Bruce
A very colorful, among other things, friend in Key West.
Step Right Up & Win a Prize
Squirt gun guy and a couple fairgoers.
Morning Sun
Walking through a farmers market bunches of cut flowers can make for a concentrated frame of color and shape.
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.
Dressed for tourists
Lady in Havana earning tips to take her photo.
Las Vegas Lines & Steel
Great city to walk around with my black and white camera.
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.
Death Valley NP
Hottest, Driest and Lowest National Park
In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life thrives in Death Valley.NPS
Monarda
From my mother's garden in Wisconsin.
Aspens in Fall
Gold aspens in Utah at 7,000-8,000 feet.
Different
Cloudless windy day, palm trees, a black & white camera and looking for something different.
Hurricane Irma
September 2017 Hurricane Irma made landfall in an area 20-50 miles north of Key West as a Category 4 with 140mph winds with recorded gusts of 180 on Big Pine Key. About a month after the storm passed I visited this area on Long Beach Road. Hard to grasp the force of the storm. Most homes along the street looked similar to this one.
Pacific Coast
South of Carmel CA
Last sail of the day
Sun had set, last passengers brought aboard and the parasail wrapped up for the ride back to the marina.
Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is a state park in Utah, located in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. The park features a canyon carved from the red and white Navajo sandstone of the Red Mountains, as well as the extinct Santa Clara Volcano, lava tubes, lava flows, and sand dunes. Snow Canyon is located near the cities of Ivins and St. George in Washington County. Wikipedia
Auburn
Auburn automobiles were produced from 1900 to 1937 which were fast, good-looking and expensive. However, after the 1929 Wall Street Crash, and the economic downturn that ensued, the vehicle business halted in 1937 and Auburn started to produce a line of kitchen cabinets and sinks, to keep the company afloat. wikipedia
1880s
South Dakota
Wisconsin State Fair
In the back row
I love taking sunset photos in Key West. Sometimes I think I have enough but I'm always proven wrong because every sunset is a little different from all the others. For this one I'm sitting on a beach on a plastic lawn chair, camera with a big lens mounted on a tripod between my legs. I just Googled something like best sunset locations and Key West seemed to be on everyones top 10 list. Every evening there are 10-30 boats carrying their paid customers out for a front row view while I'm sitting in the back row hoping they will partially block my view.
Toronto
Common Street Scene
I have not been to another city that is more street photogenic than Havana.
Miss Virginia
Douglas DC-3C (C47) N47E “Miss Virginia” was manufactured in 1943 in Long Beach, CA as a Military model C-47A. She served at POPE with the Training Command in 1944 and 1945, then with the Air Material Command at Davis Monthan, AZ, then with the National Guard in Oklahoma City in the 50’s, then on to the U.S. Army proving ground as a test platform until 1966 when it went into storage at Davis Monthan. In 1990 it began a 10 year restoration. I took this photo at the EAA airshow in Oshkosh WI.
Grumman TBF Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger is an American torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps during WWII.
Powerboat Racing
Each year Key West hosts the Offshore Powerboat Racing group for a week of noise and fury.
Key West
Whenever I walk by this house I'd make a mental note to someday stop by with my camera.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses 414 sq mi with an additional 395 sq mi of U.S. Forest Service wilderness adjoining the park boundaries. The Continental Divide runs north–south through the center of the park, with rivers and streams on the western side of the divide flowing toward the Pacific Ocean while those on the eastern side flow toward the Atlantic. Wikipedia
Aeromotor
Stumbled upon this abandoned small town with maybe 20 buildings and this wind powered water pump was still working.
I did a little research and found this: "The first Aermotor was sold in 1888, with 24 windmills in total being sold in the first year. Aermotor soon became a strong competitor among its contemporaries selling over 20,000 of its windmills by 1892". And this Chicago company is still in business today making high tech windmills.
Umbrella Academy
Colorful waterfront restaurant built on a pier in Key West.
Cadillac
It's a 1958
Independence Day
Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America. Wikipedia
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.
Rust in peace
Very photogenic auto salvage yard in a Georgia forest.
Retired Milwaukee warehouse
Like so many old buildings in Milwaukee this one was constructed out of cream city brick. It was a porous material which over time collected the dirt and soot of industry. In my eye is makes for nice B&W photos.
Unique Taxi
For those with US dollars one can take a cool taxi in Cuba.
Niagara Falls Canada
Early 1900’s
Indy 500 Racer
So Be
Wonderful people watching, Miami's South Beach also known as So Be.
Tail light art
Not sure as to the year, make or model but it is a photo worthy light design.
Nose Art
Nose art is a decorative painting or design on the fuselage of an aircraft, usually on the front fuselage.
While begun for practical reasons of identifying friendly units, the practice evolved to express the individuality often constrained by the uniformity of the military, to evoke memories of home and peacetime life, and as a kind of psychological protection against the stresses of war and the probability of death.
Morning Coffee
The Reach hotel in Key West has this wonderful structure built out over the water. It's hard to find a better sunrise watching spot on the island.
Zion Waterfall
The heavy rain and snow in the Zion National Park area feeds the Virgin River and gives us these rare waterfalls.
Nothing Compares
Great Basin National Park.
The Great Basin includes most of Nevada, half of Utah, and sections of Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, and California. Great Basin National Park preserves a small representative piece of this entire region. NPS This "small" piece is the largest area of real estate I have ever seen. One stretch of the main highway was almost 90 miles long, had no intersections and we only saw 3 other vehicles the entire drive.
Audi at Road America
Ely Nevada Railroad Museum
The Nevada Northern Railway is a non-profit historical foundation whose mission is to maintain and operate what has been acclaimed as the best-preserved railroad facility in the United States.
Corner of somewhere and nowhere Utah
Key West Sunset Sail
Always a great show before the dark.
The Kiss Statue
At night, in front of the Key West Customs House
Please
To my right there were a couple fishermen cleaning their catch. Now and then they'd throw some scraps to these guys.
Chicago B&W
Early morning sun begins to light up one side of the glass and steel canyon.
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.
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is in Eastern California, in the Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert. It is thought to be the hottest place on Earth during summer. Death Valley's Badwater Basin is the point of lowest elevation in North America, at 282 feet below sea level. It is 84.6 miles east-southeast of Mount Whitney — the highest point in the contiguous United States, with an elevation of 14,505 feet. Wikipedia
For me it is one of those rare places where black & white photos usually work very well.
I took a ride
Man in green shirt owned the car and when I took the photo he asked if I wanted a ride around Havana. We climbed in with him in the back seat and other fellow drove. He explained he'd lost his license due to drunk driving so his friend drove. Car was beautiful but only ran and stayed together with car love.
Water Power
In a 50' deep slot canyon in Kanab Utah. The very smooth sandstone walls, clean sand floor and 12" log trapped 20 some feet in the air is why they advise staying out of narrow canyons when there is rain anywhere within 100 miles.
Cruise Ship Key West
Harry Miller Race Engine 1875-1943
His engines dominated American oval-track racing for almost half a century.
Steam Engine
Henry Ford Museum
Retired
Probably produced food, feed and sore farmer butts. Found this in Pine Valley Utah which is a picture perfect town the head of the Santa Clara River in the Pine Valley Mountains, and was settled in 1859. The population was 186 at the 2020 census. Significant landmarks include the Pine Valley Mormon Chapel designed by shipbuilder Ebenezer Bryce (Bryce Canyon National Park is named after him) in 1868 using the scheme of an upside-down boat.It is the oldest Mormon chapel in continuous use.
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.
The Shimmer
Though about 6 inches of water the sandstone bottom of a lakeshore shimmered in the noon high sunlight.
Heading out to sea
Departing Key West Harbor.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is made up of delicate and colorful pinnacles called hoodoos that are up to 200 feet high. A series of amphitheaters extends more than 20 miles north-to-south within the park. The largest is Bryce Amphitheater, which is 12 miles long, 3 miles wide and 800 feet deep. This photo was taken a few minutes after sunrise.
A mix of things
Rain, clouds, trees and a full rainbow.
Sunset Key West FL
I used a very wide lens which makes the palm trees look like they are bending towards the center.
Pacific Coast CA
PacState Route 1 is a scenic highway that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of the U.S. At 656 miles (1,056 km), it is the longest state route in California. Wikipedia
Monday Fireworks
Fantasy Fest
Face painted and costumed for the Key West Fantasy Fest parade
Big sky Utah
I took this in the general area of Bryce Canyon National Park. The 120 mile route from Bryce to Capital Reef National Park is a beautiful trip with ever-changing scenery.
Ready for School
Cuba
Canyonlands
The 527 square mile National park is divided into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the combined rivers—the Green and Colorado—which carved two large canyons into the Colorado Plateau. While these areas share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character. Author Edward Abbey, a frequent visitor, described the Canyonlands as "the most weird, wonderful, magical place on earth—there is nothing else like it anywhere."
Key West Sunset
Detroit
Trail Ridge Road
In Rocky Mountain National Park, the 48 mile Trail RidgeRoad more than lives up to its advanced billing. Eleven miles of this high highway travel above treeline, the elevation near 11,500 feet where the park's evergreen forests come to a halt. It winds across the tundra's vastness to this high point of 12,183 feet elevation.
Nose Art
Nose art is a decorative painting or design on the fuselage of an aircraft, usually on the front fuselage.
While begun for practical reasons of identifying friendly units, the practice evolved to express the individuality often constrained by the uniformity of the military, to evoke memories of home and peacetime life, and as a kind of psychological protection against the stresses of war and the probability of death.
Alley Redecorating
What once was a rather ordinary bland alley has now become (IMHO) photo worthy after artists got involved in a beautification project.
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.
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.
Makes one look up
On a walk with a black and white camera in downtown Milwaukee I saw this in an old warehouse district near the river. The hard working hands are very well done.
Stained Glass
In its Day
Sad architectural decay in Havana
Parade Painted
Face painted and costumed for the Key West Fantasy Fest parade
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.
Havana
Leucospermum
Saw it at a farmers market in So California. The guy had buckets of the most exotic cut flowers I've ever seen.
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.
Do you take?
Key West marriage at sunset with photographer, female preacher and a boat full of friends and family.
Steam Engine
Henry Ford Museum
Fort Jefferson
Almost 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, lies a cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs and sand, called the Dry Tortugas.
With the surrounding shoals and water, they make up the Dry Tortugas National Park, an area noted for bird and marine life and shipwrecks. Fort Jefferson, its central feature, is one of the nation's largest 1800s masonry forts. Park Service
Night Air Show
Long shutter speed records the movement of the twin engine aircraft that occasionally shoots fireworks.
Air Show Artistry
Night airshow maneuvers as seen with a long shutter opening.
Clouds over Lake Powell
Just before sunset in Page AZ these dancing clouds appeared on the horizon.
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.
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.
For those who wondered
Watching the Street
Old Town Havana is very photogenic with its combination of crumbling structures and color.
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
Dawns Light
Pewaukee Lake WI
Parade Happy
Face painted and ready for the Key West Fantasy Fest parade
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.