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.
Godbe mill
An old silver-ore processing mill located in Pioche Nevada, the Godbe Mill was established in the 1920s and abandoned in the 1940s. It used a rather unique aerial tramway to transport the ore in buckets from the mine atop Treasure Hill to this processing plant where it was crushed and the silver extracted.
Grafton Settlement
Historic Mormon settlement on the south side of the Virgin River, adjoining orchards and farmland; last occupied in the 1940s. The town contains five original, partly restored buildings plus pieces of iron equipment and other relics. Zion National can be seen in the background.
Cedar Breaks National Monument
This spot where I took the photo is about 10,500 feet. There's another peak behind me that goes up to 11,300 but the access road is only open for a couple months.
Navajo Bridge
When it was first built, Navajo Bridge in AZ was the only place to cross the Colorado River for 600 miles. Prior to its completion in 1929, travelers between Utah and Arizona had to cross using Lee’s Ferry river crossing. Until the bridge was completed, there was no direct route between Utah and Arizona and travelers had to trek hundreds of miles around the canyon to cross the River.
Hibiscus
I took this hibiscus photo in Key West where as most places in the tropics they grow quite easily and in lots of colors.
On Patrol
Florida Keys brown pelicans
Stay tuned
Walking through an area of abandoned warehouses, factories and grain storage near the Milwaukee River. I'm sure in years to come it will be condos, restaurants and shopping.
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.
Tropical golden hour
An hour after sunrise and sunset are called the golden hours during which time the light really nice for taking certain types of photos. I took this while walking a beach in Key West.
Old and New
Chicago Illinois
Beautiful Lines
More of natures perfect design work
White Pocket
White Pocket is a National Monument in Utah and also an appropriate name for this photo. Like many National Monuments out her, there are no amenities such as water, toilets or camping sites and the roads require a capable vehicle.
Orb
Florida sky
I took this about an hour after sunrise in Key West.
A shame
This is very typical decay found just about everywhere in Havana. One can only imagine what this city looked like back in the 1950s.
Ice…
I thought it was pretty
Dahlia
Most likely....
.32 a gallon
Boulder Utah gas stop before heading off to Page UT.
Date Night
L1080748
In the Nevada sun
There's a place in Nevada full of old cars, trucks and just... stuff. Just great to walk around with a camera.
Evening Sail
Yet another Key West sunset sail photo. As someone who likes to look through a camera it's hard not to go "click" at these scenes.
Headframe
Defunct gold mine near Pioche Nevada. The headframe is the structure above the mine shaft that enabled the hoisting of machinery, personnel, or materials. The building to the left contains the steam engine that provided the lift power. Always have to be carful around these places.
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.
5 foot hole
In Valley Of Fire State Park in Nevada.
Ford Trimotor
The Ford Trimotor is an American three-engined transport aircraft. Production started in 1925 by the companies of Henry Ford and ended on June 7, 1933 after 199 had been made. It was designed for the civil aviation market, but also saw service with military units. It had a cruising speed of 80mph. Wikipedia
I took this photo at the EAA convention held annually in Oshkosh WI. During the 10 day event it is the worlds busiest airport in regards to landings and takeoffs.
Green Flash
You may have heard of the green flash in Key West. Per Wikipedia: When the conditions are right, a distinct green spot is briefly visible above the upper rim of the Sun's disk; the green appearance usually lasts for no more than two seconds. One evening I took a fast series of photos when it actually appeared (pure luck). Anyway, here's the authentic, elusive green flask.
Calf Creek Canyon
Beautiful waterfall up ahead but I loved this part of the trail
Eye Catching
Fantasy Fest ready
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.
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.
April Boom
Pink Coral Sand Dunes State Park
This is a wonderful park near Zion National Park in Utah. Follow the footprints to my friend, about 1/2 way to the top to give this some scale.
WWII
P-38 Lightning at EAA Oshkosh
Red Mountain
This is in Ivins Utah which is about 100 miles from Las Vegas. The Navajo sandstone give it the red colors. There is a housing development at the base of the mountain and a beautiful outdoor amphitheater on the other side.
New York New York
More streetwalking in Las Vegas with a B&W camera. I got lucky with the nice clouds that particular day.
Piano man
Playing for tips on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. He was actually very very good.
Orange Daylily
Wisconsin
Neapolitan Rock
Multi-colored sandstone in Gold Butte National Monument Nevada
Nice Variety
Interesting front porch in Key West
Rush Hour
One ship heading out of the channel while the other waits its turn.
Virgin River
Standing on a bridge in Zion National Park I was able to take this photo of the Virgin River which carved the canyons through the park.
Veyo Rodeo
The 10th annual All About Kids Rodeo in Veyo Utah.
Coral Pink
While the dunes are estimated to be 10,000 to 15,000 years old, this state park was first opened to the public in 1963. A phenomenon known as the Venturi Effect created the dunes, which is when wind passes through a notch between the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains. It increases velocity through the notch, which erodes the sandstone and carries the grains to the dunes.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is 3,730 acres of sand.
White Hibiscus – WI
Took this photo in my mother's garden in Wisconsin
Hibiscus
I usually just walk by flowers quickly glancing at them but when I spend a moment looking at a photo I realize how amazing they really are.
Lily Art
Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee has a large variety of whatever is in bloom when you visit.
Foggy fishing
Wisconsin sunrise through a heavy layer of fog.
Virgin River
Zion National Park
Grrrrrrrr
Tiger Lady on Duval Street for Fantasy Fest
Glacier National Park
If you haven't visited this park.... bucket list it.
A News Icon
Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Colorado River in northern Arizona near the town of Page. The 710-foot high dam was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1956 to 1966 and forms Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the U.S.
Fremont Street
Set my camera up with a 5 second shutter opening.
Black-eyed Susan
Wisconsin
Downtown Las Vegas
a.k.a. The Fremont Street Experience
Horseshoe geranium
Wisconsin
Still Video
While taking a night photo of an amusement ride which requires a rock steady tripod, sometimes I'll purposely move the camera to see what it will see.
1960 Watson Roadster
This car competed in the 1960 Indianapolis 500, driven by Jim Hurtubise. I took this photo at the Milwaukee Mile track in West Allis WI.
Yellow daylily
Wisconsin
Mesquite Dunes
While sand exists throughout Death Valley, there are very few locations where large dune fields are created. In order to create sand dunes, there must be a source of sand (in this case, the eroding mountains to the north), wind to move that sand, and a barrier to prevent the sand from being blown farther (the mountains to the south). The conditions at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are perfect for the creation of dunes, and while individual grains move, and ripples form, the dune field remains.
B-29
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War.
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.
Nevada Forgotten
Sometimes black & white works well and some photos just need color. This one was taken in both but the lack of color makes for better edges.
Joshua tree
For scale this branch and flower is about 30" wide, the tree had 11 flowers and was 20' tall making it between 500 and maybe 1,000 years old. I took the photo last week in the Joshua Tree Byway area which borders Nevada, Utah & Arizona.
About the tree: First, they are not a tree but a Yucca plant that happens to resemble the size and growth pattern of a tree. They grow a fairly limited range within the Mojave Desert of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. They only grow between elevations of 2,000 and 6,000 feet. They tend to grow from 15 to 40 feet tall, usually only adding 2 to 3 inches each year. It will take around half a century for a Joshua Tree to reach full size. Wikipedia
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.
Bahia Honda State Park
The stormy skies made for strong color contrast between water, grass and sand.
And here it shall remain
At least someone mows around it.
Great White
Egret passing by off Big Pine Key FL
Look up
I do a lot of that while in Chicago.
Arches NP
Arches National Park is in eastern Utah adjacent to the Colorado River, 4 miles north of Moab. More than 2,000 sandstone arches are located in the park which is the highest density in the world.
Canna Indian Shot
Taken at Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee. Leica 24-90 76mm f5.6 1/25
Sundown Key West
Looking south towards Cuba the sun is setting to my right. The sunset was nothing photo worthy but it nicely lit
up this southernly direction.
Out walking
on some side street in Las Vegas and came upon these 3 doors of an abandoned building. They were so wonderfully vandalized it looked to me as there was some plan. For a while this was printed and hanging in my house.
Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam, rising 710 feet above bedrock within the steep, rust-colored sand-stone walls of Glen Canyon, was constructed in 1956 to harness the power of the Colorado River in order to provide for the water and power needs of millions of people in the West. BLM
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.
Petronia Street
Area of art galleries, shops and restaurants in "Old Town" Key West FL
Body Painting
In preparation for Fantasy Fest in Key West
Early Spring
Driving between Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bryce Canyon.
Ariel Nomad
2019 Ariel Nomad Tactical. English by design & built in the USA. Supercharged Honda engine with Honda 6 speed gearbox. It is rear wheel drive, extremely loud and very light. It has no doors, heat or AC.
Brian Head
Utah’s Brian Head Peak stands at a whopping 11,306 feet. From this observation point at the end of Break Head Peak Road, it is possible to gaze out into three different states at once: Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. The view is truly unbeatable, but the drive up can be tricky for inexperienced drivers. It’s important to have tires with good traction as the road winds around the mountain and becomes very steep in certain sections.
Cedar Breaks
Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah. Elevation here is about 10,500 feet.
It’s an odd thing to photograph
But I can't help myself sometimes...usually
Rose Shrub
California Coast
Spinning Dream
This is the 1,004 foot Carnival Dream cruise ship as it makes a 180 degree turn to depart the Key West harbor. I set the camera and waited for the ship to untie, move away from the dock and begin turning. I opened the cameras shutter for about 5 minutes until it stopped turning.
Afternoon Sail
One of the resident sailboats in Key West that take people out for a few hours every afternoon and evening. These always make for photo worthy events.
Hay Art
What one discovers on the backroads.
Think Blues Brothers
Chicago
Painted Look
It was very windy and the air was full of salt spray so this very high resolution photo looks to me like a painting.
Good Morning
Your Morning Rooster Facts:
They make sure their hens eat before they do.
A rooster protects his flock and will warn other birds if he senses danger.
Hens and roosters look identical as chicks.
If there is no rooster in a flock, a hen will step up to take charge.
A hen may choose to mate with a rooster if she finds his comb attractive.
There are an estimated 23 billion rosters and chickens and they live in all parts of the world.
They were brought here by the settlers in the 1820s and still run wild all over Key West.
It's said if you see someone taking a photo of one they can only be a tourist, or me.
Chicago river
Walking along the river I took a few photos of the building across the river behind me reflected in the ones I was facing.
Rudbeckia
Wisconsin
Mid 1800s Farm
This Utah farm was established in 1859-1863.
Merry Christmas
Says the flamingo
Cedar Breaks
Cedar Breaks is a natural amphitheater, stretching across 3 miles, with a depth of over 2,000 feet. The elevation of the rim of the amphitheater is over 10,000 feet above sea level. Iron oxides provide the reds, oranges and yellows, while manganese oxides provide shades of purple.
Silver Mine
Pioche NV has lots of abandoned mines. The building contained the machinery to lift the ore up the shaft that is at the base of the wooden structure. I am always very careful where I step anywhere near these things.
Gambel’s Quail
Taking refuge under a shrub during the rare SW Utah snowfall.
Bismarck
This is a Silver Bismarck Palm which of course in real life is colored a light green so it looks silvery compared to other palms. But with the help of a black & white camera it truly is now a Silver Bismarck Palm. I took this photo in Key West FL.
Selfie
I apologize but sometimes when around an old candy dispenser my ego gets the best of me.