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.  

 

Walton Agri Grain Elevator

                                                         Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

Walton Agri - Service

                                          Upper Sandusky, Ohio

With a population about 6500, it is a bit of a surprise to find an active grain elevator in downtown Upper Sandusky.  The Midwest continues to amaze.

Party Pak

                                            Upper Sandusky, Ohio

F. O. E. 2184

                    Upper Sandusky, Ohio

Small Town Appeal

                                                Upper Sandusky, Ohio

Town Motto: Small town living with big business appeal.  Suspect the same can be said for every small town in America.

Monday Morning Coffee: Jump the Shark

                               
                                                                                                               Jump the Shark:
A term to describe a moment when something that was once great has reached a point where it will now decline in quality and popularity.

This is Photokina week.  A once every two years trade show for the world's photographic industry. It officially opens Tuesday in Cologne, Germany.

A bit like an Auto Show, where the new car models are shown along with a few concept - probably never manufactured - special "dream" vehicles.  The idea is to generate a lot of hype for the latest and greatest.

Photokina is no different.  The manufacturers introduce/show their latest photography creations.  Cameras, lenses and other photo related items are available to be seen and in some cases used.

This time around almost all of the new items are digital related.  Cameras, lenses, memory cards, photographic computer tools, etc.

So far no word about products for film - all digital.  New film cameras  are missing in action.  Oh, one company is introducting a new black and white film, but that is about it.

Now earlier in the summer, two manufacturers announced that they were leaving the production of film.  Reason - no profit with aging machinery.

The announced new digital tools sound wonderful and very useful. Cleaver solutions to provide even better images.

Think I hear the "fat lady"  warming up off stage.  Analog/film, if not dead, is nearing the end of wide spread use.  The digital revolution is over and is now the accepted means of photography.

A few film die hards will hang on to the bitter end, but recording images for most will be digital.

We have "Jumped the Shark".

 

Outlier

                   Auburn, Indiana.

Ending the week with an up-styled re-do building.  Not clear about the motif, but does look new and clean.  Not your typical Midwest red brick structure.  As always. click on image to enlarge.

Recycled and Reborn

                   Auburn, Indiana

Auburn is automobile.  The city shouts car.  All in the past, yet still alive in the present. 

This carefully cared for building appears to be a recycled gas station/ auto repair shop. 

The brick work is first class.  No false fronts or fake cover ups.  Clean lines with neat and tidy surfaces.

Well done!

Window Nook

                                                  Auburn, Indiana

Welcome to Auburn

                   Auburn, Indiana.

The Auburn Automobile Company founded in 1900 produced its first automobile in 1903.  William Wrigley, Jr. and Erret Lobban Cord controlled interests in the company that eventually acquired Dusenberg, Lexington and Lycooming.  The company failed in August 1937.

Monday Morning Coffee: At Least The Coffee Was Good

      

                                                         57 Channels - and nothin' on

                                                                        Bruce Springsteen

Up early and out the door on Sunday.  Headed to Northern Indiana to check out a few new locations. Loaded the camera equipment the night before to save morning time. 

Arrived at the first location - Auburn - at mid-morning. Drove around a bit in order to get an idea of the possibilities.  Parked the car, grabbed the cameras and starting walking.

After a couple of hours the community started to come alive.  Probably church let out, as traffic picked up.  Looked for subject matter but didn't really see anything. Oh, took a few photographs, but mainly just to look busy.

Nothing seemed to be working.  Bad karma or something.  Nice weather, but for some reason the seeing was just not happening.

Time to move on.

Headed West out of town and drove around for a while, passing thru several other locations.  Stopped a few times and walked about checking out the possibilities.  Nothing! Nada! Zip!

O.K. Decided to quit pushing, hung a left turn and headed home.  Some days it doesn't happen.

Highlight of the day - on the way back, stopped at a McD's for a large black coffee - only $1.

300 miles - and no usuable images.

PS:  Checking the "keeping busy" images, turns out there are some interesting results.  No idea how that happened - must have been on auto-pilot.

                                            Auburn, Indiana.

Closed

                                                     London, Ohio

One of several closed churches in London, Ohio.  Once again, storefront churches are alive, while traditional churches are not.

Masonic Temple

                                                  Van Wert, Ohio

Not all lodge halls are old and empty.  Indeed a few are new, well kept and have an active membership.

Home Guards Temple

                  Van Wert, Ohio.

The Home Guards Temple, erected in Van Wert in 1906 at a cost of $75,000.

From the Van Wert Times Bulletin of May 18, 2012:

"The effort to find some solution to the problem of the decaying Home Guards Temple has hit a roadblock.

Representatives of Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc. (SME) were in Van Wert to meet with city and county officials about the finding of tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), commonly known as perc. SME Project Consultant Mark J. Quimby shared that during testing for any hazardous materials in the historic building, a small area in the southwest corner of the basement was found to have a high concentration of perc in the soil gas.

The finding was made during an assessment that was being conducted to determine necessary steps to either raze the building or rehabilitate it."

Young Fried Chicken

                    Van Wert, Ohio

Dream Place

                                            Richmond, Indiana.

 

A favorite building I would "love" to own, live, and work in.  Will never happen! 

Morning Morning Coffee: Old School

Called the doctor last Friday.  While it was early - 7:30 am - knew the office would be open.  He is always there - four days a week and closed on Thursday's. Also closed for an hour for lunch (12:00 to 1:00pm).  Phone rang and was answered by usual female voice.  Now there are four people in the office - doctor, nurse, billing clerk and receptionist.

Stated my reasons for phoning - physical medical problem, a question, and a request.   Response - just a moment will check with doctor.  Seconds later -he wants to see you right away.

Now the office is in a small office complex on the edge of town.  It takes about 10 minutes - on a good traffic day - to get there from my home.  Arrived before eight O'clock.  Outer area quiet, no one around except the receptionist. 

About to sit down, open my book and begin reading - always take something read, never know long long the wait will be - when a door opens and the nurse says, "come with me" and off we go to a exam room along the hall - "doctor will be right in".

Sure enough in less than a couple of minutes, door opens and he enters with a file folder -  about two inches thick of loose papers - over 40 years of my medical history.  Now most medical offices have medical records on computers -saves time and space.  He once told me when I asked why paper and not a computer, that with a computer you are paying attention to the computer, not the patient.  With paper, I can carefully watch and then record.

We chat for a bit - what are you reading, rainy weather, ... etc.  Then - let's see the medical problem. 

He looks, pushes on injury - that hurt? Tries another spot - hurt? This continues for a while as I continue to answer no, no, no...... 

Quiet for time, opens the file folder to a fresh page and writes something. You need not have a x-ray.  Will prescribe some med's  and should be fine in about a week.

Now about the question.  I explain that I wonder if one of the pills I take could be replaced by something else, as it doesn't seem to be working.  Looks at me, and replies - yes there are alternatives.  After naming them, I ask which is best?  Answer, try one and see.  If not, then try another.  Continue until you are satisfied.  Some help some people and others help other folks.  Try and see what works for you.

Looks at me, and says, "I'll be right back"  Returns with a sheet of note paper with his name, address, phone number printed on the top.  With out asking, begins to write a response to the request that I stated earlier to the receptionist. Finished and handed to me, we talk about about the coming weekend.

 "Did I have enough reading to last the rainy time?"  After office hours, he was off to the library and bookstore to replenish his reading supply.

Finally, " Let me know in a week about the injury".

In the late 60's I spent several weeks with a group of photographers in Yosemite Valley.  We we learning about conservation, photography, and a way of life from our teacher - Ansel Adams.

Early one morning found us scattered about the landscape, searching for images, setting up camera equipment, and taking photographs.

Finding a location, looking at the scene and then setting up my camera, I waited for the "right moment" to expose the film.  As I waited, Ansel appeared and asked " What do you see?"  Then without a breath, he said, "See that rock, see the moving water, notice the trees and the cliffs behind.   How do you see them?  What is your previsualized photograph?'  This from a man that had been hiking, camping and photographing the area for over thirty years.  He knew and understood the landscape, the light and the feel of the land.

I responded with my hopes for the photograph.  He listened, nodded and then, film?  I told him, he looked at me and said, "15th of a second at f32."  Then, turned, and as walking away, "Let me know how it turned out."

The injury is getting better, not normal yet, but getting there.  The photograph represents what I saw and felt that early morning in the valley.

Old School.

Fine Brick Work

                  Logansport, Indiana.

Continue to be amazed at the detail on early Indiana/Ohio brick buildings.  Skillful workers working with care produced many fine details.  A bit different in today's construction industry.