In the United States, historical reenactments are usually limited to the Civil War battlefields peppered along the East Coast. But one imagines that European historical reenactors have a much broader geographic area — not to mention the seemingly unlimited historical conflicts. Photographer Jim Naughten found inspiration in a group of highbrow Live Action Role Players in Kent, England, who, with the help of intricate and meticulous costumes, recreate battles from the First and Second World Wars. “Taking on a different name, identity and sometimes even a different tongue, the role players re-enact battles and drills from an imagined past,” Naughten describes. “It is something more than acting, a collective fantasy played out on a massive scale.” Take a look at his gorgeous portraits of a group of these reenactors, all of which could be easily mistaken for colorized images of vintage photographs.
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten
Image credit: Jim Naughten