Category Archives: Ruins

And I Thought My Heart was Detached

Seems like a good time to share some alternate images I took for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme LEADING LINES. I took all of these pictures on a hike through the backside of McHose Park.


Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

Leading Lines - Alternate

These pictures are almost 3 weeks old, but looking at them, it dawns on me that I should get some pants that fit better. No promises though. I’m still not finished with my cleaning out my closets project. I’m close though. Pretty dang close!

We Broke Up a Month Ago

I took a few pictures for the THE WEEKLY CHALLENGE theme CIRCLE a week or so back. Thought I would share with you all the ones that were good enough to make the cut. Most of these were taken in McHose Park, but a few were taken in other locations. But all in Boone.

Here are the alternates:


Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

Week 438 - Circle - Alternate Image

I do love a good shape theme! It is a theme that makes you look at the world in a slightly different way (SPOILER: that is what all the themes should do) as you see how shapes fit together to make the entire picture you see. It is a great exercise to help you improve your compositional skills. Maybe next year I should do some combined shape themes. Like SQUARE AND TRIANGLE. A submission would have to include both of them. I’m starting to fall in love with my own idea. I’m sure that is the first time that has ever happened.

2024 Photography 139 Calendar Rejects: The Beginning

Time to share the final image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. The December image. It is an image of an abandoned (methinks) church I found in northeast Iowa on a THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trip:


2024 Calendar - December
DECEMBER

I chose this image for December because I usually like to either use a cold picture or some religious imagery for the December image. This picture might not scream “Christ is born!” but it is of a church. Not a lines are straight.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: August 20, 2022 – 12:34 PM
LENS: 28-75 f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
EXPOSURE TIME: 1/5000
ISO: 100

It was converted to black & white in Photoshop.

That is it, that is the final image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. But while those 13 images were selected for the calendar, they weren’t the only ones considered. Not by a long shot. There were 73 other images considered and not included. But I would like to give them some love.

Here is the first collection of reject images:


2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

2024 Calendar Reject

There still another 36 images that didn’t make the cut. That doesn’t mean that won’t make the cut next year. The cover image for the 2024 Calendar was rejected for the 2023 calendar. Share the rest on Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday.

And They’ll Think that I am So Exciting

It is time to share the November image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar image. It is a picture of the redbud trees in Red Haw State Park.


2024 Calendar - November
NOVEMBER

I chose this picture for November because it had purple in it.

TECHINICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: April 29, 2023 – 12:23 PM
LENS: 17-28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm
APERTURE: f/6.3
EXPOSURE: 1/160
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will show the last image from the 2024 calendar.

+++++++

Now is the time to clean up the May backlog. These images were taken in May, but never really fit into a previous “An Artist’s Notebook” post. Some of are Naima. Some were alternate images for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Hopefully all are of interest.

Naima

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima at Dickcissel

Naima

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

And They'll Think that I am So Exciting

Wolf, Iowa

Incline, Iowa

It definitely feels good to get some of the backlog cleared out!

Liberty Bowl Trip Cell Phone Pictures

Time to share the May image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture taken off of I-80 near the exit that takes you to the Amana Colonies:


2024 Calendar - May
MAY

I chose this picture for May because I usually put a picture in May that is a picture that I love that I think most people won’t. Frequently that is an image of ruins. Which of course I love. Particularly black and white picture of ruins.

TECHNICAL DETAIL

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: August 8, 2022 – 9:06 AM
LENS: E 28-75MM f/2.8
FOCAL LENTH: 75mm
EXPOSURE: 1/1000
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the June image!

+++++++

While the football game didn’t go the way I had hoped. It was a full on embarrassment, but that is how the cookie crumbles. It still was an incredible trip. Thought I would go ahead and share some cruddy cell phone pictures from the trip to start:


Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

Liberty Bowl Trip - 2023

I’ll get into details about the trip at a later date.

Stanhope Watermelon Day – IV

Time to share the April image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture of tulips taken in Pella:


2024 Calendar - April
APRIL

I chose this tulips picture for April cause April is really the beginning of flowertography season. And tulips are really the first flowers of the year that I really like. Daffodils are just kind of okay in my book.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: April 29, 2023 – 10:02 AM
LENS: 17-28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm
APERTURE: f/5.6
EXPOSURE: 1/125
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the May image!

+++++++

Time to share the rest of the images from my trip to the Stanhope Watermelon Day with Teresa:


Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

Watermelon Day - 2023

The Foreigner cover band was a bonus. It was a pretty great day and I think I will hit Stanhope Watermelon Day again next year.

PHOTO DROP-OFF ROAD TRIP II

Today is Suzie’s birthday. So I need to wish her a happy birthday!


Day 128 - May 8, 2021
Happy birthday Suzie!

Suzie is the short one in the picture, in case you didn’t know! I hope you have an amazing birthday!

+++++++

Time to share more pictures from the road trip I took with Nader after I dropped off my pictures for the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. This collection starts where the first collection ended, hanging out with Albert the Bull in Audubon.


Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Gray, Iowa
Gray

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Manning, Iowa
Manning

Manning, Iowa

Manning, Iowa

Manning, Iowa

Still one more collection of images to share from this road trip.

Davis County Aux. – Vol. 4

Here it is. The final collection of auxiliary images I took during THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT. Finally being shared almost 14 months after I took them. Closing the book on pictures I took in 2022. To be honest there is one last collection of pictures I took in 2022, but I’m not going to share those. Those I will keep for me.

The final county of town signs I harvested was Davis County. A county I left for last because I wanted to save the Paris, Iowa (there are two unincorporated towns named Paris in Iowa) for the end because I have some family history on my Mom’s side of the family there. Paris is almost a ghost town now. There is a cemetery a couple miles down the road. There are a few houses and there are the remains of a general store. But it was still interesting to visit and I don’t regret leaving it for last, even though it really didn’t have a town sign.

Here is the final collection of images, starting at a general store in Cantril.


Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril
I swear Randall’s had this exact same signs when I was a kid.

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril
The artist definitely spend most of their time and effort on the boobs.

Van Buren County - Cantril

Davis County

Davis County - Troy
Troy

Davis County - Troy

Davis County - Troy

Davis County - Troy

Davis County - Troy
This building housed the Troy Academy. Which was one of the first institutions of higher education west of the Mississippi.

Davis County - Troy
It is also the subject of a painting by Buckley Moss.

Davis County - Troy

Davis County

Davis County
Back to Bloomfield

Davis County

Davis County

Davis County

Davis County - Paris
Paris Cemetery

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Davis County - Paris

Marshall County - Marshalltown
Marshalltown

It is a little sad to close the last page on this photo project. My original plan for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT was to turn it into a book. I have made next to no progress on that. None. I haven’t really made much or no progress on what was going to be my next photo project. I have let you down…

But maybe I will make progress on the book this winter. Stranger things have happened.

I’m not sure what will be posted on Wednesdays going forward. But there isn’t a shortage of RAW images waiting to be edited and shared!

Davis County Aux. – Vol. 3

This is the second to last collection of auxiliary images from trips I made to harvest signs for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT. I made this trip with Teresa. This collection starts where the last collection left off. Just outside of Bloomfield.


Davis County - Bloomfield

Davis County - Bloomfield

Davis County - Bloomfield

Davis County

Davis County

Davis County

Davis County

Davis County

Davis County

Davis County

Davis County - Pulaski

Davis County - Pulaski

Davis County - Pulaski

Davis County - Pulaski

Davis County - Pulaski

Davis County - Pulaski

Davis County - Pulaski

Davis County - Pulaski

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

The Dutchman’s Store is located in Cantril and I would also recommend visiting it if you are ever in the area. Hard to believe there is just one collection of THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT auxiliary images left to share!