Mississippi River Bottomlands

A view from the old Chain Of Rocks Bridge, looking down into the woods below.  Probably 450 yds from the river bank.  Obviously, this has a lot of effects, but I kinda like it.

Throwback Thursday #42089 - BP Revisited

From sometime in 2002 through the early 2008, I was pretty active at BetterPhoto.com.   It was a fun site, it inspired my "rejuvenation" in photography, and I met a lot of cool people.  But, for me at least, it kind of ran its course.  Now, in the spirit of throwback, I figured to post some of my favorite (or at least notable) images from those days.

Another borrowed moment from another business trip.  May 2005 trip to Columbus, OH, I managed a few hours to make the trip to Hocking Hills State Park.  An hour each way, but a really (really) great spot.  Expect to see a couple more photos from this trip on future Thursdays...

Open Valve

Just a little something, detail of a fire hydrant at St. Ellen Mine Park. Taken at lunch today, along with this one and this one.  In a close up kind of mood....

365project - Week 11

Another week down in my 365project; take/post one photo per day for a year.  Here's my weekly rundown:

69/365 -  Worldwide Minute 2015 - 15 March 2015 5:47 CST

70/365 - Tree "C"

71/365 - Abandoned Farm

72/365 - It's All Over Now

73/365 - Grain Storage

74/365 - I'm Livin' On A Blue Line...

75/365 - Stepped On A Pop Top?

Moon and Venus

Just a bit after sunset tonight, shot w/ my wife's "Prosumer" camera.

Throwback Thursday #42082 - BP Revisited

From sometime in 2002 through the early 2008, I was pretty active at BetterPhoto.com.   It was a fun site, it inspired my "rejuvenation" in photography, and I met a lot of cool people.  But, for me at least, it kind of ran its course.  Now, in the spirit of throwback, I figured to post some of my favorite (or at least notable) images from those days.

January 2003, during a business trip to Scottsdale, AZ.  I really liked this one back then, now it seems a touch busy...  Especially the branches coming in from the left.

365project - Week 10

Another week down in my 365project; take/post one photo per day for a year.  Here's my weekly rundown:

62/365 - Like A Broken Record

63/365 - Backroads

64/365 - Misty Morning Sycamore

65-365 - Dusk At The Nature Center

66-365 - A Little Rough Around The Edges...

67/365 I Wish It Would Rain...

68/365 - Untitled

Bird House ...

Just a little something from a visit to the park this afternoon...  This is the green-space behind Schon Park in Glen Carbon.  Had a nice relaxing excursion w/ my son.  He suggested this subject, as well an another, posted at 365project.  He's developing a good eye.

Throwback Thursday #42075 - BP Revisited

From sometime in 2002 through the early 2008, I was pretty active at BetterPhoto.com.   It was a fun site, it inspired my "rejuvenation" in photography, and I met a lot of cool people.  But, for me at least, it kind of ran its course.  Now, in the spirit of throwback, I figured to post some of my favorite (or at least notable) images from those days.

This is a real oldie, back in the days of my Kodak LS-443 camera.  Certainly before Fall 2004...  Another that I posted to BP a few times, hoping for recognition.  One version's still on the site, from Fall 2007.  But this is my preferred rendition, even though it was a time when I was experimenting with digital "matting"....

This is Silver Lake Park, a favorite place when I worked in Highland IL.  Taken during a lunch time when it was trying to rain

365project - Week 9

Here's the weekly rundown of my posts at 365project.  We're into March, and I'm still hanging in with 1 photo taken per day.  I've been posting my rundown on the weekends, I'm a little late.

55/365 - Thirsty

56/365 - Moon Crazy

57/365 -,1000 Miles From the Sea

58/365 - In Transition

59/365 - Hurry Sundown

60/365 - Sunrise At The Nature Center

61/365 = WWYD126 (Arches)

March 1975 In Music

Continuing the "tradition" started last year, here's what was happening in music in March 1975.  At least some of what was happening, from my perspective.

 Notable Albums:

• Nuthin' Fancy - Lynyrd Skynyrd  - The 3rd album from the kings of mid 70's southern rock.  Apologies to the Allmans, but they were past their peak by '75...
• That's The Way Of The World - Earth Wind and Fire - Ranked #493 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 Best Albums of all time, and featuring the iconic "Shining Star"...
• Spring Fever - Rick Derringer - Despite the weirdly androgynous cover, this  album rocked, and was one of my favorites back then.
• Tommy - Various Artists - Soundtrack from the movie adaptation of the The Who's 1969 album.  One of the most disappointing releases of the mid-70's, IMHO.  Both the movie and the music...
• Dressed To Kill - Kiss - The 3rd release from the future Hall-Of-Famer band, featuring the signature "Rock And Roll All Night".  Reality is, I was never much of a Kiss fan....
• Steely Dan - Katy Lied

 Notable Singles:

Five songs topped the charts during the 5 weeks of March 1975:

• Best Of My Love - Eagles.   The last of 3 singles from 1974's "On The Border" album, this was their first chart topper.
• Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton John.  John's second chart topper in a row on the US charts, following "I Honestly Love You".  Also the first of 4 number ones that John Farrar wrote for her.
• Black Water - Doobie Brothers.  The last of 3 singles from 1974's "What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" album, this was their first chart topper.
• My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli.  Frankie's first big US hit since the 60's, this started a nice resurgence, with 8x Top 40's and 3x number 1s over 4 years.
• Lady Marmalade - Labelle. The only Top 40 hit for Patti Labelle between 1962's "I Sold My Heart To The Junkman" (which peaked at 15)  and her1986 hit "New Attitude" (which peaked at 17).

Footprints On The Water

So...  I had to drop my son at school this morning, a few minutes before dawn.  Since I was already up (and taking a day off work), I decided to pop by Watershed Nature Center.  Really cold, but cool.  And peaceful.

Lots of footprints out on the ice, I presume critters looking for food (or even water?).  The photo above was taken about 20 minutes after "official" sunrise, but before the sun's direct rays made it down into the depression.

Other images from the morning excursion here and here.

And a large version (Click):

Throwback Thursday #42068 - BP Revisited

From sometime in 2002 through the early 2008, I was pretty active at BetterPhoto.com.   It was a fun site, it inspired my "rejuvenation" in photography, and I met a lot of cool people.  But, for me at least, it kind of ran its course.  Now, in the spirit of throwback, I figured to post some of my favorite (or at least notable) images from those days.

Another one that I really like, that didn't receive any recognition.  One of those rare occasions where I  was really quite pleased with the image.

Posted to BP in August 2007. Another moment discovered on a business trip, somewhere between Celina, OH and I-70...  I don't remember the exact location, but it's somewhere along the 50 miles (or so) of Rt-127.

Attack Of the Carnivorous Squirrels

I was hanging out at one of the local parks during lunch today, and noticed the squirrel munching on  a chicken bone.  At least I HOPE it was a chicken bone.  He (she?) was sitting on one of the trash receptacles, I'm guessing he's finishing somebody's KFC.  I was able to get quite close, as he was really digging his meal.

I never realized squirrels ate meat, but I guess it's just like any other rodent.  Meanwhile, I'll be keeping a closer watch on them.  After all they may be looking at me as a major feast!


Here's a larger version:

In Like A Lion

March 1st, and we had 6-8 inches of snow overnight.  Supposed to be in the 50's by Tuesday, but back in single digits Wednesday.  Didn't I say I was bored with winter?



Larger version of the photo (Click):

365project - Week 8

Here's the weekly rundown of my posts at 365project.  We're into March, and I'm still hanging in with 1 photo taken per day.

48/365 - Hold Out Your Hand

49/365 - Hangman Hang My Shell On A Tree

50/365 - Through The Ice

51/365 - Waxing Baseball

52/365 Waiting For The Sun

53/365 - album cover  challenge 41

54/365 - Solitude