Coming up close and fast
After escorting the ship from the harbor to deep water it is time to run alongside and pick up the pilot. We have matched the speed of the cruise ship and will be pulling up where you see the open hatch. The pilot boat captain will push us against the ship while my friend Chuck, the harbor pilot, climbs down the ladder onto the pilot boat. We then motor off, the cruise ship departs for its next port of call and we return to Key West. I'm standing in the back leaning over the side, my left hand it holding a camera while my right hand has a very tight grip on a ladder rail. It's a very thrilling experience.
5 foot hole
In Valley Of Fire State Park in Nevada.
Calf Creek Canyon
Beautiful waterfall up ahead but I loved this part of the trail
WWII
P-38 Lightning at EAA Oshkosh
White Hibiscus – WI
Took this photo in my mother's garden in Wisconsin
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.
Foggy fishing
Wisconsin sunrise through a heavy layer of fog.
Hidden art
I took this while walking between 2 vacant warehouses on an overcast day. Now as I look at the photo It's hard to believe this was not by design. All these random elements haphazardly joined, painted and growing into a perfect composition. To think it began over a century ago as a new brick 20 story building. Then it was bricked shut, abandoned, painted just so with pleasing color as the weeds grew just high enough and the right amount trash deposited. And though it should be out in the open for people to stop and enjoy as the natural art it has become, it exists in a place where very few people ever go. If you saw the area around it you'd agree that I'm probably the only person that ever stopped to admire it. I really enjoy taking photos of the derelict and forgotten as they appear to be time capsules which the camera has finally opened allowing us to study the contents.
Black-eyed Susan
Wisconsin
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.
Rush Hour
One ship heading out of the channel while the other waits its turn.
A News Icon
Virgin River
Zion National Park
Temple of Sun and Moon
This is one of the many sites along the 73 mile Cathedral Valley loop which is located partially in Capital Reef National Park. You may be able to make out the people in the shadowy right corner for some scale. The nearest town is Hanksville Utah.
Lily Art
Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee has a large variety of whatever is in bloom when you visit.
Fremont Street
Set my camera up with a 5 second shutter opening.
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.
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.
Veyo Rodeo
The 10th annual All About Kids Rodeo in Veyo Utah.
Faces of Fantasy Fest
Tiger lady was completely painted from head to toe.
Nice Variety
Interesting front porch in Key West
Night Airshow Performer
Best way to describe this is a 102 second motion captured in one photo. So, the plane enters my field of view from the left so I open the cameras shutter and hold it open while the plane flies completely off screen to the right, loops back in front of me to the left, performs 3 loops and exits again to my right so I close my cameras shutter. All the while the plane is launching fireworks from its wingtips.
Glacier National Park
If you haven't visited this park.... bucket list it.
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.
Horseshoe geranium
Wisconsin
Look up
I do a lot of that while in Chicago.
Yellow daylily
Wisconsin
Super Guppy
The Super Guppy has a cargo compartment that is 25 feet tall, 25 feet wide and 111 feet long . It can carry a payload of more than 26 tons. The aircraft has a unique hinged nose that can open more than 200 degrees, allowing large pieces of cargo to be loaded and unloaded from the front. This is at least the fourth trip a Super Guppy has made to NASA Langley. NASA News.
I took this at the EAA convention where it along with the Osprey parked behind it were the shows centerpiece aircraft.
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.
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.
Great White
Egret passing by off Big Pine Key FL
Bahia Honda State Park
The stormy skies made for strong color contrast between water, grass and sand.
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.
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.
Canna Indian Shot
Taken at Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee. Leica 24-90 76mm f5.6 1/25
And here it shall remain
At least someone mows around it.
Downtown Las Vegas
a.k.a. The Fremont Street Experience
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Navajo slot canyon
Slot canyons are formed by the erosion of Navajo Sandstone due to flash flooding and other sub-aerial processes. Rainwater, especially during monsoon season, runs into the extensive basin above the slot canyon sections, picking up speed and sand as it rushes into the narrow passageways. Over time the passageways eroded away, deepening the corridors and smoothing hard edges to form characteristic "flowing" shapes. Wikipedia
This particular one is in Page AZ called Cardiac Canyon which reaches a depth of 100-160 feet. They allow only 4 visitors a day led by 2 Navajo guides. We had to make reservations almost a year in advance.
Simple Wildflower
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.
Osprey
The osprey is a large raptor, reaching more than 2’ in in length and almost 6’ across the wings. It tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply as the osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. The osprey is unusual in that it is a sole living species that occurs nearly worldwide. Wikipedia
I took this photo in the Florida Everglades National Park.
Body Painting
In preparation for Fantasy Fest in Key West
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.
Rose Shrub
California Coast
Think Blues Brothers
Chicago
Everglades National Park
Egret blending in and slowly making its way through the tall grass looking for a meal.
Petronia Street
Area of art galleries, shops and restaurants in "Old Town" Key West FL
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Cedar Breaks
Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah. Elevation here is about 10,500 feet.
Purple dawn
Sunrise in Wisconsin
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.
Best Seats In The House
Key West sunset cruise.
Rudbeckia
Wisconsin
Gambel’s Quail
Taking refuge under a shrub during the rare SW Utah snowfall.
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.
Schooner Wharf
Key West waterfront is tightly packed with boats of all sizes, people, bars and restaurants. Here is the Miss Key West, a shrimper and 86' windjammer the Appledore II. I think it would make an interesting jigsaw puzzle.
Continental Divide
Rocky Mountain National Park at 10,759 feet.
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.
Reflective layers
Walking in Miami I saw this wild reflection of multiple layers. When I got home and went through the photos I was able to really appreciate the depths of what I saw. Window, restaurant, wall of graffiti, new building and somebody standing on the sidewalk.
Merry Christmas
Says the flamingo
Mid 1800s Farm
This Utah farm was established in 1859-1863.
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.
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.
Watching and waiting
Key West...couldn't think of anything else to call it.
Devils Island
In the distance is Devil's Island (Île du Diable), a French penal colony that operated for more than 100 years, from 1852 to 1953, in the Salvation Islands of French Guiana.
Opened in 1852, the Devil's Island system received convicts from the Prison of St-Laurent-du-Maroni, who had been deported from all parts of the Second French Empire. It was notorious both for the staff's harsh treatment of detainees and the tropical climate and diseases that contributed to high mortality. The prison system had a death rate of 75% at the worst, and was finally closed down in 1953.
Sunrise
Sunflower farm in Wisconsin.
Selfie
I apologize but sometimes when around an old candy dispenser my ego gets the best of me.
Dining Out
A classic
A hard worker in its day
Flat bed truck from long ago
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.
On A Walk
Slow walking with a camera in hand can yield some, in my opinion, interesting stuff.
10,000′ Wildflower
Not sure what it is but it was growing in a dark forest at 10,000 feet.
Zinnia
Friends garden in WI
Lift Engine
Used to lift the ore cart up the mine shaft. This is an old silver mine in Pioche Nevada. These old mines are pretty spooky to explore, have to be very very careful.
Shrimpers
High winds bring the shrimp fleet in to anchor until the seas calm down. This photo was taken at extreme distance and capability of the lens. I then cropped (reduced) it to 5% of the original size. What made it even more difficult was the boats were moving while anchored in the wind. But given all this, I like the way it turned out.
Interesting Front Door
Walking around the back streets of Key West with a camera provides endless photo ops.
Big Bangs
Full Sail
Afternoon sail on the America 2.0 off Key West FL
Hibiscus
Flowers are 8-10" wide and only last one day.
Color Coordinated Guy
Just walking down a Key West back street when this guy comes riding by.
Race week
Rescue swimmers aboard a helicopter chase a 42 foot, 2200 horsepower racer powered by a 14-liter, 16-cylinder engine during race week in Key West.
Perspective only
Docked in Key West this cruise ship takes on monstrous proportions in comparison to the passengers waiting to board. I took this photo on a walk through town with a black and white camera. Without color in photos I often struggle to find something else to give it interest.
Gator
Florida aligator
Drag Show
Las Vegas Motor Speedway NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. One of these cars reached a speed of 353.73mph in 3.697 seconds in these 11,000 horsepower dragsters. The sound of 44,000 horsepower lasting less than 4 seconds actually causes pressure on your chest.
Posing for the shot
Great egret, smiling I think, in Florida.
Pioche Nevada
On the site of an old ore processing plant established in 1891 that's been closed for about 45 years. The mill is intact and very interesting to photograph. This is just one of a few outbuildings on the property.
Ford
I really like photographing old vehicles.
Reddish Dawn
Key West, Casa Marina pier.
1913 wood powered steam driven “steam roller”
Wisconsin Gas & Steam Engine Show. Plowing with Steam Engines, Sawmill, Threshing Machines, Model Steam Engines, Crawler Tractors, Shingle Mill, Stone Crusher, Blacksmith Shop, Corn Chopping/Silo Filling. This is a partial list of the activities planned for the upcoming 3 day 50th anniversary show in August.
Chicago Glass
Clouds, blue sky and beautiful design reflecting it all.