St. Louis Entrance

 Along I-64/I-70, headed into St. Louis.  Not exactly the prettiest entrance...

School Days Pt. 2

 Last week, we went to a event at my grandson's Elementary School. Naturally, I took a bunch of random photos, that probably had all the other people wondering "What's that guy doing?"

I posted a few photos Saturday, but here's a few more.  Again, all from the iPhone camera:

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School Days Pt. 1

Last week, we went to a event at my grandson's Elementary School. Naturally, I took a bunch of random photos, that probably had all the other people wondering "What's that guy doing?"

Here's a few to share, all from the iPhone camera:

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Puzzling Pittsburgh

 So, I've been doing puzzles lately.  I suppose it is a real sign of getting old!  U sed to do puzzles a lot as a kid, and occasionally well into my teens.  But it has been years.  Every once in a while I've picked up a puzzle and it ends up on a shelf.  But I've started up again.  Nice relaxing:  put on some good music, and get a few pieces placed.  

This is my most recent, a puzzle of Pittsburgh, or a version of Pittsburgh.  I have no idea how long I've had this puzzle, the box has a 1988 copyright.  And it has 3 River Stadium, that was torn down in 2000.  So I figure it is at least that old.

Anyway, tough puzzle, not the best quality puzzle, but still fun.  The red borders were brutal.

Head Start

We're about a month from our average-last-frost, seemed like a good time to start plants.  Last year was our first try at growing, we did tomatoes, green peppers and jalapenos.  All in 5 gallon buckets.  It was a good experience, so we're doing it again.  So we start them inside, in plater containers.  This year my wife decided we should add grow lights.  So we'll see.

I'm also trying a tray of Purple Coneflowers, as a native plant to (hopefully) attract butterflies and bees and other food for the birds!  Stay tuned for updates

Great Blue Heron, Before and After

 So, I was at Watershed Nature Center yesterday, and came across this Great Blue Heron hunting.  I watched it for 7 minutes (based on photo time tags) and took a few photos.  This is the one that I picked as "best".  I think it is a little flawed, but pretty good.  What say you?

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The original is below.  There's not a whole lot of tweaking.  Mostly the crop, to get a little closer, and to get rif of the different textured water in the background.  Also standard adjustments of exposure, contrast, etc.  I did "remove" a bit of something floating just below the heron, and another just above the foreground plant.  Finally, a little hint of dodging and saturation boost on the eye.

Great Albums, 1975-Q1

 I used to do a lot more music posts here, monthly Top 40 posts and such.  But those faded away without fanfare or (apparently) mourning.  But I was listening to mt "Hits of 1975" playlist the other day, and started thinking about albums.  So I figured I'd look into it, maybe pick up some ideas for the music que.

So, here's a list of notable albums from the first quarter of 1975.  

Albums I own:

• Blood On The Tracks - Bob Dylan.  A great album, and an "important" album.  I've owned it since the mid 70's, the first Dylan album I owned.
• Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin.  An iconic album, certainly worth having.  Though I didn't own it in the 70's, I certainly knew most of the music from it.
• On Your Feet or on Your Knees - Blue Oyster Cult.  One of my favorite live albums, by one of my favorite bands.  I don't remember if I got this before or after "Secret Treaties". but either way is close.   
• Song for America - Kansas. The title track is sooooo good. My introduction to Kansas, I remember the title track playing on AOR radio.  Although not my first Kansas album (that was the next album Masque)
• Nuthin' Fancy - Lynyrd Skynyrd.  Actually the last of Skynyrd's first 4 albums that I owned, I didn't get this one until probably 1975.  But it has some of my favorite deep tracks by them.
• The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table - Rick Wakeman.  Again, my 3rd favorite Wakeman album of the trio of great albums Wakeman put out 1973-1975.  But still great.
• Lou Reed Live - Lou Reed.  
• Spring Fever - Rick Derringer.  Pretty sure this is the 1st Derringer album I owned, either this or "Live".  But I did have this one in 1975.  I remember reading an interview in Circus magazine (at least I think it was Circus) and buying it based on that.
• Straight Shooter - Bad Company

Honorable Mention

• Modern Times - Al Stewart.  Dropped between "Past Present & Future" and "Year Of The Cat".  and IMHO, not as good as either.
• Fly By Night - Rush.  I'm not really a Rush fan, but that puts me in a minority.  I know a couple songs from this album, I should probably give the whole thing a listen.
• Young Americans - David Bowie
• Katy Lied - Steely Dan

To see something ordinary

 "To see something spectacular and recognize it as a photographic possibility is not making a very big leap. But to see something ordinary—something you’d see every day—and recognize it as a photographic possibility, that is what I’m interested in."

- Stephen Shore

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One of mine:

Portraits

I'm not much of a portrait person.  Neither taking or getting taken.  But one of the photo sites I frequent is doing "portraits" as the theme for March.  It got me thinking, and I decided to look through the archives and find a few portraits.  So here's a few from the past 50 years.  All natural light, most "candid", or unposted.

Mikayla Joy in 2023.  Mikayla is part of the singing duo Jake and Mikayla.  They were our Church's Praise Band for a couple of years (and I played bass), and they came back for a show in 2023.

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My son in 2018, when he was graduating high school.  He didn't want "professional" Senior Portraits, but his mom convinced him to let me take some photos, and some of one of his friends.  It was actually fun, and I wasn't unhappy with the results

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 My grandson in 2021.  He did not want me to take his photo this day, so he started making faces.  Which did not deter me!

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My friend Kathy in 1981.  This was taken when we were in college.  I haven't seen Kathy since a New Year's  party in 1984 or 1985.  I wonder how she's doing?

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My Friend Greg circa 1978.  Late High School.  Somebody else I haven't seen since at least 1980.  Though we emailed a few times a few years ago.

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My friend Ned in 1975.  I was trying to get a "jaded businessman having a drink after a long day at work".  Of course, we were both 14 at the time...  but it was fun.  

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National Museum of the United States Air Force - Pt.1

 We visited the National Museum of the US Air Force recently (in Dayton, OH, USA). I tried to remember advice form a recent YouTube, about focusing on details (when visiting a cluttered location). Here’s a few tries, just quick edits on an iPad, from a hotel…. The lighting was pretty dim, most of these were shot at ISO-5000, with shutter speeds of 1/30…. Handheld!  There's dozens of photos I'm still wading through on the "real" computer, stay tuned.

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In a motel, baby, like the Holiday Inn (2502)

  Another in the series of photos in and around hotels while travelling.  Today's photos are from last week, February 2025.  Once again, the post title is from the old Elton John song:  CLICK.

Check out the TAG to see more from the series.

This was the Holiday Inn Express, Dayton South.  Just a quick trip to see the National Museum of the US Air Force (should see some photos from that soon).

Unlike Albuquerque (sorry Weird Al), the towels weren't "Oh so fluffy"...

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Funky Light Fixture

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First time I've seen a sigh specifically calling out Vape and Weed,,,

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HVAC, Black-Out Shade

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Bedside Light

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Lampshade

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Hallway

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You need to just chill out

 The worst thing you can do with creativity, worst thing you can do with trying to be original, is to force it.  You need to just chill out.

- Alex Kilbe

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Haiku with Hope for Spring

 I used as auto-generator for this one, sorry if it offends the purists.

After the snow melts,

Mud reveals its soft embrace,

Hope begins to bloom.

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It Goes To Show You Never Can Tell...

 A copy-paste of something I posted at a photo site I frequent:

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April 2024 I was attending the APQS Quilt Show in Paducah, KY with my wife. She's a quilter, I appreciate the patterns and colors and craftsmanship. As we were walking around Paducah, we passed this scene. I initially discounted it, then changed my mind, went back and took the photo. Later, I was not especially impressed with the photo but decided to submit it to one of the photo sites I'm at. And it (shockingly) took 1st place in Elements Of Design category! My only 1st place in over 6 years there. Don't get me wrong, I was happy, but is this photo actually good? I don't hate it, It's far from my favorite.

My takeaway is to not second guess myself (that dreaded imposter syndrome) and not worry about what other people will find "good". But don't discount something that you might not "love", maybe it will resonate with somebody.

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In a motel, baby, like the Holiday Inn (0505)

 Another in the series of photos in and around hotels while travelling.  Today is shots from July 2018.  Once again, the post title is from the old Elton John song:  CLICK.

Check out the TAG to see more from the series.

I don't remember what hotel this is from but I think it was a Marriot.  It was downtown  Columbus OH, and it looks like I only took this one photo.