Wow, Has it Been Almost a Year?

I can't believe it has been almost a year since I've blogged. I must try to do a better job. The sun is now rising and I've been writing this blog for the last few hours (after not being able to sleep)... one glitch after another.... big sigh...

Last weekend on May 16, Down Nostalgia Lane Photography covered the Arthritis Foundation walk in O'Fallon, Illinois.

At the outset, it appeared that it might get rained out. It was rather dreary and looked like thunderstorms were looming in the horizon. Luckily it must have traveled elsewhere because it never rained to any real extent. I was prepared though... My cameras had a little plastic raincoat, just in case!

Katie Haverkamp is a teenager with polyarticular arthritis. She gave a speech and lead the way in the walk.

All of the teams have done a great job raising money.

There were several businesses & organizations present donating food and services including Michael W. Hine Chiropractic Medical. His group was giving free massages. Nice!

The clowns from the Mascoutah Clown Unit Moose Lodge 815 were super nice and entertaining.

The Camp Bow Wow booth was a very busy one indeed. The people at that booth were always smiling and they had a small crowd of visitors the whole day. It makes me wish I had a dog to take there.

Happy people were everywhere. Denise Heidger worked very long and hard on this project! Her hard work paid off. It looks like all had fun (even the furry walkers) and much money was raised.


See the gallery for more pictures. If you would like to have a Arthritis walk in your metro east St. Louis area, contact Denise. Or, if you would like to donate to this worthy cause or participate in a walk near you, just visit the Arthritis Foundation site.


Are you a non profit looking for a photographer?? I just might be the one for you. I really enjoy covering events. Shameless plug...

Hopefully my next post won't take near this long... but no promises! ;)

2007 Historical Illinois Reenactments | Fort de Chartres Rendezvous & Camp Dubois

Hello visitors... I thought I was the last person to ever have a blog. Never say never, I guess. A little about me: I am a on location photographer based out of Belleville, Illinois. When not doing photog biz, I like to take photos of local activities going on in my area.




I should have started this blog out when we had the Summer Rendezvous on June 2, 2007. Click here to see 2007 Fort de Chartres or Fort Chartres Rendezvous reenactment images. This year I had a splitting headache but didn't want to miss out on all of the great photo ops. Think I did really well considering... Always a fun event! Highly recommend it if you have never been. The Rendezvous takes place at Fort de Chartres, just outside Prairie du Rocher every year on the first weekend in June, which is June 7 and 8 in 2008. They also have other events throughout the year.

http://www.ftdechartres.com/ has all sorts of interesting facts about this unique midwestern event, including other scheduled events throughout the year, history of Fort de Chartres & links to other related sites.



Earlier this year, on May 12 & 13, I had the opportunity to photograph another interesting reenacting event, Camp River Dubois "Point of Departure" (to see slide show pictures or photo album click here), at the Lewis & Clark Visitor Center in Hartford, Illinois near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. One man was diggin' out the insides of a huge log, making a boat (keel boat?? he told me but the memory isn't what it used to be); there is a fort available for touring which is a replica of the fort where Lewis & Clark stayed before they departed on their journey; several people in costume were either milling around the fort or making candles, brooms, spinning yarn, firing guns, etc. It was a very entertaining and interesting historic event.



Both events are great family fun! Hopefully next year the weather will be as nice as it was this year. Be sure to check them out in 2008. All of these images are available as stock or fine art prints.