Street shooting
Taking night photos on Duval which is the main tourist street in Key West.
Getting ready
State Fair about an hour before the gates open.
Celebrating 174 consecutive years, the 2023 Wisconsin State Fair greeted 1,043,350 guests during its 10 days.
Lines, shadows and contrast
Walking down the street with my black & white camera I'm always looking for lines, shadows, contrast and maybe a story of some sort. With no color you need something else but when you see you see it in color so if you like that aspect of photography it makes it kind of fun. So a guy is walking down the street and finishes his beer.........
Curry Mansion
Always decorated for all holiday, it was built as a private home in 1869 and now a beautiful bed and breakfast in Key West.
Free Flowers
Came upon this while driving on the causeway towards Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake of Utah
Fun hobby
Action, color and balance...quickly take the shot and decide later if I like it. At first I didn't, then I did, so now you can decide.
In what way?
Havana Gallery
These fellows had a little photo gallery and knew a few words of English so we "talked" photography. They, like most cubans, were doing so much with so little.
Key West Creative
Bike wheel, basket and poinsettia.
Step Right Up & Win a Prize
Squirt gun guy and a couple fairgoers.
Bruce
A very colorful, among other things, friend in Key West.
Wisconsin State Fair
Words were hard to come by
I started typing a caption a few times but deleted them because any attempt at explanation just doesn't come out right. Let me just say on a normal day, Key West is difficult to explain but Fantasy Fest week makes words impossible.
So Be
Wonderful people watching, Miami's South Beach also known as So Be.
Bicycle Club
These are my fellow Key West Bicycle club members. I consider myself to be extraordinarily fortunate to have this many friends, and good looking ones at that.
Home
When walking around fringe areas I come across scenes like this quite often. Occasionally I'll take a quick photo and move on, not wanting to appear to interested. It's when I see the photo on my big screen that for the first time really look them. As you now do, note this is someones home, belongings sheltered from the rain. I note the furniture (table &chair), closet (hanging clothes), bedroom, storage (suitcase) and vehicle (shopping cart). Pretty much what I have but photos like this really make me realize how fortunate I am.
Fantasy Fest
Face painted and costumed for the Key West Fantasy Fest parade
Alley Color
Walking the Las Vegas alleys and streets in the early morning one finds all kinds of grungy photo opportunities. This is a colorful area between the Strip and Downtown that is trying to remake itself.
Parade Painted
Face painted and costumed for the Key West Fantasy Fest parade
For those who wondered
Guard Dog
The Shih Tzu is an Asian toy dog breed originating from Tibet. They are well-known for their largely fun and playful personality, and calm and friendly temperament. They are highly independent dogs, and are able to adapt well in different situations. That was per Wikipedia but, if there was no glass between us he surly would have eaten me.
Miami Rain
Walking in the Wynwood Walls area of Miami and the rain kept coming down. It was good for photography as it kept the light even, no really bright or dark areas and there were plenty of people who had stopped moving.
Parade Happy
Face painted and ready for the Key West Fantasy Fest parade
Parade Feathered
Painted and costumed in the Key West Fantasy Fest parade
Wisconsin
Old house in Eagle Wisconsin.
Fire Lookout Tower
Jacob Lake Lookout Tower is located in North Kaibab AZ. Built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), it is an 80’ Aermotor steel tower with a 7’ x 7’ metal cab and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can still climb the tower to view the area and see the Osborne Fire Finder.
Harbor Pilot
The pilot is boarding a moving cruise ship from a pilot boat to guide it into the Key West Harbor. As trained experts with detailed knowledge of Florida’s waterways, pilots protect our ports from harm and ensure the safe passage of ship traffic. These highly skilled professionals accept the enormous responsibility of guiding a ship, its crew and cargo safely through the harbors.
Hard Worker
Cuban farmer using twin oxen to plow his tobacco farmland.
Dressed and ready
Cat Man
For almost 40 years the Cat Man has been entertaining the Key West crowds at sunset with his highly trained ordinary house cats. Here one is jumping through a ring of fire.
Old World Wisconsin
Old World Wisconsin is an open-air museum located near Eagle Wisconsin. It depicts housing and the daily life of settlers in 19th-century Wisconsin, with separate areas representing the traditions of different ethnic groups who settled in the state. Costumed interpreters portray the occupations and chores of typical settlers of the time.
Opened in 1976, the museum is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The largest outdoor museum of rural life in the United States, it encompasses approximately 480 acres of rolling wooded hills. It contains more than 60 historic structures, ranging from ethnic farmsteads with furnished houses and rural outbuildings to an 1880s crossroads village with traditional small town institutions. Wikipedia
Artsy Old Sign
Walking around Las Vegas and it caught my eye.
Light em up
Twenty some balloons launched into the afternoon sky and flew away. After returning they waiting for dusk where they stay tethered to earth while using their burners to glow their colors. This took place during the Monroe WI county fair.
Vanity
Yes....a selfie
The Green Parrot
The Green Parrot is the best dive bar in Key West. Opened in 1890 as a grocery store where local musicians would gather. When WWII began it changed to the Brown Derby Bar then in the 1970s it was renamed The Green Parrot. Today, come for the atmosphere and stay for the music. No food, just free popcorn. And don’t worry what live band is playing… they are all good.
A point of reference
All large cities have homeless issues and Las Vegas is no exception. When I raise my camera and zoom in I feel like I'm invading privacy from the safety of distance. But it's good to look at these photos because they are a constant reminder that my good fortune should not be taken for granted.
Fantasy Fest
Walking around with a camera during Key West Fantasy Fest provides all kinds of interesting things to shoot especially the people wearing paint. Body painters from all over the country come to town for the 10 day festival where people pay thousands of dollars to be painted. Then they stroll up and down Duval Street showing off their mobile art. This lady chose paint colors that go perfect on her.
Face Art
During Fantasy Fest in Key West it's easy to come across painted people who are eager to have their photo taken.
Birdman
Walking around Las Vegas I always find interesting things to point a camera at. Here a guy on a light pole attracted both myself and a bird.
Very good junk
This was in a collection of equally good junk collected by one of those guys who collects junk...best description I have.
Beach Time
Walking Miami Beach
Petronia
Petronia Street in Key West has some unique shops, galleries and restaurants.
David vs Goliath
Note Apache gunship off the bow
Flower Basket
Sidewalk in Key West
Made me look
Manitowoc Lighthouse
Built in 1895. Rebuilt in 1918. Automated in 1971 is marks the entrance to the Manitowoc WI harbor on Lake Michigan.
Because
I liked something about it...still do I guess.
Original homestead
1800s Wisconsin original home
Morning Workout
This gentleman in Havana was doing stretching exercises on what used to be his front porch.
Car Show Selfie
Fantasy Fest
Key West Florida
The Key West Mine
A group of us hiked to the mine located in Gold Butte National Monument. This photo encompasses Jim, our leader, parts of Gold Butte, Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Grand Canyon. The combined area of these 3 areas under "National" status totals 2,700 square miles. It's an amazing feeling to be out there in its vastness.
St George Carousel
The carousel in downtown St George Utah is a fully restored antique brought over from Chicago.
Morning Neon
Walking Old Town Key West
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Key West cigar lady
Along the river
Came across this riverfront property that had interesting materials and lines. Looked like it could be a good jigsaw puzzle.
Fremont to the Strip
Old downtown Las Vegas to the Strip has pretty much colorful everything.
Quiet Morning
Sunrise in Wisconsin
Cuban Ladies
My guess is mother and daughters.
Dantes at Christmas
Decorated for Christmas, Dantes of Key West
Morning walk
Walking around Key West shortly after sunrise one side of the street is bathed in sunlight. These glowing trees against the white buildings looked like a nice photo in black and white.
Christmas Harbor
Key West harbor.... as unlikely as it would be, snow would be a pretty addition to this photo.
Hoover Dam
You are looking at the Colorado River as it exits the bottom of the dam after it has gone through the turbines on each side to generate electricity. I'm standing on the very top middle of the dam so Lake Meade is behind me.
Side Mirror Doubler
Snowman
As it was almost 70 degrees he didn't last long.
Southernmost beach
This is the southernmost beach in the continental US, located in Key West FL. Admittedly it's not a very interesting photo but if you could feel the wind and hear the surf maybe you'd see why I not only took it, but shared it with you.
Period correct
Original 1800s farmhouse owned by the WI Historical Society
Harbor Lights
The Key West Harbor is very nicely decorated at Christmas. The reflections really enhance the lights.
Early State Fair
Arrived at the Wisconsin State Fair 2 hours before opening during which time only the vendors were there setting up. I wandered around with my camera like I do but without the throng of fairgoers. Anyway, I saw this young lady waiting for the gates to open.
Walking Las Vegas
Early morning walking down alleys and streets in an area between the Strip and Downtown Fremont street one will find all kinds of photo opportunities.
Not entirely sure
Passing through some economically dead former mining town was this......
BO’s Fish Wagon
Caroline Street, Key West
Old World Wisconsin
A very young girl dressed in period clothes at an original 1800s farmhouse owned by the WI Historical Society
Rick’s
A bar on Duval Street sporting plenty of action. I took this around 6am on a walk around Key West one morning.
Harpoon Harry’s
Another Key West icon...love the colors.
Street walking
Sometimes I wander through Key West neighborhoods looking for the things that normally would not cause me to pause. But with camera in hand, scenes like this make me stop a moment during which they tell me a brief story.
Waiting for the gardener
Real Fish
Fantasy Fest costume Key West
Getting Ready
Each year at the end of October Key West welcomes Fantasy Fest. Trying to stay with the annual theme, painters decorate people as part of the festivities.
Not so odd really
Most days encountering a red woman riding a bike through a cemetery would seem odd. But this being Fantasy Fest in Key West it's simply photogenic.
Something is important
I like this scene. Fountain, shoes off and close huddle. Took this on a Sunday afternoon while wandering around Chicago, one of my favorite places to carry a camera.
Piano man
Playing for tips on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. He was actually very very good.
Techatticup Gold Mine
April 1861, silver and some gold and copper lodes had been discovered by John Moss and others in what became known as El Dorado Canyon. In 1867, to secure the riverboat traffic and protect miners in the canyon from Paiute attacks the U.S. Army established Camp El Dorado, an outpost at the mouth of El Dorado Canyon that remained until it was abandoned in 1869. From 1870 the mines again were active to the point where from 1879 to 1907 El Dorado Canyon again had a post office, now in Clark County, Nevada. The mines continued to produce ore until World War. Wikipedia
So, the gentleman that owns the mine leads people on tours. When coming to one intersection of shafts you can just make out a skeleton in tattered clothes leaning against the rock wall. When I asked who that was he said "the first boy that dated my daughter" then he turned and kept walking.
Eye Catching
Fantasy Fest ready
Just a porch
Sometimes I go for camera walks. Here in Key West the houses are usually small and close together but all have porches. I think are outside rooms that give us a secret glimpse of what is maybe inside.
Date Night
L1080748
Nice Variety
Interesting front porch in Key West
Fremont Street
Set my camera up with a 5 second shutter opening.
Grrrrrrrr
Tiger Lady on Duval Street for Fantasy Fest
Art Walking
A model walks down the street in Key West during Fantasy Fest week as advertising for one of the many professional body painters that show up for this unique festival.
The real deal
This guy in the junkyard office was saying we should be careful about the snakes. He mentioned rattlers and green vipers and I said green vipers were a new one on me. Walks over to the fridge, opens the freezer and takes one out to show me. I'm sure it was the corn dogs that convinced me it was picture worthy.
Garden Art
I really enjoy photographing someone painting. If the angles cooperate I try getting the subject into the photo along with the painted version. I always ask permission to get different angles I then ask for their email address to send them the photo.
Petronia Street
Area of art galleries, shops and restaurants in "Old Town" Key West FL
One of a Kind
Walking down Duval Street one evening I come across this minivan with a large very well made kaleidoscope permanently attached to the hood. I of course looked into the end and turned the wheel. As it was pointed toward the sun the colors began to mix like a big round stain glass window. Very cool.... you should never walk around Key West without a camera or sense of humor.
Body Painting
In preparation for Fantasy Fest in Key West
Merry Christmas
Says the flamingo
Fantasy Fest Model
This gentleman was a model for a body painting studio. He was painted differently every time I saw him during the week long festival.
On A Walk
Slow walking with a camera in hand can yield some, in my opinion, interesting stuff.
Selfie
I apologize but sometimes when around an old candy dispenser my ego gets the best of me.
Dining Out
A classic