2009 Selections

Of the 194 images posted this year, I have selected two of my favorites.

The closed Garwin Hardware for a reflection of the world economy. Many communities and their residents are having hard times. Small towns are especially suffering. Lost of local opportunities have taken their toll. In addition to losing younger people to larger locations those remaining are forced to seek work elsewhere. This often means daily traveling outside the community in order to have a job.

The second image, in black and white, for its simplicity and humanity. Alive yet reflective. A strong photographic theme throughout the year.

Tomorrow begins a new year. May your dreams and wishes be granted.

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Revisted: Mikes Welding Shop

A different way of presenting a familar scene. Make the usual - unusual. Allow the straight be curved. (click on image to enlarge)

Arches N.P.

A few inches of snow on the ground and a temperature of 27 - feels like 13 - good to remember the dry 80's in Arches N.P. A favorite national park in a special part of the world - Moab, Utah. (click on image to enlarge)

Season's Greetings

To all a Merry Christmas. A dark and rainy day here in Indiana. A good time to recall the clear and bright sky's of Northern New Mexico. (click on image to enlarge)

Sedwick Rock Falls

One of my special places. A quiet and charming location no matter the time of the year. With wild flowers in the Spring to running streams in the Fall. This year, with the mild winter, the water is still flowing. (click on image to enlarge)

Richmond, Indiana

Continuing to recover, I spent a quiet afternoon walking and photographing in Glen Miller Park. Today, two days later, the first snowfall of the year arrived. Winter has come to Indiana. (click on image to enlarge)

Campbellstown, Ohio

Once again a new use for an old building. A grain elevator is now a junk yard complete with wrecked cars. (click on image to enlarge)

Rabbit's Welding

Will keep it simple as I recover. A single camera and one lens along with dependable black and white film. (click on image to enlarge)

No Image Today

No image because of a couple of health issues. Will be off line for a bit. If all goes well, I will return the first of next week. Please check back and view some new results.

Before

A quiet moment before the meal time gathering. On this Thanksgiving Day, may you and your family enjoy your time together.

Spot of Bother

The Walk About ended very quickly. Several health issues appeared, finally resulting in a brief - five day - stay in hospital. This confined time allowed me to rest and reflect about future projects. Am now home, although no one completely understands what is causing the problems. Told to take it easy and try not to do strenuous physical tasks. Is photography such a task? I don't know. Hope not as I intend to continue working.

Lost in the Midwest: Union, Iowa Post Office.

Once again a new use is found for an old building. Rather than level the structure, a bit of construction and the old becomes new and useful. This will be the last post for a while. I am taking a few days to gather my thoughts and plan a bit about what comes next. You might say that I am taking a brief "walk about" in order to refresh and relax. Please check back in November to view the results. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Union, Iowa

Main Street. The City of Union is a small rural village of approximately 450 residents located in the south east corner of Hardin County on the bluffs of the Iowa River. This is one of the richest agricultural areas in the world. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Eldora, IA.

Here in the Bible Belt, the Book and Bible Outlet in Eldora, Iowa is an important retail store. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Eldora, Iowa

Eldora, the county seat of Hardin County, has a population of about 3000. The GRAND THEATER, refurbished and operated by volunteers, is a retro-style theater that shows current popular movies nightly, often with weekend matinees, for only $ 1.00 admission! (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Dike, Iowa

Haine's Place in Dike. The building also houses the Masonic Temple. The population in Dike is less than 1000. Dike was named for railroad construction engineer Chester Thomas Dike. Dike chose the site and laid out the town in 1900. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: DeGraff Store

Often older buildings are painted to cover up a bit of their age and defects. If the owner has a few more funds the building will be resided with metal. I will be off line for a week. Please check in at that time. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: DeGraff, Ohio

Riverside Building Services now occupies what once was a DeGraff movie theater. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: DeGraff, Ohio

The Logan County village of DeGraff has a population of about 1200. Along the main street is the Tammy Lynn Inn and a neighboring bank building now housing the Post Office. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Lawler, Iowa

Lawler's Starlite Ballroom. Located on Rt 24, Lawler is a community of less then 500. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Calmar, Iowa

City Building of Calmar. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest:West Union Tire

Another local retail business boarded up and closed. Large stores -Sears, WalMart, K Mart- in nearby cities have taken sales from the small independents. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: West Union, Iowa

Morning along Main Street. West Union is a city with a population of less then 2600. Originally called Knob Prairie, it was founded by William Wells, naming it for his hometown, also called West Union in Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Milledgeville, Illinois

Located in Northern Illinois, Milledgeville is a village with a population of less the 1000. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Buda, Illinois

Buda is located along Illinois State Route 40. It's population is around 600. It is considered as a "ghost town" of Illinois. Have a "Bud" in Buda. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Delphos Fine Food

The Chateau of Delphos, Ohio with fine food and all you can eat for less then $6. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Delphos Church

Storefront Main Street Church in Delphos, Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Delphos, Ohio

Along Main Street in Delphos. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Cloverdale, Ohio Ads

Interesting ads along Cloverdale's Main street. There isn't a Mickey D's for miles. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Cloverdale, Ohio

Ed's Tavern. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Gas Meter

A final image from New Castle. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: New Castle Park

A small city park in the middle of downtown where once buildings stood. Will be off line until late next week. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: New Castle Chain

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Back Home in Indiana: Downtown New Castle

The East/West highway-Route 38- is a main city street in downtown New Castle. Along the road are a number of empty buildings and vacant storefronts. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: New Castle Today

Two years ago the Open Arms Church was an alive and active storefront church. Times have changed and these are hard times in New Castle.

Today very little remains of that church. (click on images to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: New Castle

Last visited New Castle, Indiana two years ago. Not much has changed for the good. More empty storefronts and a real sense of decay. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Spriceland Country Memories

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Back Home in Indiana: Wilson's Market

Been two years since last photographed in Spiceland, Indiana. Wilson's Market is still going and the library is open again. Not much else has changed. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Hope Detail

Often unusual windows are not available or cost forces another solution. Older bricks can be difficult or impossible to find. Choices are made and the project moves along. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana:Hope Beautification

All cleaned up and ready to be recycled. While many buildings are empty this one is ready for a new life. Seem to be more buildings ready than there are tenants. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Hope Masonic Temple

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Back Home in Indiana: Hope

A main street in Hope is also State Route 9. While the town is undergoing a beautification, many of the original facades are still visible. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Ski-Hi Theatre

Inside the Ski-Hi. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Ski-Hi

With television, DVDs and here in Indiana -daylight saving time - drive in movie theaters- once a popular way to spend an evening - are just a memory. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Huntington Green

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Back Home in Indiana: Huntington IOOF

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Back Home in Indiana: Budget Furniture

While many retail stores have closed, here in Huntington a budget and used furniture store is doing quite nicely. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Huntington Theatre

Holdover from the days when going to the movies was a major event. Not only was the film to be viewed, but the theatre itself was an important part of the experience. (click on the image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Huntington

Interesting as to what is placed in store windows. (click on image to enlarge)