just happened not planned) but I was able to enjoy seeing many of my old and not so old comrades in your September Storm photos. In particular that ever odd fellow Rich Hill and that dutchman marxist scribe. Your photos and Chris's fine event rekindled some interest.

Regards

[Julio C. Zangroniz]

Mr. Lilley,
I had noticed your absence from the fields of Civil War reenacting (as well as that of your missus and your musician sprout), but I had more or less ascribed that to my own lack of participation over the last few years.
As you point out, September Storm will represent a modestly profitable event, though for me that is but one tiny rise on the economics graph that can only be described as "about 99% flatiline" going back to 1988.
Those circumstances, for a professional photographer who must earn a lot of his living on weekends (specifically, through weddings, family and/or individual portraits, even real estate virtual tours, all scheduled for the convenience of the customer), represent a rather intolerable state of affairs, one that will syphon me away from the hobby of CW reenacting after the conclusion of the current season.
I fully expect that Cedar Creek --if I go-- will be my *last* reenactment. For how long, not even I knows for sure. There are preliminary talks about a possible return for me record an entire event in 2008, just as I did at Summer of '62 and September Storm, but so far, that's all preliminary.
Another important factor in this equation is another set of discussions, with representatives of a different historical period, for the compilation of a coffee table-type book of photography about that hobby. The target publication date is somewhere in the Summer of 2009, and though that seems quite far away, it really isn't when one has to arrange to visit about two dozen historical sites, attend and photograph various programs, research and write the copy, proofread the entire thing, etc. etc. etc.
In any event, the bottom line is that there will be a lot less of me on the CW reenacting fields over the next couple of years --a fact that I know will delight a number of Chronic Whiners on this and a few other bulletin boards, but it is what it is.
I leave with great, great memories --and the most extensive photographic archives in the entire world-- so allow me to express my gratefulness through you and the Szabo Forum to the entire reenacting community for many, many years of unforgettable, wonderful experiences.
Julio

[Anders]

I can not do At High Tide without knowing that you are there to record images of the event as only you can.

I am at a loss to understand how others cannot see the benefits of documenting events for the future growth of the hobby.

And hiring a true professional to do so. Like you.

I plan to bug you endlessly until I see you in June outside of the 'burg....

Pards,