Not only are there actually 11 pipers here, there are many more than 11. This is part of the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps.
If you want to hear a sample of their music, here is a link:
fife and drum and click over on the links on the right hand side of the page.
Children can start in the fife and drum as early as age 10 and continue until they graduate. When we moved to Williamsburg, we were told that you needed to sign up as early as 5 years old to get on the waiting list to make it in when you were ten. We didn't choose to go that route, so I'm not sure if that's still the case. However, it's a very proud tradition, and a very talented, well trained group of musicians. A truly impressive group.
They play once on the weekend, and it's difficult to get a shot, because the don't stay in one place to play -- the march. So you end up running ahead, shooting, running ahead, shooting, and hoping!
I was extremely lucky this day. I shot a lot during the parade, but this shot and some others came at the end, and everything came together. I was floored when I pulled this into RAW and adjusted the exposure -- the lighting just made everything glow. It wasn't one of those days where you knew it was right -- but it was one of those surprises when you got home. The colors and tones took my breath away. I'm truly in love with this shot.
I wanted to crop out the other pipers, but I left them in to give the feel of more pipers piping -- not just one isolated piper.
Thank you for all the wonderful comments. While the parade was going on, I actually switched lenses, trying the 24-105, the 100mm, and the 100-400. I knew I wanted this type of shot, and that the longer lens would give it to me. I set up what I could -- the lens, the aperture, the iso, but when all was said and done, it was really luck -- hitting the right place and the right time. I took close to 200 shots during the parade, close ups on drums, drums in a line, lots of pipers, longer exposure on drummers, etc. (and tripped over a tree root), and there were 5 that I liked.
Here's two others:
and here's the more cropped version:
Thanks again -- This one is special to me. :)
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 22 Avg (all users): 6.9238 Avg (commenters): 8.3846 Avg (participants): 6.9167 Avg (non-participants): 6.9247 Views since voting: 3039 Views during voting: 241 Votes: 105 Comments: 29 Favorites: 1 (view)
Wonderful shot! You are right about the light and the tones! I recognized this as you due to your other blue ribbon shot of a man shooting his musket. congratulations on the blue. Any one of your favorite shots would have ribboned here!!
Not only suits the challenge but it is one of the best shots I have ever seen of a piper - my grandson plays - excellent in every way. Congratulations.
I love the textures on his outfit. Great light. You captured it at the right moment - great face expression. Seems like he really loves what he is doing. The picture makes me wanna hear what they are playing :)
11 Pipers Piping
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
