On The Edge

Taken at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, West Alton, MO.  This area has been underwater for months, I was really happy to find it back open recently.  This is either Alton Slough or Ellis Bay, depending on what resource you check.  From the trail along Ellis Island, which isn't actually an island...

Growing in the Nooks

A couple of similar images, both taken earlier this week.  Top one is from Watershed Nature Center, the bottom is from Greenspace North (behind Schon Park).  Humble images of the renewal of nature.  New growth in the nooks of old growth.  Just the kind of stuff I enjoy noticing.

Both images (but especially the second) would've benefited from increased Depth Of Field, but that would've necessitated having my tripod with me, instead of in the trunk of my car.  I wonder if I'll ever learn?

Trio

I was a little stumped for a title on this one, "Trio" kind of stinks.  If you have a better idea, please share in the comments!

Always keep your eyes open.  Don't just look straight ahead: look side to side, up, down...  stay aware...

I noticed this crossing a bridge on one of the local bike trails.  This is the bridge decking.  I likes the pattern of 3 recessed bolts cut at an angle to the line of the planks...  And (of course) the efforts of nature to take over.

Wood River Distribution Center

This is one of those spots that I drive by all along.  Not daily, or even weekly, but probably 10-12 times a year.  And I always think I should take a photo.  But for years, I haven't.  Either the light is wrong, or the traffic is wrong, or there's not really a good angle with the fence and the retaining wall...  always something.

That's far too common for me.  Then one day, the spot will be gone.  A building torn down, a tank repainted...  whatever.  And I kick myself for my inaction.

WELL, the other day, fate conspired to action.  I was headed from Alton area to home, and decided to make a side trip.  For giggles, I plugged the address into my phone's gps to see what the best route would be...  And as I was making a turn south, it updated to direct me east.  It told me to U-turn, pretty much right in front of this tank.  And since I was right there, I couldn't come up with an excuse to not go the extra 400 feet or so to get the shot.  I pulled as far to the side of the side road as I could, opened my door and stood on the driver's seat to get high enough to manage this.

It'll never win any awards, but I'm satisfied with it.  And glad I made it happen.

I have no clue how old this tank is, but that version of the Amoco logo is apparently from 1970-2002.
I'm guessing it is not in use, given the general state of it.  Looking at Google Street View, I see a sign at the back corner of the area saying Arcadis.  Looking them up on line, I'm wondering if they're getting ready to "remediate" this spot.

From google maps:

Birds and Bugs (oh my?)

A little bit of a break in the heat / heat index yesterday.  Still hot, but better.  So I managed a late afternoon (~6pm) excursion to Watershed Nature Center.  Still loving my Fujifilm X-T3 and zoom lens:

 Goldfinch (male)

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Pollinating Bee!

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Dragonfly, not quite crisp

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Quotated

"Well she was an American girl 

Raised on promises 

She couldn't help thinkin' that there 

Was a little more to life 

Somewhere else "

- Tom Petty, American Girl

Reflections: Color or B&W

This nice spot is at Drost Park, Maryville, IL, one of my regular haunts for lunchtime walks.  I've been thinking about taking a photo here for a while, and earlier this week, I did it.  My original thought had been to do it black and white, but after working with the file, I decided color was better.

So here's the color version:

I posted it to 365project, on 7/16/2019, and it was pretty well received, garnering the "popular" designation.  During the discussion, I noted that I wasn't a big fan of the green tint in the reflection, and someone said they'd've done a black and white version. 


Well, since I started with a black and white version, I decided to post it to one of my secondary albums there (today, 7/18/2019).  It'll be interesting to see how it is received there.

 Which then led me to decide to post both here.

So here's the black and white version:

So....  what're YOUR thoughts???  Let me know in the comments section!
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Happy Birthday Geezer Butler!!

Terence Michael Joseph "Geezer" Butler was born on this day (July 17) in 1949, so he turns 70 today!

Geezer Butler, of course, was a founding member of Black Sabbath, and bassist for just about everything they've ever done, including the eight definitive "first generation" albums from 1970 through 1979.  Well, maybe the first 7 definitive albums, and Never Say Die.  And he's still touring with them now.

Geezer Butler is one of the first bass players I paid attention to, and I actually learned a little bit of some of their songs.  I had a music book for the compilation album "We Sold Our Souls...", adn one for "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" that included bass and guitar (rather than piano).  

Happy Birthday Geezer!

Over Alton Bridge

For some reason, I'm strangely drawn to photos with the sun in frame, and ofttimes dramatically underexposed.  I dunno why, I just dig it.  I don't linger too long, because I don't want t over heat my sensor.  But man I think it's cool.  It almost looks like moonlight reflected on the waters.

I remember way back in high school, reading that underexposing a couple of stops could increase the drama of sunset photos.  So of course, on my backpacking trip, I took the concept to extreme.  Back in the days of Ektachrome slide film...

Anyway, this was taken about 1/2 way between Melvin Price Lock and Dam and the Alton Bridge.  From the bike trail along the levee.  A little more than an hour before sunset.  I posted it to 365project, and 1 person presumed it was a moon photo (he-he-he!).

Happy Birthday, Linda Ronstadt!

Today (7/15) is Linda Ronstadt's birthday!

Linda Ronstadt has retired from performing, but remains one of the most successful women in popular music.  Bridging multiple genres, she released 24 solo albums between 1969 and 2004.  Plus a lot more, including work with The Stome Poneys, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton.   Throw in numerous awards (including 12 Grammy's), and an induction to the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, and you have quite a career.

Linda Ronstadt was one of my favorite artists back in the day, and I was able to see her in concert twice (in the 2nd half of the 70's).  And I have a rather lot of her music, including the 5 classic albums she released between 1974 and 1978 (Heart Like A Wheel, Prisoner In Disguise, Hasten Down The Wind, Simple Dreams, Living In The USA).

Ronstadt's covers were my introduction  to several cool artists/ bands.  From Lowell Goerge to Warren Zevon.  And she's covered everybody from Buddy Holly to Neil Young to the Rolling  Stones to Elvis Costello. 

Happy birthday, Linda Ronstadt, and thanks for the music!
 

What would you do?? (#183)

One of the fun challenges over at 365project is called "What Would You Do?.  The concept is that the host selects a photo, and posts it.  Participants then tweak it however they like, and post back to the site.  Some folk go really crazy, some not so much.  After the prescribed time, the host selects finalists (usually 5) and folk vote for their favorite.  the winner gets the honor of hosting the next round.  This is one of the challenges I try and do all along.

Here's the current starting point:

WWYD183

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Here's what I came up with.  Not exactly what I envisioned, but close:

Cropped to square, exposure adjustments, convert to B&W, a little red filter....  some burn and dodge....  then overlaid with a texture.  I thought about adding a frame to approximate a polaroid, but didn't.
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And if you're interested, here's all the entries (so far):

https://365project.org/tags/wwyd183

Summer

The corn is somewhere between knee and waist high, the heat index is at (or above) 100 degrees... blue skies and fluffy clouds (which will give way to storms before the day is out).

ACC-106: Ray Manley - Has never been found...

Time for my latest entry to the Album Cover Challenge over at 365project.  This is one of my favorite challenges over there, as it combines two of my passions:  Photography and music.  Yee-Haw!  Details on the challenge here.

Anyway, my randomly generated band name was "Ray Manley".
And my randomly generated album name was "Has never been found..."

As with challenge #104, I decided to start with an old image.  Here's how it turned out:

(click for larger version)

Check out all of my album cover challenge entries here.

Rough Around The Edges

I tend to be drawn to old and worn things.  Especially scenes where "nature" is taking back the land from humans.

This is not an abandoned place, but is one that could use a little TLC....

Summer Day

Scene from one of our local parks, "Greenspace East". Painterly effects added in Topaz Impressions. Frame effect added in Photoshop Elements.



For comparison, here's the starting point, after basic adjustments: