After leaving Independence, Nader and I headed south towards US-30. Our first stop after reconnecting with US-30 was an old-time gas station and cafe known as Youngville. It is no longer a gas station, but sort of a living museum. During the summer months the cafe opens on Tuesdays for… Read More »Birthday Road Trip: Youngville
After Nader and I finished lunch and walking around Monticello we started the meandering trip back home. We headed north and travelled west on US-20. I think my main idea was to visit Cedar Rock State Park – home of a Frank Lloyd Wright house, but these plans were squashed… Read More »Birthday Road Trip: Independence
Last Wednesday when we left off, Nader and I were still hanging around Budget Travel’s “Coolest Small Town”, Mount Vernon. On this trip we will finish up in Mount Vernon and then head north to Stone City and then to Monticello for lunch. If you are trying to remember what… Read More »Birthday Road Trip: Road to Monticello
After Nader and I bid a fond adieu to Willy and the Houby Festival we headed towards Monticello for lunch. But on the way to Monticello we stopped in Mount Vernon so I could do a little of the old street photography. Here is a collection of images on the… Read More »Birthday Road Trip: Mount Vernon
Last year for my annual Birthday Road Trip I went to the Houby Festival in the Czech Village with Nader. We met up with Willy there and checked out what the Houby Festival. Here is the final collection of images from the Houby Festival: While this is the end of… Read More »Birthday Road Trip: Houby Festival D
Last year for my annual Birthday Road Trip I went to the Houby Festival in the Czech Village with Nader. We met up with Willy there and checked out what the Houby Festival. Here is the second collection of images from the Houby Festival Parade: There is still one more… Read More »Birthday Road Trip: Houby Festival C
Today is Ash Wednesday. Normally I would invite you to attend Ash Wednesday service with me at Boone First United Methodist Church. But unfortunately I will not be able to make it to worship service tonight. However, if you are looking for an Ash Wednesday service to attend, you are… Read More »Birthday Road Trip: Houby Festival B
Last year for my annual Birthday Road Trip I didn’t get too ambitious. I just cruised over with Nader to the Czech Village to check out the Houby Festival. I had pretty high expectations for the Houby Festival because your guy loves mushrooms. We met Willy over there on what… Read More »Birthday Road Trip: Houby Festival A
It is the third day of February. Seems like a good time to share the THE SELFIE PROJECT images from January. My travel was pretty minimal in January. I didn’t leave the state. But at least I made it as far away from my front doorstep as Grinnell. Also made… Read More »Selfie Project – January 2026
Now that I’ve revealed all of the 2026 Photography Calendar I’m going to put together a super long post. I’m not joking, this is a SUPER long post. You might want to stretch out your scrolling finger before diving in to this one. Normally I might make this into 2… Read More »Let’s Talk 2026 Calendar!
Time to reveal the May image for the 2026 Photography 139 Calendar. MAY – 2026 Technical Details The subject of the May image is a spider sculpture in the Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Des Moines. This is one of those pictures that when I distributed the calendars I learned that… Read More »Selfie Project – December 2025
Can you believe that this is the 5,750th entry in the blog known as “An Artist’s Notebook”? Every 250 posts or so I like to take a moment to reflect on where this post has been and post a lot of meaningless stats. As always on these posts, I like… Read More »Post 5,750
The first day of November No better day to share THE SELFIE PROJECT images from October. Once again, my travel was pretty minimal. I think the farthest I made it from my front step was Des Moines. Gross. But I promise that I will do better in November! Here are… Read More »Selfie Project – October 2025
This is it. The final collection of images I took at the Iowa State Fair. This collection of images were taken on my trip to the Iowa State Fair on the final day of the Fair with Nader. This is my favorite collection of images from last year’s Fair. It… Read More »ISF 08/18/2024: Sunset
The Iowa State Fair has officially started, so I can give you some clues as to what 3 pictures of mine made it into the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. Good luck finding them! The Iowa State Fair opened yesterday. This collection of images is the second to last collection… Read More »ISF 08/18/2024: Photo Pickup
One of my favorite places to visit at the Iowa State Fair is Pioneer Hall. I freely confess that part of this is nostalgia based on the fact that in my youth we spent much time in Pioneer Hall with my parents. This reminds me that if you are going… Read More »ISF 08/18/2024: Pioneer Hall Adjacent
Back in May, I went on my annual birthday road trip. This year it wasn’t overly ambitious. Nader went with me again, as he is my one and only true friend. We met up with Willy at the Houby Festival. I will cover the Houby Festival (in Cedar Rapids) in… Read More »Tenderloining: Monticello Field Work
Last time we left off on my trip to the Iowa State Fair on the last day of the Fair with Nader, we were wandering the Agriculture Building. This collection will continue there with pictures of some of the amazingly bizarre art and food competitions in there! It will end… Read More »ISF 08/18/2024: Art
I keep forgetting to share how I did in this year’s Iowa State Photography Salon. I got the yellow card in my mail box over 2 weeks ago and I don’t know if I’ve really shared what it said with too many people. Mostly just a few other photographers, my… Read More »ISF 08/18/2024: Big Animals
Time for another collection of images from my last trip to the Iowa State Fair last year with Nader. We ended the last collection enjoying the musical stylings of Bandolini. This collection will begin there, but then have a collection of images of people competing in the finals of the… Read More »ISF 08/18/2024: Talent
I need to start the day by wishing everybody a Happy 4th of July. Have a good Independence Day! It is time to start sharing images from my last trip to the Iowa State Fair. Nader joined me on this trip. This is the trip where I pick up my… Read More »08/18/2024 – Baby Animals