Year End review:# 1 A Gift

The above image resulted after a couple of hours wandering about Union City, Indiana/Ohio. Had been moving from location to location, quickly photographing. It was a hot, muggy spring day. Ready to head home, stopped in a bit of shade, to pack up.   Finishing, I looked about. Out came a camera. This image wasn't made or taken. It was given.

Posted as "A View of One Shoe Walking".  A Bauhaus moment - looking up/looking down.  A Minor White moment - inner Zen.  Rushing about, hurrying to arrive, racing from here to there, we reach a goal.  In doing so, we miss seeing.  Stand still.  Move - if you must - carefully.  Be aware and alert. 

A way of working - allow the external to connect with the internal and then respond.  Other times an internal feeling will find representation in an external happening.  There is no one way.  Gifts are given to those that are open and accepting.

Year End Review: #2 Constrast, Compare and Choose

On the left the large white metal cross along the Interstate 70 near Richmond, Indiana. The small weathered wooden cross stands in an back alley in Eaton, Ohio. One is placed in the open for all to witness.  The other is hidden away requiring a journey to seek it out.  One is new, complete and brilliantly white.  The other is old, broken, and stressed.

These two crosses are different and yet they are similar.  They both have meaning and represent an event.   One speaks loudly and the other in a quiet whisper.  One is strong and mighty.  The other exhibits a battered strength of survival.

My journey is to seek out the quiet whisper of the battered strength of survival that I hear.  

Year End Review #3 Communities

                                            

                            Another thread from a year of wandering about the Midwest.

Here in Richmond, Indiana is an established church.  Active in the area with several outreach programs.  Sort of thing that you expect to see in the Midwest.  Would appear that all is well in the "fly over" part of the country.  Maybe yes - perhaps not.

                                         

Over in London, Ohio there was once an alive church. Now, with no congregation, boarded up, and for sale.  What happened here?  Members move away?  Folks elect other options?  Congregation grow old?  Moving thru the Midwest, I have seen this dead church scene in many locations.  Established faiths with standing buildings now unused, shuttered and for sale.

Why/How do some prosper while others don't?

 In Richmond, there are at least three Main Street storefornt churches.  Several more are scattered about the city.  These are not only alive and active, but are growing.  These tend to be physically small allowing the members to feel a closeness.  Members are active - in the action.  Often   able to immediately help one another with personal problems, as well as, daily physical needs.    A personal community in touch with its members.

Once again no answers, just questions.  No solutions, just problems.  Will keep going and photographing.  Will continue looking and perhaps seeing. 

Year End Review #4 Tattoo

                                                    Urbana, Ohio.                                          

This post is more about a theme rather than photography.  I keep looking and seeing tattoo shops as I wandered around the midwest the past year. They appeared to be everywhere. Once the mark of sailor or a biker, they now seem to be the choice of a wide variey of  people from differing backgrounds. 

From our sport hero's to everyday ordinary folks, tats are in.  Tattoos are the trendy thing.  Why is this?  Perhaps one answer could be that a tattoo implies that the person is a member of a group.  An insider - a belonger.  Has joined and is now accepted.   Another response might be - an outsider - not one of us.  Stand apart from the rest - different.

              

                                          London, Ohio 

                                                         

Not all tattoo shops are upscale.  Some are now closed or have moved elsewhere.  As with any service/retail operation, these are hard times.  Failure is more often than not, a reality not an option. 

Questions yet to be answered.  How does one become a" tattoo artist"?  Is there a school, self taught, or just do it?  Are there standard designs or does each individual artist have their unique way of working?  Questions, questions, questions.

Certain that there are additional tattoo locations in my future .

Year End Review: #5 Sale!

Richmond, Indiana.
Downtown retail stores are still having a difficult time.  Hoppe's Mainstreet store has been retired, i.e. closed.  They are still doing business in a strip mall on the east side of Richmond.  These are still hard times-not only here in Richmond-across the Midwest.  Unemployment is remains high.  Factories are cutting back on production and in some cases closing completely.  While the Winter weather remains bright and sunny the work opportunities are rather dark and dim.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Free Air

Urbana, Ohio.
Coming next week -  top 5 choices of 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Main Tattoos Street

Urbana, Ohio.
 Seems as if every crossroads/community/town/ city has a tat shop.  Are there that many folks that wish to have their bodies covered with "artwork"?  Would appear so, as these shops are everywhere.  Often when returning to a location, finding that they have closed or moved elsewhere.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Peace of Nature

Urbana, Ohio.
Returning to Urbana for a few images.  On an early Sunday morning, I found this Art Studio on a main street.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Mug & Brush

London, Ohio.  Interesting recycled building.  (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: White Cross

Richmond, Indiana. 
This stands on the edge of Richmond along Interstate 70.    Can be seen day and night-floodlights in use.  Placed in front of the New Creations Church/School.  The cross is huge - the height of the tree is some 25 ft.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Morning Light

Urbana, Ohio.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Crossroads Community Church

London, Ohio.
An active, alive and open church.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: For Sale

London, Ohio.
A block off a main street is a vacant church that is for sale.  There are at least two storefront churches within a short walking distance of this location.  This London church is not the first encounter with a  building that is unused and up for sale.  In fact there is another London church that has been closed-again within a short walking distance.  Interesting developements that have no easy answers.  Tastes change, people move elswhere and folks die.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: In Memory

London, Ohio.
(click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: New Life Fellowship

London, Ohio.
 Storefront church along a London main street.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: For Rent

 

London, Ohio.
Vacant Tattoo shop now for rent.  So many small town main streets with ever so many empty storefronts. As the year draws to a close, it is apparent that there is a continuing business downturn.  Times are not easy here in the Midwest.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Rock Stars Wanted

London, Ohio.  Rock Star - have a seat and we will be right with you.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Casey's

London, Ohio.
A Drive-Thru is legal in Ohio but not in Indiana.  Another opportunity to not leave your vehicle.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Restoration Worship Center

 London, Ohio.
One of several storefront churches along a main London street.  (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest; Perpetual Federal

Urbana, Ohio.  (click on image to enlarge)

One Way

Richmond, Indiana. 
Taken on a "walk about" using the Fuji X10.   Using a brick wall to help check out the camera.  Pleased with the color and the sharpness that the camera captures.  (click on image to enlarge)

Fall Light

Richmond, Indiana.

After some four/five days of steady rain - good to recall an early fall day and clear blue sky. Photo info: taken on a "walk about" with the Fuji X10 camera. (click on image to enlarge)

Pays to Advertize.

Union City, Indiana/Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Open

Lynchburg, Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Because He lives

Lynchburg, Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)

Photography: The Times Are Changing

Kirk Tuck has written on his blog - The Visual Science Lab:
“The dependence on the big tools is fading. No one in the emerging new (photographers) group seemed to care about the stuff that we craved when we first were dragged, kicking, screaming and denying, into digital. They don't care about big cameras or enormous lenses. They aren't captivated by more resolution. They look for cameras that are fast and fluid and casual. They want good high ISO performance and small overall profiles.

They are looking for good industrial design to be coequal with good technical specs. Think iPhone as opposed to the original Motorola "brick." For them, the camera is an extension of hand and eye, not a puzzle or equation to be mastered. They want their cameras to be as operationally transparent as an iPhone or an iPad.”

The Fuji X10 - on the left - and the Nikon D2x - on the right - are my today and yesterday tools. The Nikon is still used for fast action sports when long lenses are required. Otherwise it and the Nikon system of lenses remain at home. The X10 with its zoom lens covers - quickly and easily - my choice of subjects. With the ability to produce 16x20 prints that meet my standards, the Fuji is the first "go to" camera.

These three cameras - Fuji X10, Fuji X100, Minolta CLE - are my everyday tools. Together, they weigh less than the Nikon with a lens and they provide a varitey of possibilites. The digital X10 covers a wide angle (28mm) to a short telephoto (110 mm). The digital X100 has a fixed lens (35mm) that is a favorite focal length. Ideal for environmental portraits of people and places. Both cameras produce color images that are rich with full range of values. The Minolta is a film camera that uses the Leica M- mount lenses. Having several M-mount lenses - 12mm -135mm- many choices are available. While color film could be used, it is only used with black and white film. Rather than converting a color digital image to black and white the CLE film image is direct and can be wet printed or changed to a digital image. While these cameras are small, light in weight they are not "downsizing" my photography. Rather as Kirk Tuck has written, " they are fast and fluid and casual" which has changed - for the better - my way of working.

Lost in the Midwest: Barber Pole

Lynchburg, Ohio. Small communities have few service facilites. Sometimes a general store, maybe a post office, often a bar/tavern, and a beauty and/or barber shop. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Grain Elevator

Washington Court House, Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Faded Jewel

Washington Court House. Once an active, exciting location, now dark. First the Blockbuster's of the world, then the movies by mail and finaly downloads on demand. They all have contributed to closing of local small town movie theaters. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: PRAY

Richmond, Indiana. Enjoy and give thanks on this special day. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Detail

Washington Court House, Ohio. Many of today's buildings are like pole barns. A simple shell for the outside with an inside designed to fit the needs of the user. Older buildings often have small exterior details that make the structure unique. Looking and sometimes seeing makes for a meaningful journey. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Looking Up and Seeing This

Washington Court House, Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Yet Another Lodge Hall

Washington Court House, Ohio (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest; Bingo

Washington Court House, Ohio. For many in the Midwest, Bingo is the active sport of their life. Often well attended and played with great gusto. In some places smoking is allowed and in others not. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Castle Bail Bonds

Washington Court House, Ohio. Directly across the street from the court house and open on a early Sunday morning. Handy for those Saturday night events. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Enslen's

Washington Court House, Ohio. Never know what can be seen by wandering down a back street.
Enslen's is long gone but the sign remains as a reminder of a different time. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Another Day-Another Closing

Washington Court House, Ohio. With video's in the mail or downloaded on demand, Blockbuster and local stores are closing. No need to leave home. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Strip Mall

Washington Court House, Ohio. The usual strip mall suspects. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Trends

Washington Court House, Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: County Court House

Washington Court House, Ohio. The county seat of Fayette County with a population of almost 14,200. (Click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Something for Everyone

Parker City, Indiana. No national franchises here. Good to see local establishments doing well in these times.(Click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Our Small Town

Parker City, Indiana. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana: Sign of the Day

Parker City, Indiana. (click on image to enlarge)

Back Home in Indiana. Ludco Gun Shop

Parker City, Indiana. Returned to Parker City for a couple of reasons. First, to identify what, if any, changes have occured since my last visit-over a year ago. While not much has changed I did find that the gun shop moved to a new location. Second, to check out/test some different photographic equipment-more on that in a later post. (click on image to enlarge)

Lost in the Midwest: Two Flags

Jamestown, Ohio. (click on image to enlarge)