Penning Photography Daily

I see a sky like this and I’m gonna wanna get the camera out and grab it.

This is on Route 29, north of the airport, SPI for you airport fans. It’s on the way to Athens, Illinois, and the Athens blacktop, which cuts East to Sherman, IL. I sometimes drive this way, just for this view of the sky. Worth the drive.

This day, I had my Pentax K20D with the Sigma 10-20mm ultra-wide zoom at the ready. As I approached the long curve, my hand grabbed the camera and the other hand did a quick open of the passenger window. Set the camera, and prop it on the side window and bam! bam! bam! bam! I had a series of frames, which I hope captured part of the thrill I was experiencing in that sky above the fields.

Captures the grandeur of the sky & clouds and the sweeping vista of the open prairie, doesn’t it?

Explore your world. It’s a marvel a minute, waiting for you to notice.

Heading home into the sunset.

A perfect light for photographs.

I opened my new Palm Pre smartphone, and selected the camera application, while at a stoplight. So easy I could almost do it blindfold.

Roll down my window, and wait for the moment.

Keep a firm grip on the phone, stick it out the window, and press the spacebar to actuate the shutter. Hope for the best, because I had one chance.

When I got home and looked through the photos on the Pre taken during the day. This one jumped out of the screen and said: YES! I brought it into Lightroom, and use the auto settings, which only added a touch of contrast.

Not only is the Palm Pre a good & smart phone, it’s a good image capture device: A Camera!

Again, I’m very happy to have made the decision to make the Palm Pre my smart companion that has a home in my shirt pocket and brings the whole world into my hands.

First thing I did, getting out of my car this morning, was to put my camera of the day in my pocket. The mighty Panasonic LX3 was at the ready when I looked up and saw this.

The copper-colored windows of the office building, reflecting the sky, which is a brilliant blue topping in contrast. That’s what grabbed my eyes this morning and wouldn’t let go until I took this one frame.

I kept walking while pulling out the LX3, and popping off it’s lens cap, turning the camera on, and deleting the old photos off the memory card. All done while moving forward to get the best view, without the light poles which are close by but would mar the effect.

Camera up, frame and one shutter press and done.

I hardly broke stride.

The contrasting angles and color of the building against that beautiful sky with it’s carpet of blues and whites is stunning. At least it is to my eyes.

Beauty, always in the eye of the beholder, came and waved hello to me this morning. This time it was so obvious, I couldn’t ignore it. Many times, I have to slow down, and pay attention, in order to see the beauty set before me every moment of every day.

Count me as grateful for being able to see this today.

The Margery Adams Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to the Illinois Audubon Society. It’s an urban woodland oasis just off the busy Clear Lake Avenue, near I-55 in Springfield, Illinois.

I’ve never visited before tonight.

I was heading home after a family meal gathering with visiting relatives. Camera in hand, thinking that the light was looking mighty fine, wondering where I might find my photo for today. I had passed up the Adams Wildlife Sanctuary countless times in my life, before it was a sanctuary and just looking like an overgrown homestead. Tonight I passed it up again on my way to the gathering of the clan, but coming home, I veered into the entrance at the last second.

The Illinois Audubon Society has been restoring the true historical woods of the 30 acre site, bit by bit. I did not know before reading of it recently, that there are walking trails through the woods. That was in my mind as I felt moved to stop.

The site was closed, but I parked and walked about a bit, not intending to really explore the woods without it being open. I didn’t want to be thought a vandal or burglar, so I was quick.

What I saw, will have me going back soon. Very soon.

This was my first frame. Sometimes, it’s the last, but this time, the one which grabbed me was the first.

The tall, majestic tree, an elm, I think, standing at the entrance of the deep woods, bisected beyond this frame with a small path. I grew up with woods such as these as my playground. My siblings and I would have adventures in and around all the tall trees, and hunt for treasures in the pockets of sandstone in a hillside, splash through the mounds of leaves in the Fall, and listen to the quiet of Winter.

The woods were my friends, my companions at play.

They still are, here welcoming me to come and explore.

These evergreens were planted prior to our making this our home.

I suppose the spacing seemed just fine when they were planted. Now, it’s quite evident that the middle tree will be forever stunted in growth, giving up height so it’s companion trees can grow to the sky.

I took three exposures that day, thinking that I might put them together in a high dynamic range, or HDR photo like this. The sun was peeking through the clouds, and I wanted to see if I could get the rays of the sun to flare like this.

Not a perfect result, but then so is our friend here, Brother Little Tree. Not perfect, but thriving, just the same.

Bloom where you’re planted is the phrase which comes to mind. Take what is given to you and use it as best you can.

Folks have told me that I should take out the small tree.

I like it just the way it is.

Kay & Mary

Sisters

Twins

The Brennan Twins, as they are affectionatly known by their family.

Started out life in Rochester, Minnesota. Mary ran away from home at age 12 to visit her Uncle Alfred some miles away. I believe she took the train there. Her folks were frantic, but soon found her safe with dear Uncle Alfred, helping him in his family dry goods store. After coming of age, Mary “ran away” from home once again, for a two week visit with a friend, which turned into a 60+ year adventure in Springfield, Illinois.

Kay stayed closer to home and settled in Richfield, Minnesota, part of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) metropolis. Both married, raised their children and prospered in all things good in life.

Aunt Kay, as I call her, made a road trip to Springfield this week, courtesy of one of her sons, Steve. They’re enjoying the visit and seeing the sites to be seen in Central Illinois. Steve hails from New York City, an elementary teacher and artist. He’s getting in some good Mom & Aunt Mary time and planning on making a field trip to soak up the art in the St. Louis Art Gallery.

We had a family gathering and meal together yesterday. Lots of stories were brought out once more, and one or two were new to many. Always a good time of conversation and discussion on topics off interest when family gets together. Cementing those bonds which sometimes lay loose from being afar for too long.

I can see the Irish twinkle in their eyes. Lovely indeed.

Troupe Zahava members doing a sword dance.

Last night was a “Summer’s End Gala” for Troupe Zahava, a local Middle Eastern Dance Company in Springfield, Illinois. They had guest artists from as far as Washington, D.C. and performed a full evening of a wide variety of dances.

India, Romany, Persian, Uzbek and Sufi were some of the cultures represented in dance form. All were a delight.

This shows four of the troupe members balancing swords on their heads as they perform a graceful dance. This portion of the dance is a highlight, were all four are in alignment in front of each other in various stages of a kneeling position. A cascade of swords, with the graceful arms of the dancers undulating on either side of them .

As I entered the auditorium, one of the troupe members put a red mark on my forehead. A tilaka marking of Hindu custom indicating the mind’s eye and the idea of spiritual enlightenment. When I came home and greeted Karen, she stared at my forehead in horror “What happened to your head!?” I laughed and told her, I had forgotten all about the mark.

It was an enlightening evening and one full of the delights of this troupe’s hard work.