Monday Morning Coffee: Our Challenge

Architecture wears its age on its sleeve. Just look at any building - a house, an office, whatever - and in a subconscious blink you can instantly tell around how old it is simply by way it's built and accessorized.

                                           Frankfort, Indiana

This old hotel does little to betray roots. It begs questions of how it came to be this way, and what stories took place in these time worn, humble rooms. It also makes you wonder about the people who lived here, and where they ended up.

There's a story in everything, and our challenge is to take the time to drink it in and wonder, in the things we can see, about the things we cannot.

Backyard Hoop

                                           Bryant, Indiana.

Before basketball became an urban game, a backyard -especially in Indiana - wasn't complete until it contained a backboard/basketball court.

Plant No. 7

                    Richmond, Indiana.

Once housed a manufacturing facility, now used  for storage.

White Door

                                                College Corner, Indiana/Ohio.

Pastime Theatre

                                                Richmond, Indiana.

Doorway Detail

                                                          College Corner, Indiana/Ohio

UN ENTER

                                                Union City, Indiana/Ohio

Monday Morning Coffee: Heat Check

A few earlier posts have been about selecting future directions and /or projects.  Pinhole photography, doing more black and white photography, editing past work, producing a printed collection of recent images were among the ideas. While any of these would be valid, none would be chosen.

Beginning in late summer, I was experiencing pain in my back and right leg.  Not enough to prevent me from continuing a "normal" lifestyle, but was enough to know that something was wrong.

In October a visit to a doctor to discover the cause of this discomfort.  Result - need a complete hip replacement.  This operation would require six to eight months of recovery and rehab.  Not a great state of affairs for traveling about taking photographs.  But needed to to done, so the procedure was scheduled.

Next order of business was for a complete medical physical examination to determine whether a hip replacement could be done. If the examination was passed, then the scheduled hip replacement would go forward.

The complete medical examination was NOT passed.  A blot clot was found.  This clot needed to be treated right away before it reached a lung.  No other medical treatment until the blood clot was gone.  A time frame for this is usually six months.

 Now the plan is to remove clot (6 months) to be followed by a hip replacement (6-8 months).  This adds up to over a year.  A time when I am unable to have a "normal" lifestyle.  Right now, because of the hip problem, I am unable to move about without crutches.  This makes traveling and photographing difficult if not impossible.

This implies that there will be few- if any - new photographs. Rather, will be confined to projects that can be achieved "resting, treating and recovering" here at home. 

Will leave, for now with

and will return after figuring out what comes next.

National Politics

                                                           Richmond, Indiana 

E Street Diner

                        Richmond, Indiana

Lumber Hardware Closed

                       Richmond, Indiana.

Zion

                  Richmond, Indiana.

Fast Eddies

                        Union City, Indiana

Signs of the Times

Holding On and Hanging In

 

           Been a bit since last posted.  Will explain in the next Monday Morning Coffee.

Somewhere - Ohio?

Most of the time photography locations are noted and recorded.  This one wasn't!  No clue as to where it was taken.  Yes, it is somewhere in Northern Ohio, but where?  Senior moment for sure.

Red White and Blue

                                                                      Richmond, Indiana.

Temperature today in high 70's.  Tomorrow 50's with low 30's at night.  Indian Summer is about over and Winter - gray and overcast days -  is not far behind.  Enjoying the warmth and clear blue sky. 

Along Route 40 - National Road

                    Lewisville, Indiana.

Post Office / Charlie's Barber Shop

                   Spiceland, Indiana.

Monday Morning Coffee: No One Way For All

 



 



Last week suggested that photography changes were being considered.  Pinhole photography was a possibility and a couple of examples were offered.  Results looked good, so on Saturday, off to give it a go.

Returned to Spiceland, Indiana.  Been over a year since last visit and discovered that changes have been made.   Former Bank building - now city offices and library -  had been repaired and re-open for use. 

 

 

Nice new brickwork along with tasteful landscaping presents a clean - in keeping with the original design -  upgrade.  Community should be very proud.

 

Above photograph taken with digital camera of choice - Panasonic  G-3.  Result is exactly what was planed - fine color, good detail and sharp image.  Traits that are important for me.

 

Converting the color photograph to black and white yields:

 

 

 

Still good detail, sharp and fine range of tones.  Again characteristics that are valued in black and white photography.

 



Using a pinhole camera, the result is:

 

 

Way different.  While the tonality is still rather acceptable, the good detail and sharpness are gone.  This is, after all, a pinhole camera.  Not good nor not bad, just different.

 

When photographing need to consider the subject and exactly what is important for its presentation.  Among the many decisions are lens or lens less cameras, color or black and white; clarity - detail and/or sharpness - or not.  Choices so that a "best" representation can be achieved.  No one way for all. 

 



 





On The Wall

                   London, Ohio.

I just look, see and photograph.  No comment about what you see.

Happy Days Records

                                               Greensfork, Indiana.

Rock Solid Ministries

                                                 Richmond, Indiana.

Only remainding storefront church along Main Street.  Others have closed and/or disappeared.

Pepsi Piercing

                   Richmond, Indiana

Monday Morning Coffee: Plan B -Take 1

Last week wrote about investigating new/different photographic opportunities.  Suggested looking to the past to provide direction for the future. 

The past week with its low temperatures and rainy days, gave time to consider the past and come up with a few ideas for the future.  One result was not photography related and another was.

Went looking for some photographic film for one of the cameras.  Now, have a great deal of black and white film in a small freezer.  Probably more film than I can ever use - never know/be prepared and all that!  Opening the freezer, found more ice than film.  Time to defrost.  This means every thing must be removed, freezer turned off, ice chipped loose and removed.  After all that, the inside needs to be wiped down and allowed to dry.  This drying is an overnight thing. 

Decided might be a good time to see exactly what film is on hand.  Over the years have used various sized formats.  Hence, after sorting out the collection, there were piles of 35mm, roll, large format - 4x5 and 5x7 film.  Photographic film is dated so that results can be assured.  If the film is kept under cold conditions, its useful life can be extended.  Much to my surprise, some 4x5 film was dated 1989 - over twenty years ago!!  Good Grief.  Was this stuff usable?  Only one way to find out - try it and see if it works.

O.K. - How and in what way to test it?  Recall- past leads to the future.  Recall - keep it simple, direct, and honest.  Answer: pinhole camera.

Note: a pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens and with a single small aperture –a light-proof box with a small hole in one side. Light from a scene passes through this single point and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box.  Because a pinhole camera requires a lengthy exposure, its shutter may be manually operated, as with a flap made of light-proof material to cover and uncover the pinhole. Typical exposures range from 5 seconds to several hours.

Saturday afternoon there was a break in the cold/rainy weather, loaded a few 4x5 film holders and went off to test the 1989 film. First stop Rabbits Welding Shop.  A standard - for me - testing site.  Arrived, set up camera, measured light, determined exposure - 10 seconds - and made an exposure.

It worked!  One of the "joys" of pinhole photography is the softness of the image.  Some refer to it as dreamy.  Needs a certain kind of subject to be effective - here we're just testing the film.

A bit further along the road and into the town of Economy, another chance to test out the film. 

Again it worked.  Might be something to this: use the past in the future.

Freezer is up and running again and filled with film.  Keep out a bit if the 1989 film and loaded it into  4x5 film holders.  This Pinhole Photography could turn out to be Plan B.

 

Cash For Gold

                   Richmond, Indiana.

These are everywhere.  They seem to be a franchise like McDonalds, Pizza Hut and O'Charley's.

Elevator

                                           Crete, Indiana.

Fish Fry Every Fri.

                   Bartonie, Indiana.
Bartonie is a populated place located in Randolph County.

Maxine's Senior Center

                       Lynn, Indiana.

Lynn is a town in Randolph County, Indiana with a  population of about 1100.  The lodge hall is now a senior center.

Monday Morning Coffee: Row Boat Thinking

Summer is certainly over.  The temperature this morning at the Today's Image World Headquarters was in the high 20's.  Fall has arrived and winter seems not far behind.  The wood fireplace is cranked up and heating the work space.

Time to plan for the coming seasons.  Wandering around the Midwest is fine for the Fall.  Will continue to photograph in the area as long as the weather holds up.  Several new places on the travel list, as well as, returning to a few earlier locations.

When the weather changes - i.e. Winter - time for plan B.  Usually this is when reviewing, organizing and editing images takes place.  Also a good time to return to the darkroom and print images gathered over the summer months.

Winter is also a time to plan and prepare for the coming Spring and Summer.  Whether to continue the ongoing project - Midwest - or to bring it to a close.  Whether to investigate and perhaps begin new ventures. 

Most of the recent photographs have been content driven.  The subject is what is important.  How and in what manner the communities and people of the Midwest are changing or not.  Yes, there is decay but there is also growth.  This decay/growth has been the driving force behind much of the recent images.  Content driven, not materials or equipment driven.

Images can be material/equipment driven.  This could be simply whether the image is black and white or is color.  Whether the result was produced by analog or digital means.  Each  representation has its strengths and weaknesses. 

Now photography is changing - big time.  Cameras are being left behind.   Smart phones, I-pods and hipster programs are common replacements.  Photographic prints are rare. Images are viewed on an electronic platform.  Don't see this changing.  Rather believe that it will continue to expand.

Might be a time for some "Row Boat" thinking.  In a row boat you make progress by looking backward.  You don't see where you are going.  You see where you have been.

 Time for Plan B:  Stop, Step Back and Rediscover.  This could take many forms.  Change  content, materials, equipment or process.  Return to an earlier way of working and expressing.  For some this would mean - dare I write it - Old School.  Not in a romantic way, but rather in an honest, direct and clear manner. Today with yesterday.

Have several directions in mind.  Need to process and decide which path to follow.  Still tuned, more to come.

                    

Stop N B Happy

                   Churubusco, Indiana

New Life

                   Union City, Indiana.

One of several Union City storefront churches.  The small close fellowship that they provide enable many to find a spiritual home.

$ Cash to Payday $

                                           Union City, Indiana.

Don't ask about the interest rate - you don't want to know.

Cheap and Maybe Good

                                           Union City, Indiana

Used computers are like used cars. Pay your money and take your chance.  Computer fax anyone?

Monday Morning Coffee: Abarrotes Y Taqueria

 

Normally Sunday is my day of wandering around Indiana and Ohio taking photographs.  This last weekend,  Saturday was the day.  Usually prefer Sunday's as there are fewer distractions - people, cars, dogs, etc.  Sunday was taken with other tasks - so Saturday it was.

On Sunday the bad news is that most stores and offices are closed. Am left looking in from the outside.  Saturday finds most - if not all - businesses open.

Decided to return to Union City.  Now this community sits on the Indiana and Ohio boarder.  A part of the town is in Indiana and another part is in Ohio.  For what it is worth, a single post office serves both sides. Go figure!

Not much has changed since my last visit.  Being Saturday, a bit more folks/ traffic about. Stopped a couple of times by people asking what I was doing, aren't the buildings nice, are you working for the newspaper, and must see so and so, as well as such and such. About then recalled why Sunday was a "good" day to photograph.  Oh, people have good intentions -  the Midwest polite way - just tend to break up the photography.

Around mid-afternoon, enough already!   Needed a break, and food seemed to be the way to go. Looked around then noticed a "Abarrotes Y Taqueria". 

                                                     Union City, Indiana.

 Mexican food is a favorite of mine. Walking in, it indeed was the real thing.  Dark interior with no fancy lights, tables, or other wall hangings.  Just a typical store/restaurant that could be found in rural Mexico. Heaven. 

In the back was a grill staffed by a woman who spoke no English.  Ordered in my limited Spanish.  She looked at me, walked away, and found another woman that spoke English.  Repeated the food request in English to her.  She spoke to the cook - in Spanish - and told me would be ready in a few minutes. 

Now a few minutes could be a few minutes or it could be several minutes or it might be longer.  Time is not a constant, rather - depending where you are and with - time is a variable. 

Opposite the grill a television  showing, in Spanish,  a Mexican League Soccer match. While the language was pretty much a mystery, the action on the field was not.  Immediately absorbed by play on the field, trying to catch a few words of description, forgetting about food, time and photography.

Suddenly, from the cook, SENIOR!

After taking the food package, walked to the front, paid  the English speaking woman, and headed for the car, thinking I would eat as I drove to the next location.

Opened the food package and immediately realized that there was no way to eat and drive. Too much food.  Pulled over and consumed half of the order. 

I have never had a better quesadilla.  Might be something to this Saturday photography, especially if I return to Union City, Indiana/Ohio.

Barnard Lumber

                                                        Burlington, Indiana.

Hour Glass Windows

                                                 Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

New "Kids" on the Block

                                             Upper Sandusky, Ohio

La Moreliana and the Scottish Store physically close together yet historially miles apart.  Once again, the Midwest - if not the whole country - is undergoing change.  New folks arriving and bringing their varied and rich traditions with them.  Can't be anything but good for all.

VFW

                   Upper Sandusky, Ohio

Flags are very big here in the "fly-over" part of the United States. 

Monday Morning Coffee: No Need to Leave Home

 

Sunday was a bright clear day here in the city of the Today's Image World Headquarters.  Rather than wandering off somewhere else, decided to stay in town and check what might be happening here.  Gathered up the camera bag, got in the car and started off.  Didn't get very far as the first stop was for fuel - gasoline for the car and coffee/donuts for me.  With both of us filled up, away we went.

 

Drove slowly around town checking for changes since the last local photographic trip.  Not too different, but a couple of things struck home.  Several new empty storefronts -times are still difficult around here.  At the West edge of town discovered a closed Pizza Hut building.   Even the signage was removed.

 



                        Richmond, Indiana.

  Now folks around here - as far as I know - do eat pizza and Pizza Hut usually does a rather good business.  We also have several other pizza chains, as well as a couple of local offerings.  Wondered why Pizza Hut was closed - only one on the west side of town.

Went over to the East edge of town and found that Pizza Hut open but seems it is soon to be closed. What going on?  Pizza Hut leaving the area?   On my way home - still on the East side of town discovered a new Pizza Hut outlet.  No seating just preparation and pick up and/or delivery. 

                      Richmond, Indiana.

Seems that Pizza Hut patrons prefer to eat at home and not go to a Pizza Hut location, sit down, order and enjoy their meal.  No - they rather stay at home and have the pizza come to them rather than going to the pizza. Just pick up the phone or start up the computer and order your  meal.  Food comes to you.

Spent Saturday trying to find a warm shirt for the coming winter.  Went to and in six different local stores.  No warm winter shirts available for sale.  Came home and got on the computer, found the warm winter shirt, ordered and will be here at the end of the week.  Kind of like pizza.  No need to leave home, just have it delivered.