Sylvan Song

Leap day, 02/29/2016, bright sunny and temperature in the 60's. The midday sun was streaming through the bare trees, into this not-quite-dry creek bed. A calm and quite moment...  Leap day, 02/29/2016, bright sunny and temperature in the 60's. The midday sun was streaming through the bare trees, into this not-quite-dry creek bed. A calm and quite moment...

Title is an old song by the band Heart.

Title is an old song by the band Heart.

This Month In Music - February 1986

February 1986...  40 years ago!  What was happening in the music world:

There were four Saturdays in Feb. '86, so there the charts came out 4 times.  But only 2 songs made it to #1. 

Dionne Warwick's "That s What Friends Are For" topped the first 2 weeks, followed by Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know"...

Here's the Top 10 songs of the month, based on average chart position over the 4 weeks:

• Song  -  Artist  -  Feb Ave
• When The Going Gets Tough (Jewel Of The Nile Theme) - Billy Ocean - 4.0
• Burning Heart - Survivor - 4.0
• That s What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick - 4.3
• How Will I Know - Whitney Houston - 4.5
• Kyrie - Mr. Mister - 6.3
• I m Your Man - Wham! - 6.3
• Living In America - James Brown - 9.0
• The Sweetest Taboo - Sade - 10.5
• Conga- -Miami Sound Machine - 11.8
• Sara - Starship  - 12.8

Sixteen (16) songs made their chart debuts.  Listed below with their peak position during the month:

• Song - Artist - Peak (Feb)
• Nikita - Elton John - 35
• This Could Be The Night - Loverboy - 35
• Stages - ZZ Top - 36
• What You Need - INXS - 36
• These Dreams - Heart - 37
• R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. - John Mellencamp - 37
• Russians - Sting - 38
• Beats So Lonely - Charlie Sexton - 38
• Another Night - Aretha Franklin - 38
• Night Moves - Marilyn Martin - 38
• Day By Day - Hooters - 39
• (How To Be A) Millionaire - ABC - 39
• Manic Monday - Bangles - 39
• Sanctify Yourself - Simple Minds - 40
• Let s Go All The Way - Sly Fox - 40
• Rock Me Amadeus - Falco - 40

Counting Out Time...

A little slice of life, from my day at work. Yep, spreadsheets.  Lot's and lots of spreadsheets...

One from a couple of weeks ago, posted at 365Project.  Playing around with macro, using my compact digital. After years and years of photography, I still struggle mightily with macros.  I don't think I'm patient enough.  This is a rare exception, a macro photo that I rather like.  Now, I'm not delusional, I don't think this is stunning or outstanding or anything.  But it doesn't stink.  Or is that delusional?

The post title (of course) is a reference to the Genesis song from their classic album "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway".

Shadows Branching - Flashback Friday

Posted this week in 2015 (2/20 <--> 2/26).  This one is from my 365project. 

Shadows Branching

larger version

Shadows of bare trees...  it's one of those subjects to which I seem drawn...  For that matter, the whole bare trees "thing" seems to pop up consistently in my photos.

What can it mean?

Meanwhile, the title is homage to the song from Jules and The Polar Bears....

From A Window To A Screen

just a little something I noticed in downtown Belleville, IL.  Writing for my son to drop off some papers at the Boy Scout Council.
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Careless at the start, cautious at the end, 

Ives was on the stereo, I remember when. 

Some would say "What happened?"

I won't make that mistake again....

I won't make that mistake again...."

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The dB's - From A Window To A Screen

Slice Of Life - Big Red Balls...

Just a little something, a moment from my life.  Taken w/ iPhone, processed using an app on the phone.  I was trying to make it a little... intense.

Not that there's a lot of similarity (besides the red balls), but this kind of reminded me of the old album cover by Hipgnosis....

This Month In Music - February 1976

February 1976...  40 years ago!  What was happening in the music world:

There were four Saturdays in Feb. '76, so there the charts came out 4 times.  But only 2 songs made it to #1.  Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your lover" topped the first 3 weeks, replaced by Rhythm Heritage and "Theme From S.W.A.T."

Here's the Top 10 songs of the month, based on average chart position over the 4 weeks:

• Song - Artist -  Feb-Ave
• 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon  - 1.3
• Theme From S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage  - 3.8
• You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate  - 3.8
• Love To Love You Baby - Donna Summer  - 4.8
• Love Machine (Part 1) - The Miracles  - 6.8
• I Write The Songs - Barry Manilow  - 9.0
• Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Neil Sedaka  - 10.0
• All By Myself - Eric Carmen - 10.8
• Take It To The Limit - Eagles  - 11.8
• Love Hurts - Nazareth  - 12.3

Seventeen (17) songs made their chart debuts.  Listed below with their peak position during the month:

• Song - Artist - Peak (Feb)
• Lonely Night (angel Face) - Captain and Tennille  - 9
• Sweet Thing - Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan - 16
• Junk Food Junkie - Larry Groce - 17
• Dream On - Aerosmith - 27
• Money Honey - Bay City Rollers  - 28
• Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen  -  - 29
• Only Sixteen - Dr. Hook - 30
• Cupid - Tony Orlando and Dawn - 31
• Tangerine - The Salsoul Orchestra  - 32
• Sweet Love - Commodores  - 34
• Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music  - 35
• Take It Like A Man - Bachman-Turner Overdrive  - 36
• Hold Back The Night - The Trammps  - 37
• Inseparable - Natalie Cole  - 38
• Break Away - Art Garfunkel  - 39
• Renegade - Michael Murphey  - 39
• Just You And I - Melissa Manchester  - 40

I'll Be Watching You - Flashback Friday

Posted this week in 2015 (2/13 <--> 2/19).  This one is from my 365project. 

In the spirit of "the best camera is the one you have with you"...  This was taken with my iPhone, because I managed to have no memory card in my DSLR. 

The title is from The Police classic, "Every Breath You Take":

"Every breath you take and every move you make
Every bond you break, every step you take, I'll be watching you
Every single day and every word you say
Every game you play, every night you stay, I'll be watching you"

One of the creepier songs of the 80's...

Top Lift Only

Just a little randomness from my drive across Missouri today....

Oh Dear....

Driving through SUIE the other day, I captured these two deer.  The campus is actually overrun with deer, driving across I probably saw probably two dozen.  Maybe more.  in groups of 2 or 3 or 6....

Trapped In The Drive Through

t seems to me that we live in a Drive-Through nation.  Drive through meals, drive through prescriptions, drive through bars...  Drive through Christmas lights, Weddings, Church...  Is there anything we can't get drive through?

February Sunset

Missouri History Museum, St. Louis

After 25+ years living in the St. Louis we finally made a visit yesterday to the Missouri History Museum.  We wanted to catch the "Walk In 1875" exhibit, which closed today.    Lots of fun, cool place.  We'll have to check it out again sometime soon.  There's several exhibits coming this spring / summer that look interesting.

Naturally, I had to take a couple of photos.  Just my humble compact digital, but I think they turned out pretty well...

larger version at my 365project

larger version at my 365project

This Month In Music - February 1966

February 1966...  50 years ago!  What was happening in the music world:

There were four Saturdays in Feb. '66, so there the charts came out 4 times.  And 3 songs made it to #1:  My Love - Petula Clark (2 weeks),  Lightnin' Strikes -  Lou Christie and These Boots Were Made For Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra.

Here's the Top 10 songs of the month, based on average chart position over the 4 weeks:

• Song – Artist – Average Chart Position
• Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie - 2.5
• My Love - Petula Clark - 3.0
• Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder – 6.5
• Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys – 7.0
• My World Is Empty Without You - The Supremes – 7.8
• Crying Time - Ray Charles – 8.8
• No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In) - The T-Bones – 9.3
• Don't Mess With Bill - The Marvelettes – 11.0
• We Can Work It Out - The Beatles – 11.5
• These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra – 11.5

Twenty Four (24) songs made their chart debuts.  Listed below with their peak position during the month

• These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra – 1
• The Ballad Of The Green Berets - SSgt Barry Sadler - 3
• California Dreaming -  The Mamas and The Papas - 8
• Elusive Butterfly - Bob Lind - 9
• Working My Way Back To You - The 4 Seasons  - 10
• Listen People - Herman's Hermits - 13
• I Fought The Law - Bobby Fuller Four  - 14
• What Now My Love - Sonny and Cher - 16
• When Liking Turns To Loving - Ronnie Dove - 18
• The Cheater - Bob Kuban And The In-Men - 20 
• At The Scene - The Dave Clark Five - 21
• Call Me - Chris Montez - 22
• Batman Theme -  The Marketts - 25
• I See The Light - The Five Americans - 27
• You Baby - The Turtles - 28
• A Hard Day's Night - Ramsey Lewis Trio  - 29
• My Baby Loves Me - Martha and The Vandellas - 30
• Night Time - The Strangeloves - 30
• Homeward Bound -  Simon and Garfunkel - 31
• Breakin' Up Is Breakin' My Heart - Roy Orbison - 33
• Love Makes The World Go Round - Deon Jackson - 36
• Long Live Our Love - The Shangri-Las - 37
• Tijuana Taxi - Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass - 38
• (You're Gonna) Hurt Yourself - Frankie Valli - 39

The Blackest Crow - Flashback Friday

Posted this week in 2015 (2/06 <--> 2/12).  This one is from my 365project. 

This is just one of those moments...  I was headed out someplace, and saw this bird hanging out.  He (she?) was kind enough to wait for me to capture the moment.

The title is from a Tim O'Brien song:

The blackest crow that ever flew
would surely turn to white
If ever I prove false to you
bright day will turn to night

Moonrise, Clearing Storms

Sometimes it pays to look back.  This photo was taken as the sun was setting, but looking East, not West.  It had rained most of the day, with some pretty strong storms.  As the day wound down, the skies were clearing.  The tail end of the storm clouds was being illuminated by the last rays of the setting sun, and a nearly full moon was rising above.

I really liked the smooth transitions from dark to light orange, then light to darker blue.  Contrasted with the clear and crisp moon… 

Full disclosure, this was taken 7-8 weeks ago, just after the Winter solstice (and just before Christmas).  But it was unseasonable warm, with a high of 64 degrees.  Originally posted at 365project.

Old Ways

Full size at 365Project

I've never been particularly good at documenting my workflow.  I have a tendency to poke and tweak, try something, add something else, undo/redo....  Eventually I (sometimes) end up with something I like.  This is one of those cases.  I especially like this, and it has continued to grow on me as I've lived with it over a few days.

Here's the problem:  The only saved version of this file is the one linked here.  That's a 1024 pixel wide version.  I'd really like to take the image (minus the wrap/wall effect) and get a print made....  But my existing file will only support a 5x7 print.  I'd kind of like to see it at an 8x10 or 11x14, maybe even a gallery wrap.  My only option to go larger is to go back to the start, and try to replicate what I did.  Well, as sung by Robert Plant:  "No no nobody's fault but mine"....

Meanwhile, The post title is from the old Neil Young song, from his 1985 "country" album of the same name:

"Lately I've been finding out, I'm set in my ways, Old ways, can be your ball and chain" - Neil Young

In The Jungle, The Mighty Jungle....

Found on Talkbass....     I laughed.

Vintage Vinyl - Flashback Friday

Posted this week in 2015 (1/30 <--> 2/05).  This one is from my 365project.  

A small portion of my record collection, from a few decades ago.  I still pull them out from time tpo time.  This covers the middle of the "J"s through the the late "R"s...  How many can you recognize?

Good Times, Bad Times - January 2016

So...  I lied.  Last week, I posted the 12th monthly summary of my 2015 365project experience.  I declared it last in the series.  But I've decided to continue it into 2016.  Hope you're not too offended....

So, here's January:

An interesting month.  On the 5th, I finished my 1st full-year.  I spent the rest of the month in various levels of hangover.  Several days I didn't take any images.  And others, I took images, but didn't post them (until later).  But I did (eventually) have a photo for every day, and I'm largely on track.  But I'll probably cut myself a bit more slack through 2016.

So, what was good?

 

On The Thin Ice Of A New Day

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If you go down in the flood

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Sunset and Frozen Fields

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And what was not-so-good:

Abstract #42,391

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Icicles

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Dancing On Black Ice

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Kinsella Log Cabin - One More Time!

Kinsella Log Cabin has appeared here a few times, but not in a while.I rather like this version....

Here's a few others I've taken through the years:

Kinsella Family Homestead - 2009

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Kinsella Log Cabin, From Behind - 2012

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Kinsella Cabin Revisted -2014

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