Lynchburg at War: Buzzards Roost

Nov 14

In the mid-1800s, Lynchburg’s Buzzards Roost was the city’s rowdiest, rough-edged district—a tight maze of boarding houses, saloons, brothels, and back-alley commerce that pulsed late into the night. River men, laborers, and travelers crowded the streets, drawn by gambling tables, cheap whiskey, and the thrill of cockfights held behind taverns. It was a place where fortunes were won and lost in minutes, where women working in brothels carved out a living on the margins, and where the constant rumble of trade from the riverfront fed an economy of vice as much as necessity. Gritty, smoky, and alive with noise, Buzzards Roost was both the heartbeat of Lynchburg’s working class and the city’s most notorious playground—an unforgettable slice of 19th-century life.

For this shoot, I handled (along with our team) set styling, costuming, makeup, photography, casting, and helped build the fire-cresset props to help shape the gritty, atmospheric look of the scene. Photographed in Lynchburg, Virginia, these portraits highlight the character, texture, and storytelling at the heart of Makers Workshop. If you’re looking for heritage-inspired photography, historically grounded visuals, or handcrafted production work in Virginia, this collection captures the craftsmanship and depth that define my approach.

We were honored to work with Alistair McPherson, a Scottish-born special-effects and prosthetics artist, on this shoot. McPherson earned his stripes early on as a prosthetic technician on Hellbound: Hellraiser II. After years in the UK, he later resumed his work in the U.S., bringing decades of experience and a finely crafted eye to every project. Our film also features costumes from Historical Wardrobe, a Richmond, VA–based film-costume house whose inventory spans centuries with meticulously researched and tailored historical dress. Historical Wardrobe was created by Kevin Hershberger, an Emmy-nominated director, producer, screenwriter and founder of LionHeart FilmWorks.