In its Day
Sad architectural decay in Havana
Keane Wonder Mine
You can find this mine at the end of a very dusty twisted road on the outskirts of Death Valley National Park CA. It produced gold from 1907 to 1942 when it played out. If you hike up 1.5 miles to the top of the visible ridge, you will see a mile long tram that moved buckets of ore.
Water lilies
Water lilies, are beloved for their colorful and exotic-looking blooms, but they are more than just pretty plants. They also contribute to pond health. By covering the water surface, they shade the water and keep it cooler, which helps control algae that thrives in heat. Water lilies also shelter fish from birds of prey and filter out excess nutrients to further inhibit algae growth. When temperatures warm up in summer, water lilies' showy flowers open in the morning and close at night.
Chicago B&W
It is the reflections that really intrigue me. And, by taking this without color or sharpness it forces me to look harder at what is in the photo.
Brian Head Overlook Tower
At 11,300 feet in elevation, the structure, built in 1934 has served as a recreational overlook and an occasional fire lookout. It features panoramic views across state lines, from Utah’s wilderness, to Arizona’s Mount Trumbull and Navajo Mountain and Nevada’s Wheeler and Highland peaks. A storm in 2024 tore its roof off but a restoration project is planned.
Early Morning Zion
Springtime in Zion National Park looking up the Virgin River canyon. Sun is just high enough to light the floor and one wall.
How to dress up a city block
Walking along the Milwaukee River, an area of abandoned warehouses and factories when I came upon this beautiful mural which was about 3x larger than what you see here.
Photogenic Las Vegas
Early morning I was walking from my car to join a group of photographers when I saw this bright red dress, umbrella and flip flopped lady buying a parking pass. In the bright sunlight on a deserted street I had to raise my camera and take this while I waited to buy my parking pass. I later found out she was one of the models that had been hired for us and in the bag were her sparkly red pumps. Las Vegas is always full of surprises.
Fort Zachary Taylor 1845
The Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, also known simply as Fort Taylor, is a Florida State Park and National Historic Landmark centered on a Civil War-era fort located near the southern tip of Key West, Florida. Wikipedia
Steam Engine
Henry Ford Museum
Customs House
Opened in 1891 the Key West Customs House contained Customs Offices, District Court, and Post Office. Today it serves as a museum which I've taken a few photos of over the years due to its great color and design.
St Clair River
Looking at the USA Side and behind me is the Canada shore
Air Show Artistry
Night airshow maneuvers as seen with a long shutter opening.
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.
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.
Dawns Light
Pewaukee Lake WI
Around and around she goes….
Where she stops, nobody knows. State Fair ferris wheel with a 2 second shutter opening.
Airplane House
As you walk through Key West you find interesting examples of exterior decorating. Since I took this photo the plane has been replaced with dinosaur looking things.
For those who wondered
Old Town Havana
In its day, prior to 1959, the old town section of Havana must have been one of the most beautiful cities anyone could have imagined. These days everything, unless it attracts tourist dollars, is crumbling from neglect.
Imperial Point
North Rim of the Grand Canyon
Black-eyed susan
Old World Wisconsin
Original late 1800s homestead house. It was moved, furnished and repaired by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Point Sur Light Station
Point Sur Lighthouse is a lightstation at Point Sur 24.6 miles south of Monterey, California at the peak of the 361-foot rock at the head of the point. It was established in 1889 and is part of Point Sur State Historic Park. The light house is 40 feet tall and 270 feet above sea level. Wikipedia
Parade Happy
Face painted and ready for the Key West Fantasy Fest parade
Chicago River
The Architectural Tour by riverboat offers some great history and photo opportunities of the great city.
Foggy Sunrise
Watching the Street
Old Town Havana is very photogenic with its combination of crumbling structures and color.
1920s Rumely Oil Pull Tractors
At a steam engine show in Wisconsin I came across this small tractor using a belt to start the larger tractor. It did start with lots of noise and thick black smoke.
Spinning Mirrors
Thousands of 2 inch mirrors spinning with the breeze.
Quiet Color
It requires clouds for a memorable sunrise or sunset but some sunrises need very little to emphasize the changing color bands as it makes its way closer to the horizon.
Clouds over Lake Powell
Just before sunset in Page AZ these dancing clouds appeared on the horizon.
Sunrise Wisconsin
Point Edward Canada
This bridge extends behind me across the St Clair river to the USA.
Fort Ord
Fort Ord National Monument, located on the former Fort Ord military base, is currently run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). They protect and manage 44 species of rare plants and animals that call the property home. The 14,000 acre parcel has more than 86 miles of trails that can be explored on foot, bike or on horseback.
Sunset Key
An island that is accessed by a 10 minute ferry ride from Key West mainland. It is primarily a hotel but there are also about 50 private homes. I liked the layers of water, trees and clouds which would also look good in color but sometimes black and white is just more interesting.
Air Show Finale
Following the EAA night airshow the grand finale is beautiful fireworks. I stood behind the DC9 as it was polished aluminum hoping to get good reflections.
Trick or Treat
Halloween sure can bring out the creativity in us.
Night Photo Fun
Arguably the most photographed building in Key West located on Duval Street. The streaks are cars passing by which are captured by waiting for the light to turn green, pressing the shutter button while traffic moves past then closing the shutter.
Floored
Standing in the magnificent lobby of the Milwaukee Art Museum I placed the camera on the highly polished floor.
Pastel morning
Looking about 10 miles East on Pewaukee Lake WI.
Cuban Art
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.
Harry Trumans ’49 Lincoln
His presidential limousine on display (and driven daily) at Harry Trumans "Little Whitehouse" in Key West.
Sandhill crane
This is a species of large crane in North America. Their large wingspans, typically 6-8 feet, make them very skilled soaring birds, similar in style to hawks and eagles. Using thermals to obtain lift, they can stay aloft for many hours, requiring only occasional flapping of their wings, thus expending little energy. Migratory flocks contain hundreds of birds, and can create clear outlines of the normally invisible rising columns of air (thermals) they ride. Wikipedia
This is a family here in WI with their newborn.
Walking with a camera one night
St George Blvd laid out by Brigham Young with the establishment of the town in 1861. It was centrally located in SW Utah near California, Nevada and Arizona. Like today, it attracted visitors wanting to see the State and National Parks. Walking down "The Boulevard" as they call it, you see a mix of the old and the new. This burger joint closed last year leaving a photo worthy unlit neon sign.
Mushroom
Walking through a farmers market I saw these very large mushrooms and because it had almost no color I tried a B&W photo. For a second I considered calling it Colonoscopy.
Sunrise in Wisconsin
Parade Feathered
Painted and costumed in the Key West Fantasy Fest parade
Ahhhhhhhhh
Can you hear it?
Light and Symmetry
The buildings on the Las Vegas Strip offer wonderful combinations of color, light and design.
Alley Art
Walking in an old neighborhood in Milwaukee I came upon this alley behind a restaurant which looked bright and colorful. On both sides were a dozen nice murals. One even had a small flower garden planted in front of it.
Wisconsin
Old house in Eagle Wisconsin.
Offshore World Championship Key West
Two of the boats in the unlimited class which have a top speed potential of around 200mph. Races are held every November in Key West FL.
Lou Ruvo
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, opened in 2010, in Las Vegas. It has become a national resource for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease); also focusing on prevention, early detection, and education. Its 65,000 sq ft includes 13 examination rooms, offices for practitioners and researchers, a "Museum of the Mind", and a community auditorium. It was designed by Frank Gehry.
Riverside Special
The 'Riverside Special' was built in Appleton WI in 1932 to compete in the Indy 500. Race rules required a seat for a driver and mechanic. As a daily driver it was well known in town for outrunning the local Police. I took this last summer at the annual gathering of old Indy 500 racers at the Milwaukee Mile track.
Cayo Hueso
Key West (Spanish: Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it constitutes the City of Key West. Wikipedia
Spring Green Wisconsin
Took this on a visit to The House On The Rock in Spring Green WI, which is also where Taliesin, the 600 acre estate of architect Frank Lloyd Wright is located.
Havana Cuba
Main entryway into someone's home.
Balloon Launch
Hot air balloon inflation/launch one warm summer evening in Mukwonago WI.
Vacant Art
Storefront in Las Vegas
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.
The Morning Show
Living on a large lake facing East is certainly an early rising photographers dream. Even though the physical characteristics remain unchanged the morning light presents a new show every morning.
Hard Worker
Cuban farmer using twin oxen to plow his tobacco farmland.
Blue Angels
I took this at the Boca Chica Naval Air Station in Key West on Armed Forces Day. It is tradition that when they come to Key West a time of arrival is announced. Duval is the main street running 1.25 miles connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. When they arrive, traffic stops and people pour into the street as the Blues fly very very low and slow, trailing red and blue smoke right down the middle of Duval on their way to the Naval Air Station. It gives me goosebumps to watch.
Northern Utah
On a road trip to Park City
Ford Model A (1927-1931)
Model A production ended in March 1932, after 4,858,644 had been made.
Bull and Whistle Bar
This famous Key West tavern on Duval Street boasts a different bar on each of its 3 floors, each with a different theme.
Grand Canyon North Rim
Shot about 15 minutes before sunset.
Fragrant water-lily
Took this at a botanical garden in Milwaukee. It was an overcast day making the water look almost black which is a nice background for the lily to show off its color. Its found in permanent slow moving waters throughout North America where it ranges from Central America to northern Canada as well as Brazil.
Old and New Chicago
Need a project?
On the way to explore Pioche NV there are a few roadside (in my opinion) photo ops.
Argentine cactus
Argentine cactus blooms throughout the day and night with spectacularly large 8" flowers. While the blooms only last 36-48 hours, they are splendid enough to attract eager pollinators during the night, which include bats and moths.
R.I.P.
1950 Super Buick Eight
Smartly decorated auto body shop in Las Vegas
While walking down an alley between The Strip and Downtown.
Salesman
A garlic vendor and friend
Something Different
Just caught my eye.
Neon museum
Las Vegas neon museum opens their yard once a month for photographers.
Prague
LV Night
Las Vegas color and light makes the buildings really beautiful.
Wind Turbine
Driving through a rural farming area that had wind turbines I thought getting up close might make an interesting photo. I just read modern turbines average 320 feet in height which it taller than the Statue of Liberty.
California Coastal Color
Along US1 near Monterrey
1880s South Dakota Homestead
An 1880s homestead complete with, corrals, barn, house and of course, outhouse. The nearby Dakota Hotel, built in 1910, it still carries the scars made by cowboys’ spurs on the staircase.
Dressed and ready
Barely shining through
Sunset last night with plane returning from Fort Jefferson National Park.
Radial Aircraft Engine
Nelson Nevada Mines, active from about 1858 until 1945. Many of the men that created this area were deserters from the Civil War. This was one of the first major gold strike areas in Nevada. Now a gold mine of great junk. Many open mines and ventilation shafts-use caution. Man who lived here after the mines closed was a hoarder.
Dashboard Hula Girl
From the 1950s
Morning Sun
Walking through a farmers market bunches of cut flowers can make for a concentrated frame of color and shape.
Full Gas Tank?
Death Valley is the largest U.S. National Park outside Alaska at 3,422,024 acres. Nearly 1,000 miles of paved and dirt roads provide access to locations both popular and remote. Even so, 93% of the park is protected as officially designated Wilderness. That wild country includes low valley floors crusted with barren salt flats, rugged mountains rising as much as 11,000 feet, deep and winding canyons, rolling sand dunes, and spring-fed oases.
Patience
Sun rising through a low layer of fog creates some interesting light. This was taken on Pewaukee Lake in Wisconsin.
Ivins Utah
Ivins is a city in southwestern Washington County, Utah. It is a part of the St. George Metropolitan Area as a suburb. The population was 8,978 at the 2020 census. The elevation is 3100 feet. On the other side of these very red Navajo sandstone mountains lies Snow Canyon State Park.
Cormorant
Cormorants mainly eat fish, but will also feed on amphibians and crustaceans. Using its feet for propulsion, cormorants can dive up to 25 ft. and remain underwater for 30 to 70 seconds while searching for food. Unlike many other diving birds, their feathers are not completely waterproof. Cormorants spend long periods of time with their wings outstretched to dry after diving for food. Wikipedia
Mackinac Bridge
Connecting the lower and upper portions of Michigan. As we wiz under, the steel is 200 feet above me. The length of the steel is 19,243 feet. Depth of the water below is 295 feet. Overall total length of the bridge including approaches is more than 5 miles.
Another thing along that same road
Along the same fence but way different...possibly another family member likes to also weld.
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.
Daytona Beach
Key West Porch
I walk or ride a bike everywhere in Key West. When I walk I usually carry a small camera. In what is called Old Town most homes sit close to the sidewalk on very narrow lots so front porches are the dominant feature. To me they all tell a story or just give a hint to what you'll find on the inside.
Race Ready
Road America Elkhart Lake WI. It is an Austin Healey if I remember right.
Double lake sunrise
Interesting clouds can form 50+ miles away over Lake Michigan due to warm air over colder water.These clouds catch the first light of the dawn like a theatre screen, and reflect this light to the ground which is again reflected in the calm 10 miles of inland lake water I'm photographing over here in Wisconsin.
Germany
Unfortunately the town name escapes me. Back in 2015 when I took this photo I used a function of my old Nikon to give it an artsy look.