Calming the Nerves before the Battle

This was one of the Union commanders taking a quiet smoke on his pipe before the battle was to begin.

I am not a smoker, not into smoking normally (but see me smoking him yesterday), but for some reason I love shots with smoke in them. Love love candids with smoke coming out of a mouth. I wished that my cig had been real and lit so that I could have had some smoke in my shot.

This is my first smoker shot. I tried and tried to capture it well. Perhaps that is why I got some looks at the event. I would take as many shots as it took to get it right or until I felt creepy. Maybe the looks were letting me know to move along, you creepy lady.

Anyway, this guy looked cool trying to calm his nerves standing before his preparing troops. A quiet smoke before all the smoke and blood on the battlefield. Can't imagine how horrible war would be in real life.

[Annie D]

very cool - yep smoke does create an effect or atmosphere

[Emilie Cartoun]

When I was a child we saw men smoking pipes sometimes, not often but occasionally. I can't remember the last time I saw someone smoking a pipe. Nice shot, love the smoke.

[Jocasta]

Brilliant - fantastic candid and you've captured him deep in thought with all that lovely smoke from his pipe. Love the Wet Plate processing . FAV

[Simply Amanda]

@jocasta Thanks so much...I thought that worked with a Civil War era shot.

@teiko @annied Love the atmosphere...thanks ladies!!

[Gena Pegg]

This looks so vintage and like a page out of history book. Lovely how the smoke does add so much to the image. Excellent capture Amanda

[Linda1949]

I should have scrolled down further. It does look authentic.

[Jane Anderson]

The smoke and the sepia make this seem like a real Civil War Era photo.

[Cindy Muir]

Great capture!

[Tremerryn]

Superb shot - the smoke adds to the atmosphere.

[Carole Imes]

Fabulous shot of that big puff of smoke and love how you processed it to look so vintage. That must have been fun to watch.

[Kerri]

Great portrait

[cheryl]

great shot. love the vintage look and the smoke billowing out of the pipe.

[☠northy]

Beautifully captured candid Amanda... Smoke does indeed lend wonderful atmosphere to a shot...

[~*~ Jo ~*~]

Lovely candid shot.

[Princess Fairlane]

Brilliant capture!

[Dina Rich]

Lovely vintage looking shot!

[Kareen King]

Awesome capture, Amanda. Fav.

[Jo]

Great candid, the smoke really makes the shot and I really like the vintage look.

[carol white]

Super capture,great processing:-)

[KWind]

You've captured the smoke so well. Great processing too.

[Jennifer]

very nice smoke capture and general portrait. I like your edit too.

[Mat]

Without the smoke it wouldn't have anywhere near the impact it has. It seems to emphasize his mood somehow. Good timing getting a big cloud.

[Mary Downing Hahn]

Another Fav -- absolutely perfect!

[Paula W]

I like how you have captured him mid-puff! Processing is spot on Amanda.

[Rachel Withey]

Great shot and fantastic processing

[Leslie]

love the smoke

[*lynn]

Such a cool capture! Good job!

[Bill Fenske]

Excellent capture and processing, love, love love it. I smoked cigarettes for about 15 years, then a pipe for another 15. I quit sometime in the very early 90's.

[Catherine W.]

Well captured and perfect old-timey processing!

[Suse♡]

Excellent processing!

[dh (delena)]

The smoke certainly adds atmosphere to this shot.

[Rachel]

Beautiful candid capture

[Tony]

So pleased you persisted, fabulous candid.

[Taffy]

Love this one -- what a great series -- I feel like you were a photojournalist embedded with the troops. You did such a wonderful job of selecting moments to capture the emotion of the battle -- and I agree, I can't begin to imagine what that would be like at any level.

[Agata]

Such a grea shot! Congrats for being so persistent and not caring for the looks!amazing!