As a young man, I read many books of western exploration and adventures. In school, the history books fascinated me with stories of Fremont, Bridger, and others. In September, a small frontiersman rendezvous was held nearby at Dwight Mission, and I accompanied other members of the Fort Smith Photographic Alliance on a Saturday to the gathering.
A wood pile and axes at the frontier rendezvous, Dwight Mission, Oklahoma, September 2013
Snoods, 18th and 19th century hairnets, available for purchase, frontier rendezvous, Dwight Mission, Oklahoma, September 2013
One of the tee-pee tents is reflected in a mirror hanging in another tent on the grounds at the Frontier Rendezvous, Dwight Mission, Oklahoma, September 2013
Fur trap hanging outside a tee-pee tent at the Frontier Rendezvous, Dwight Mission, Oklahoma, September 2013
A rendezvous frontiersman reenacts throwing an axe at a target during a competition, Frontier Rendezvous, Dwight Mission, Oklahoma, September 2013
The day was a lot of fun for all of us. The rendezvous/reenactment was a relatively small one, and it was the first time held at Dwight Mission, but the spirit of the time was obvious in all the participants. (I even tried my skill at the axe throw, but with little success.)
If anyone has the opportunity to be involved with a photography/camera club, I encourage you to do so. Most groups will have outings such as this, as well as classes and workshops, competitions, and social gatherings. If you are in the Fort Smith Arkansas region, the Alliance is a great place to visit!
The photos here were taken using the Sony Alpha 77, the Sony 16-50 lens, and the Tamron 70-300 lens. In many cases, I also used a polarizing filter.
Millican Photography 