On a Sepia Roll, with Grain!

Between my 365project and Happenstance, it seems that I've been posting a lot of Sepia toned, B&W images lately.  Often with added grain to replicate my old film days (shooting Tri-X, often with notable darkroom zooming).

A few examples, for your enjoyment (I hope!).

Dog Days

Untitled 9768

Road To Nowhere

DOUBLE TRK JCT

Farmland, SW Illinois

Barns

... On A Country Road

Day Lillies, Old Barn

Just a little something....

What I Did 130

Last week I posted a "What Would You Do?" challenge.  Here's what I did with the subject image:

 

click for larger version

I also posted this version over at my 365project.  

What Would You Do? WWYD130

Full Size Version Here

Many of you (some of you?) know that I started the year joining a picture-a-day project over at 365progect.org.  I'm nearing 1/2 way through, and still enjoying it.  One of the nice things about these things is being part of a community ('though just virtually) and doing challenges.  I know I've posted several examples of the Album Cover Challenges.  Another is the WWYD (What You You Do) challenge.  Someone posts an image, folks take their shot at post-processing, and the the people vote.  And the winner gets to post the next image.  Well, on the most recent challenge (WWYD129), my entry was a finalist, and was leading in the voting.  Until a late surge resulted in a tie, and an (ongoing) run-off.

Anyway, if I win, the image above is the one I'll use for WWYD130.  This is Straight from my iPhone.  If I don't win (which is likely), I'll tackle it myself, and see what I can make of it.

ANYWAY, I thought I'd post it here, just for giggles.  And if anybody out there in blog land wants to take a swing at it, I' love to see what you can do.

We're On A Road To Nowhere

Well we know where we're goin',  But we don't know where we've been  And we know what we're knowin',  But we can't say what we've seen  And we're not little children,  And we know what we want  And the future is certain,  Give us time to work it out

"Road To Nowhere"  - Talking Heads

Ducks On A Log.

Larger version here

More frightening than Snakes On A Plane?  I don't think so.  But I count a dozen ducks on thos log, including the one standing.  Watershed Nature Center this afternoon.

Reeds, Reflections

Just a little something, one of the first shots with my brand new compact digital.  I think I'm going to like it!

There's another interpretation of the reflections over at 365project.

Psychedelic shack, that's where it's at...

Click for larger version

 Just another old building found last week.  Just off I-64 in East St. Louis, about here.  The pink and blue really stand out.  Looks like it was some sort of commercial establishment at some point....

Album Cover Challenge

I know I've posted before about the album cover challenges over at 365project, but I'm going to do it again.  Deal with it.  I just posted my latest entry today, and thought I'd share.  Regular readers may remember that I've done a couple of mock album covers even before joining 365.  So here's my "record" collection:

 

RT 137 - Madness Put To Good Use

 

Trophy - Someone Else's Story

 

Warriors Season - A Little Later In Life

 

Frank P. Mahony - ... but also from the heart

True's Vole - As we think, so we become

 

The Samuel Chamberlain Band - I'm A Scientist... 

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and pre-365:

 

The Tangent - 346

 

Dabney Drive - Greens...

Fixer-Upper

click image for larger version

I've been digging on old buildings lately.  Like here, here, here.  I think it all started (this time) with the Armour Meat Packing Plant (here).

This is along Rt. 3 headed from East. St. Louis towards Brooklyn, IL.  A cozy little commercial building, and it is for sale!  As the ad says, "LOCATION-LOCATION-LOCATION".  This building is just under 2 miles (straight line) from the St. Louis arch.  I'd love to know the history of this place.  One real estate link says it was built in 1910, Another says this stretch of Rt. 3 was part of Rt.66 from 1929 through 1937.  I imagine it's seen a lot over the past 100+ years.

From Google Earth, here's a view of the immediate area:

Grain Elevator, Sketchy

click photo for larger version

This is the Cargill grain elevator in East St. Louis.  Just across the Mississippi River from the St. Louis Arch, nestled between the Casino Queen and Malcolm Martin Memorial Park.  In fact, this photo was taken from MMM Park.

I took this image today, with my cell phone.  Then emailed to my iPad, where I cleaned up with Snapseed.  Than converted to sketch with an ap called PencilSketch.

I kind of like how it turned out...

Memorial Day 2015

Image taken at this morning's Memorial Day recognition at Glen Carbon's Veteran's Memorial.  I don't know this gentleman, but I think him for hos service.  And the countless other soldiers, mostly unknown to me.

Today's post at 365project is also from this same event.  Check it out....

Yesterday's 365project post is also related to Memorial Day, from Buck Road Cemetery.

Prog Albums

My son asked me the other day what was my favorite “Prog” song.  That’s a pretty tough question, and it’s been mulling around in my brain for a couple of days.  I’m not sure I can pick just one, so I decided to do a list.  So, here you go, my favorite Prog songs.  Disclaimer:  Nit claiming this to be the “best”, or any such.  Simply my favorites.  Not in a specific order, though I sort of sorted to put second songs from same bands lower.….  And I’ll try and limit myself to 10:

• Supper’s Ready – Genesis.  Recorded in ’72 from the album Foxtrot.  Clocking in at just under 23 minutes, and featuring 7 named sections.  
• And You And I – Yes.  Recorded in '72 from the Album "Close To The Edge". A little short for Prog, at a mere 10:08, featuring 4 sections. 
• Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd.  Recorded in '75 from the album "Wish You Were Here".  Actually split into 2 distinct tracks on the album.  Parts 6-5 open the album, Parts 6 though 9 close it.  Combined; just over 26 minutes.
•  Karn Evil 9 – Emerson Lake And Palmer.  Recorded in '73 from the album "Brain Salad Surgery".  Just a bit under 30 minutes, split across sides of the original vinyl.    Perhaps hasn't aged as well as some of the others, but was essential at the time.
• Thick As A Brick – Jethro Tull.  The winner for sheer mass, Thick As A Brick is the only song on the '72 album, at a whopping 43:46.  Obviously, split across two sides of the original vinyl.
• Song For America - Kansas.  From the '75 album of the same name.  Another shortie, barely topping 10 minutes. 
• Tarkus– Emerson Lake And Palmer.  From the '71 album of the same name.  Clocking at a solid 20:35, with 7 sections.
• The Musical Box - Genesis.  From the '71 album "Nursery Cryme".  A mere 10:27, but all of them great.
• Heart Of The Sunrise – Yes.  From the '71 album "Fragile".  Clocks in at a bit over 11:30.
• Gates Of Delirium - Yes. From the  '74 album Relayer.  Another full album side, at 21:30.

I notice that all 10 of these songs come from the period of 1971 through 1975.  Not surprisingly, I'll define that semi-decade as the peak of the prog movement.  With all apologies to the Rush fans.  These 10 songs average over 20 minutes, and make a playlist totaling 3 hr and 45 minutes of awesomeness! 

Side note, Yes is the only one of these bands that I saw in concert.  I saw them twice, in the summer of '76 (With Patrick Moraz on keys) and the summer of '77 (with Rick Wakeman back on keys).  I wish I had seen the other bands...