The gun I got for Christmas: Photographer captures everyday Americans showing off their new weapons at the firing range the day after Christmas - including a woman's custom-made pink anti-tank rifle
- Weapons sales have gone through the roof in the U.S. this holiday season
- Many have put guns on top of the list because they want more protection
- The day after Christmas, thousands go to ranges to test them out
- So photographer Patrick Hall decided to capture the annual tradition
- He took the shots at Twin Ponds Rifle Range in Awendaw, South Carolina
On Christmas morning, families everywhere rushed downstairs to find hoverboards, Apple Watches and Star Wars toys under the tree.
But not many can say Santa left them a custom-made, pink anti-tank rifle, bedazzled in shiny jewels.
Guns have been one of the most popular gifts this year - with the sale of weapons soaring in the months leading up to the holidays.
So, after the leftovers are stuffed into the tuppaware and extended family members are shoved out the door, thousands of everyday Americans who were given a firearm this Christmas headed out to a firing range to test their presents.
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Photographer Patrick Hall decided to spend the day after Christmas meeting these people and taking pictures of them with their new sidearm at Twin Ponds Rifle Range in Awendaw, South Carolina - around 30 minutes outside of Charleston.
He used a huge American flag as a backdrop and set up a fog machine - to help recreate the atmosphere at a rifle range when a dozens of guns go off in rapid succession.
In a bid to keep the shots serious, he told his subjects not to strike too much of an extravagant pose.
What he came up with was stunning portraits of men, women and children holding some of the most powerful guns you can buy over the counter.
'Overall, this portrait session was pretty easy because I had prepared well in advance,' he wrote on his website FStoppers.
'Everyone who had their photo taken was super excited about the images, and each portrait had its own character with the smoke and the variety of weaponry displayed. Obviously, the politics concerning gun ownership and how the U.S. Second Amendment fits into today's society is a highly debated topic.
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'My goal with these portraits wasn't to take any particular side in that argument, but instead, I just wanted to capture the diverse group of gun owners from every walk of life, as they enjoyed their hobby following Christmas.
'I think what makes any photo series interesting is seeing how individual people with different cultures, beliefs, and ideologies interpret and critique a collection of photographs.
'For me, these are some of the most interesting photographs I have ever taken, and this is a series I could see myself revisiting down the road.'
Apparently more guns were bought for Christmas this year in comparison to many other years.
This may have been because of the recent terrorist attacks in San Bernardino and Paris.