Barn in Ruins…

“We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”

  • Martin Luther King, Jr.

So it was a great day for a Barn hunt. I put in my Johnny Cash, James Brown mix, hey do not judge me my tastes in music are varied, and I started to head south and then east and then south some more, before heading back home.  I took a variety of photographs and not just of barns. One of the more interesting but not my favorite for the day was a photograph taken in Putnam County Near the McNabb Blacktop road of Wind turbines almost 16 miles away, and even more amazing is that you can see the individual blades. I am more amazed daily with the capabilities that a digital photography workflow allows. Doing all these regular edits is also helping me get better and faster with my Lightroom and Photoshop skills.

I chose this one as my favorite because I think it speaks to more than just a collapsing barn and forgotten windmill.  Almost a forgotten way of life. Slowly more and more of these barns and windmills are lost to time. So as James Brown was singing “This is a Mans world” I was capturing this image. I get into my truck and listen to the words that “man made the electric light, to take us out of the dark” and I see the windmill and think how it was replaced with more reliable electric pumps. Left to slowly wind out its remaining days a victim to the wind it was designed to catch. The barn apparently a victim to the same winds that constantly kiss the Illinois Prairie.

So to recap the month as this is the photo of the day for the end of March, 1034 files, totaling 21.2 gigabytes. That figures out to about a roll of film per day, now some days more photos than a roll, and some days only a couple of photos taken so it it not always a “roll” of film taken everyday. That also translates to about 21 megabytes per photo on average. The TIFF files tend to be about 100 or so megabytes per file and the JPEG files tend to be about 1 megabyte per file with the RAW files running anywhere from 18 to 26 megabytes. I will say this 33.4 files per day is about where I want to be about one roll of film per day.

Enjoy and think about what your 400 words would be when you look at this photograph!

A wind and weather worn barn and windmill north of Lostant, Illinois.

A wind and weather worn barn and windmill north of Lostant, Illinois.

Emergency Number…

“Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?”

  • A. A. Milne

I have had to call 911 a few times. I laughed when I read the quote because it made me think of the times when we forget to think. I use www.brainyquote.com every day as a means of inspiration and to find the quotes I use. Some days I search for a quote appropriate to the mood of the photograph and some days I use it as a way to inspire me on what to look for, a mood or feeling. So I read the quote of the day and saw this on the rescue truck and was like perfect.

When I was a much younger lad way back before 911 was available all over these glorious United States, we had to remember 7 digits for an emergency. We had stickers on all the phones that had the number for the Sheriff, the number for the Fire Department and the number for the Ambulance yes that was 3 different numbers. I remembered the Sheriffs office number pretty easy as mom worked there. Then there was the time the phone company changed the system and you had to dial the Area code and then the seven digit number. That is 10 numbers to remember to call for an emergency.

I once called all 10 of those digits because of an Emergency, the dryer caught fire, and forgot where I was and who I was. That is one of the most important things to give the dispatcher aside from what the emergency is, name and the location. Then along came 9-1-1, a simple easy to remember number. You still have to give all that important information, but the dispatcher now has a wealth of information coming into them along with your phone number. Information that can help get emergency services to you. I could go on and on about 911 and how it works but this is already getting long winded. I will only like to add that I am proud to have been an active part of getting the county where I live 9-1-1 emergency telephone service.

A photo of the universal emergency service number.

A photo of the universal emergency service number.

Bacon Cinnamon Roll…

“Friendship has always belonged to the core of my spiritual journey.”

  • Henri Nouwen

So I have always been a fan of Bacon. I mean honestly what guy is not a fan of Bacon. Well I know a few and they do not partake as it is against their religion, and I respect that. That brings up the question that if you do not know what something like say Bacon tastes like are you really missing it? I have never had Caviar or Fugu or Monkey Brains so do I know what I am missing like my friends who have never had bacon? Caviar is salt cured fish eggs and is one of the oldest delicacies in the world, something I might give a try one day. Fugu is a fish from Indonesia that if prepared the wrong way could kill you, way way down on my list of things to try. Monkey Brains I saw in one of the Indiana Jones movies and aside from being self explanatory, something I promise you I will NEVER eat.

So if you listen to those that enjoy a certain food, you do not know what your missing. Of course nowadays we have parents cooking about four different meals a night to satisfy kids who do not like this or that simply because of color or texture let alone taste. I did read once somewhere that in order to truly not like a food you have to taste it several times. I ate beef liver and onions once, I was sick for days, I was the only one in the family to do so, eight of us ate it. Guess what, I never have eaten it again. I did not have to eat it again to know that I did not like it.

So the photo of the day, is a Bacon Cinnamon Roll, I watched being made from scratch at my buddies deli/restaurant. Earlier in the week I had posted a photograph from a message board to their Facebook page, showing a packaged cinnamon roll being unrolled, a piece of bacon placed on it and being rolled back up. I thought what a genius idea that needed to be shared. So Saturday mornings, I stop in after my workout and have coffee and chat with Mike and Steve as they prepare for the day at Mareta’s in LaSalle. Occasionally it has a perk of being a taste tester for new menu items. This particular morning, I walk in and Steve starts razzing me about being spoiled and to check out what his brother is making. I get my coffee and there he is, rolling out the Cinnamon rolls and bacon is frying on the flattop and at that moment I knew he was trying my idea. I actually have quite a few photos of the whole process, the rolling, the butter, the cinnamon and sugar, the pecans, the golden raisins, and finally that thick bacon, placed so when cut it would give you bites of all as to not overwhelm. I was there when it was baking, the scent making the mouth water, and coming out piping hot and waiting for a drizzle of frosting. The result of all that hard work is what you see here. Trust me it tastes as good as it looks. When these are on the menu, and you like bacon, promise me you will go get one, you will be glad you did, I promise!

A piping hot fresh Bacon Cinnamon Roll fresh from the ovens at Mareta Deli in LaSalle Illinois.

A piping hot fresh Bacon Cinnamon Roll fresh from the ovens at Mareta Deli in LaSalle Illinois.

Windmill Crib…

“To make pictures big is to make them more powerful.”

  • Robert Mapplethorpe

More barns and windmills, what can I say there are quite a few more around this area than I thought. I mean I thought most of these old barns had been torn down, burned or destroyed by other means. Replaced by those boring utilitarian metal boxes that have no beauty or soul. I hit the photographic jackpot with this one because it also had a wind worn windmill sitting along side of it. The dark stormy sky ads to the overall mood and feel for this photograph. Giving it a lonely, desolate, almost barren feel.

I keep racking up the miles and my little truck just gets me to where I need to go. The sad thing is I have no idea where I am half the time yet I do find my way back home. I must have a good sense of direction. Although it could be that I have not ventured to far from my home base as of yet so I am not really out of the comfort zone that I live in. Speaking of that, I have been accused of being a Mommas boy. I just proudly respond by saying that the first born Italian male does not leave his mother until he marries. I hate to tell my Mommy that she is stuck with me. I do not believe in that love thing, or dating thing. Which means marriage is highly unlikely. I also have joked that I intend to build Mom a house so I can move her out. Of course there is also the joke that she could just go to one of those senior independent living places as well.

I will say this, it never really bothered me to say I live with my Mom. I know some are embarrassed about something like that. I ask why would you be, I enjoy it. I get to come and go as I please and I certainly do not keep track of all my Mom does. I mean she puts thousands of miles on her car in a month and she is retired. She was able to retire VERY young. Anyhow before I dig the hole deeper, Mom, enjoy the windmill!

An old windmill and barn crib standing lonely and barren on the prairie.

An old windmill and barn crib standing lonely and barren on the prairie.

Nothing March 27…

“To love an idea is to love it a little more than one should.”

  • Jean Rostand

Well somehow I messed up. I had taken a photograph of some Iris popping out of the ground  and the photo is gone. I was backing up items and reformatting cards for use and preparing for other photo shoots and the photographs are gone. I swore I copied them into the folder. I am very good normally about this backing up and copying and not deleting anything until I am very sure that I usually have a couple of copies of each file. I cannot find the files on the backup disk, there is a curious number of files missing on one of the disks, and I cannot find anything on my computer.

This is not good, I have to make sure that this kind of thing never happens again. So the post is short and not very sweet as I have missing photographs. The last time this happened I actually did find them in an odd file several months later. So I hold out hope that they are around but I have also learned a valuable lesson. Damn A.D.D, slow down, take notes and make sure you have them in 2 places before reformatting the cards. So photographers learn from my mistake.

 

Weathered Barn…

“Life is short, the art long.”

  • Hippocrates

I left early to go meet a buddy at Menard’s and of course the camera was in the truck. I left early for something and went out and took some photographs. I never leave early, actually the buddy I was meeting always jokes that there is time and then there is Q time. He references the fact that my time is flexible, that sometimes 10 minutes means 40 minutes and sometimes it means I have to be called and asked if I am coming, kind of a reminder. Now I must clarify meetings, work, etc are usually a bit early or right at the appointed time . But the rest of my life is entirely at my open concept of time. I of course blame my A.D.D.

So I sidetracked through the country on this road trip, because the sun was getting late in the day and it was warming everything up. So I went on my quest knowing that the sun light being given off would warm up whatever it touched. I meandered through the country found a few things and settled on this barn out by the county line. It looked weathered and time tattered and gave a hint of still being used by the equipment sticking out from inside. The spring skies are so clear and crystal blue at times it is almost unrealistic in its color.

I wonder what the stories this barn could tell or what the future will bring. You can see small towns and farms dotting the low flat horizon as this barn sits with an almost commanding view of the prairie. I wonder will it be fixed and maintained, so its role as storage will continue? Will it be replaced with a boring utilitarian metal box? Maybe The wood would be re-purposed in a house or as furniture it is hard to say. Enjoy the warmer days and longer nights.

An old wind tattered barn/crib with a commanding view of the Prairie.

An old wind tattered barn/crib with a commanding view of the Prairie.

Pitiful Pearl…

“A photograph is usually looked at – seldom looked into.”

  • Ansel Adams

So the other day the light was just right and Pitiful Pearl was looking very good. This plant was given to my Mommy and it was pitiful looking. For years we have transplanted it, fertilized it, watered it, put it out in the sun, and soon repeating all of that for another season in the sun. I have no idea what kind of plant this is, but it has grown and grown and stopped looking pitiful. I loved how the light was coming in through the partially opened blinds and was catching the leaves just so. A series of lines and curves and the light and I was looking for the camera before the sun changed position and it was lost.

Although if this plant gets much bigger I am not sure it will fit in the house anymore. We had it in the living room, then the kitchen and now the dining room. After this re-potting it will have the ability to near double in size. I will have to add onto the house, maybe a nice greenhouse or something that will also allow me to grow lemons and exotic plants all year round. Although I barely have enough time to keep writing all of these narratives for the photographs I take.

Time management is something I need to focus on if I could focus. Maybe I need to take a pill like everyone else it seems to help them get through their days. Anyhow, I am constantly reminded that there is so much beauty around us and I see more and more everyday as I continue this quest. The old saying stop and smell the roses is around for a reason. We have to remember the little things, to find the beauty in the everyday. Enjoy!

I loved how the early morning light was filtering through and giving pitiful pearl her morning dose of light.

I loved how the early morning light was filtering through and giving pitiful pearl her morning dose of light.

Burning Grass…

“Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to the seas.”

  • John Dryden

I had noticed this plume of smoke in the sky and went off to find it. I figured they were burning the Wetlands in Hennepin and got there in time to see this wall of fire approaching quite rapidly towards the road. I have through my years of firefighting and controlled Prairie Grass burns knew where I was that it was not all that dangerous. Looks impressive though, this wall of fire, and if you are in the wrong spot it is very dangerous. I love the fact that the best way to restore the Prairie is to burn it.

We have lost the Prairie, what we call the Prairie is nothing like what it used to be. But what is amazing is when Prairie restoration projects are done, the plants, and wildlife and beauty that comes back. It is pretty great that right outside of my little town a couple thousand acres of Prairie is coming back and screaming with life. It is also inspiration to quite a few photographs and a great location to use for family and senior portraits. Natural backdrops are pretty hard to resist.

Of course the Prairie was inspiration for a truly unique American architectural style. Something I am sure you will see photographed in the coming year. I do love Prairie style, and the American Farmhouse style of architecture. I also live in an American Farmhouse style home, built when the Prairies of the Midwest were alive and full of life. I hope you enjoy this prescribed and necessary fact of Prairie restoration and life. Enjoy!

A prescribed and necessary part of a healthy Prairie, the burning of grass.

A prescribed and necessary part of a healthy Prairie, the burning of grass.