Look familiar?

[StuartR]

Went to Castle Hedingham in Essex today to visit its..Castle!

There was a "jousting tournament" going on so I took a few shots (unfortunately into the sun) and I thought this guy looked familiar, I'm almost sure he posts on here?



he was a mean bugger, after laying his appointment flat out, he wasn't content with just taking the crowd's applause .....



..he did a move that would have impressed fans of the WWE SummerSlam!



You could hear the bones crunching from the other side of the arena

[Pops]

Re: Look familiar?

Good job those ropes are there to stop him getting at the crowd
That first shot makes him look like a real nasty piece of work.

[cowcrzy06]

Re: Look familiar?

Stuart,

I cannot stand sounding like a teenager but for a lack of better words:THATS AWESOME!

[Stephen]

Re: Look familiar?

Nice set Stuart, capturing something of the feel of the day. The last one was timed to perfection But it made my eyes water

[coupekid]

Re: Look familiar?

outstanding series of shots Stuart, nice work!

[StuartR]

Re: Look familiar?

A few more snaps from the day - this'll be the lot, promise.

The castle itself, just the Norman keep left which was built circa 1140.




The Red & Blue Knights jousting. The "Master of Ceremonies" on the microphone was a cross between Jeremy beadle and Terry Gilliam (Monty Python), it was certainly played more for laughs than historical accuracy!



The Falconer - I think this guy loved his birds more than people. A couple of the birds went AWOL but did come back eventually. This particular falcon was probably the most impressive, with high speed vertical dives to the lure.



His Barn Owl at rest before the display.



Finally, a couple of shots taken inside the keep of the Lady of the Manor "knighting" some young visitors (looks more like an "off with his head expression"!) and her "scribe" writing out their certificates. I was pleased with these two because they were hand-held at slow shutter speeds even with the ISO pushed up to 1600. (The IS lens helped of course!)

[Stephen]

Re: Look familiar?

Once again luvverly stuff Stuart, the indoor shots in particularly are good and have that element of authenticity that outdoor shots with the crowds etc don't have.

[Pol]

Re: Look familiar?

Very good, interesting series. Looks like it was a good day out.

I especially like the last 2 shots.

Polly

[spl]

Re: Look familiar?

Is that guy (or whatever it is) on the ground dead or alive? Sorry not familiar with this sort of thing.

[StuartR]

Re: Look familiar?

Definitely alive He'd been knocked off his horse in the joust and then hacked down by his opponent's sword in the ensuing sword-fight. I was actually quite surprised with the belly-flop move because it did look painful from where I was sitting but I assure you he was up and about on his horse a few minutes later, skewering dismembered heads laid on the ground with his lance. (The heads, I hasten to add, were made from polystyrene although they were quite life-like!). Our ancestors really knew how to enjoy themselves

I was actually quite impressed with their accuracy with the lance, the final test to decide "Top Knight" being to lance small wooden rings hanging above the arena, the rings getting smaller as the contest progressed untill they were not much bigger than the tip of the lance itself.

It all got a bit bizarre at the end, with Queen's "We are the champions" playing over the PA system and the guy who was on the ground earlier doing some amazing "air guitar" moves, using his sword as a pretend guitar

As I said, it was definitely played for laughs with the crowd divided into blues & reds and cheering or booing their respective team. I've been to some other reenactments that were deadly serious but still good fun to watch.

I wouldn't mind betting there are a few injuries during the season.

[StuartR]

Re: Look familiar?

I know I said no more pics, so here's one of the Red Knight goading the Blue team... now I know Alex Baldwin never really made it to be leading man in an "A" movie but I was surprised to see him in this event!

[coupekid]

Re: Look familiar?

I know I said no more pics, so here's one of the Red Knight goading the Blue team... now I know Alex Baldwin never really made it to be leading man in an "A" movie but I was surprised to see him in this event!

My god, that looks just like him!!

More images would be welcome from this end Stuart! Its a super series, and I would be happy to see more

[Ian]

Re: Look familiar?

My god, that looks just like him!!

More images would be welcome from this end Stuart! Its a super series, and I would be happy to see more

Actually he reminds me of Dean Stockwell, or Al in Quantum Leap

Ian

[Pops]

Re: Look familiar?

The shot of the Scribe at work is my favourite. Looks very authentic indeed.