Pelicans At Eagle Creek

Nature / Photography

Pelicans At Eagle Creek

October 16, 2024

See that map? It’s all about American White Pelicans. The orange/peach-colored areas are where they go for breeding. The yellow areas are part of their natural migration patterns. The blue areas are where they like to call home. Look in all that white area. Can you find Indiana? Take off -25 points if you can’t. Indiana is one of the states that normally don’t see pelicans. That’s not to say that there aren’t occasional exceptions, but generally if one sees a pelican in Indiana it’s because it’s gotten lost.

So, how do we explain almost 40 pelicans flying in over our heads and landing in front of us at Eagle Creek this past Monday? Our best guess, which is not the least bit scientific, is that Hurricane Helene blew them off course. It could also be that these were younger pelicans who got lost during the storm, but we didn’t have the equipment to card any of the birds so we can’t be sure. Nonetheless, they were here and we took pictures of them. There are also some blue Herron, egrets, and a whole bunch of seagulls who weren’t expecting the invasion. I’ll let the pictures tell the story. You can put on your David Attenborough hat and narrate as you wish.

Blue Herron crouched down, trying to avoid the wind.

I think these little birds are called kooks, though I’m not sure that’s spelled correctly

Strolling through the park as Herrons sometimes do

Innocent little seagulls, not expecting a thing

SPLASH! Look out little gulls, the big birds are taking over!

Here they are, Mabel! I told you we were going in the right direction!

The group discount applies to the fish too, right?

I’m telling ya’ Mabel, there’s nothing wrong with the fish here

Ugh. This water doesn’t smell salty at all. Another meal with no flavor to it.

Sorry I’m late. We made a wrong turn at Des Moines.

Plotting a murder on the other side of the island

Current Issues / Morning Update / Nature / Personal / Politics / Social Commentary

Morning Update: 10/15/24

October 15, 2024

Pelican Squad Alpha, Reporting For Duty [2024]

Yesterday was full of surprises, the biggest of which was PELICANS at Eagle Creek! Jen and I were out again, along with her daughter Ali, to see if we could catch some larger birds than we had the last time out. There was the usual collection of smaller birds floating on the water, and we caught a handful of blue herons and egrets wading around the shoreline. We first saw a couple of pelicans out in the middle of the lake and considered it unusual, but they were too far away for either of our cameras to get a good shot. But then, as we came around the North side of the land bridge, the first group flew in right over our heads, the shot above. Over the next several minutes, more came in groups of three, five, or seven. In total, nearly forty pelicans were taking a breather along the shallow water.

Why is this a surprise? Because pelicans don’t belong in Indiana! Sure, one might occasionally find one up around Lake Michigan during the summer, but we’re too far inland for them to be interested in hanging out here. More often, they prefer the warmer climates of Southern California and … Florida. Our best guess is that Helene’s winds blew the sea birds up here and now they’re trying to get back home before frost hits tomorrow night. I’ll share more pictures in a separate post later this morning.

Then, I came home, took a nap, and went outside to find that it rained? Not a lot, nothing more than a brief shower, just enough to leave droplets on top of the trash bin and make the road wet. But, there wasn’t any rain in the forecast yesterday morning! Conditions with the advancing cold front were just right to generate spotting showers around the region. More could pop up today. The cloud cover prevents air tempts from dropping too low. Only when the skies clear Wednesday night will we see frost.

Solaris wants you to know that he thinks human life is silly and that we should spend more time napping in the sunlight and cleaning ourselves. In fact, he’s decided that if a human touches him, he needs to clean the filthy area immediately. I gave him pets as I sat down and now he’s ferociously attempting to remove the stink from his body. Too bad that desire for cleanliness doesn’t extend to things like cleaning up his vomit from the floor.

Other news? It’s concerning that the UN is concerned about the safety of their peacekeepers. This is a sign that no one is playing fair and none of the leaders can be trusted. None of them. Just toss the Geneva Convention out of the window. War crimes are being committed daily and no one is doing a damn thing about them. I have ideas, but they’re probably too extreme.

North Korea is throwing a hissy fit, blowing up roads and rail yards in its own country. Those with multiple children will recognize this tactic of throwing toys all over the room while yelling and screaming in frustration. Why? Who the fuck knows. Perhaps the tomato slipped out from their cheeseburger. Maybe their wearing the red outfit when they want to wear the dirty brown one. Possibly a sibling walked past without saying anything. North Korea has a brain deficiency that doesn’t allow them to progress and grow. And their diaper stinks.

Oh, if you’re one of those selfish people who thinks that the US needs to seriously crack down on immigration, I hope you’re ready to pay more for milk. You see, the price of milk has long been regarded as a bellwether for families with children. When milk prices rise, family health declines. Dairy farms rely on migrant labor because lazy Americans don’t want to work seven days a week. Most milk cows have to be milked twice a day, every day. No exceptions. Take away the migrant labor and… you see where this is going, don’t you? A hard line on immigration almost immediately relates to higher prices on the most basic necessities. Perhaps we need to rethink our approach.

I know October is a spooky scary month, but most people prefer their horrors to be pretend. Russia, however, is making them real. As the trial in the death of a British woman in 2018 began yesterday, we found out that the vial containing the poison that killed her had enough to kill thousands of people. That only one person was killed was not Russia’s intended outcome. Let that sit and simmer in your nightmares for a while.

FEMA workers change some hurricane-recovery efforts in North Carolina after receiving threats. You would think that people would welcome those trying to help them. That doesn’t seem to be the case in the backwaters of North Carolina where apparently Fox News is the only television station anyone watches. One person was arrested yesterday for apparently attempting to carry out violence against federal aid workers. Maybe next time we let them drown.

I know, that statement is cold, harsh, and inhumane. I’m over all the stupidity, though. When people are trying to kill those who want to help, we’re no longer in a position to offer them humane support. The election is getting tighter as we move closer to November 5 and whether or not the election is peaceful is a serious concern! Who the fuck have we become? Last week, Australia sentenced a man to prison for giving a nazi salute in public. There’s no tolerance there for the kinds of stupidity that lead to people being killed. The problem with the US taking that approach at this juncture is that we’d have to jail a quarter of the population! We have become too tolerant of the type of speech and behaviors that lead to violence. We have become too tolerant of rhetoric that marginalizes immigrants, LGBTQIA+ populations, and women. Continuing down this path inevitably leads to a fall that makes what happened to the Roman Empire look like a child’s birthday party by comparison. We must vote better. We must scream louder. We dare not sit silent.

I’m glad I’m old and probably won’t live to see Mad Max become a reality. There’s little question in my mind that the US, and perhaps the world, is headed in that direction.

Don’t mind me, though. I’m just going to sit over here and drink coffee and take pictures of birds.

Current Issues / Morning Update / Nature / News & Comment / Personal / science

Morning Update: 10/12/24

October 12, 2024

I am tempted this morning to let Solaris type the update. He’s being my shadow and keeps looking at the keyboard as if he could do a better job. If any of the cats could type, it would be Sol. I’m sure what he wrote would be interesting as well, given his acerbic wit. He doesn’t quite have a hold on the parts of speech, though, which limits his ability to be helpful on mornings like this one. But when Belvedere looks at me with those big hound dog eyes and asks, “You’re coming back to bed, right?” it really is tempting to hand Sol the keyboard and walk away.

If we’re all a little droopy this morning, it’s probably because Kat and Tipper didn’t get home until after 2:00 this morning. I wasn’t expecting Kat home early in the first place. She attended a comedy show with a friend for a much-needed night out. I wasn’t expecting Tipper home until later this morning, though. There was a big text conversation about that issue yesterday afternoon. But something changed during the evening. Tipper messaged her mom around midnight asking to be picked up out near Greenwood. When one of our kids asks for help, we don’t ask questions, we drive. Questions can be addressed this morning, but the bottom line is that her safety always comes first. We’ll sleep later.

This is also one of those mornings where news editors are grasping at straws to find enough copy to cover the empty space. The most compelling headlines I’m seeing this morning? Get a load of these:

How the elephant got its wrinkles. No, it’s not a fable. Actual sciencey stuff.
Gene therapy dilemma: Treatment that halts brain disease can also cause cancer. This only applies to a rare disease that affects young boys, but it’s still a bit troubling.
Ancient creature was a grizzly-size millipede-centipede hybrid, fossil head reveals. Wait, a GRIZZLY-SIZED millipede? Uhm, no, thank you.
Even a Single Bacterial Cell Can Sense the Seasons Changing. No word on whether they like pumpkin spice, though.
Bacon hogs the spotlight in election debates, but reasons for its sizzling inflation are complex. Bacon is political? Now I’m hungry.

There are a few things worth reading as you kill time before today’s football games.

Data shows migrants aren’t taking ‘Black jobs’ or ‘Hispanic jobs.’ Don’t believe the lies.
Children and adults transported to a Pennsylvania hospital after ingesting ‘toxic mushrooms’. You fed them to the kids? Really?
Woman pleads guilty to trying to smuggle 29 turtles across a Vermont lake into Canada by kayak. Hmm, I wonder how they caught her?
Sex bomb: The collateral damage of OnlyFans’ explosive success. Reuters did a deep dive on this one. Give in to the curiosity and read it.
Spirit Halloween will try its hand at a longer run this year with Spirit Christmas. No, really. Apparently, there’s a demand.
Why Do So Many Women Wear Giant Eyeglasses? The Times thinks you need to know.

Look, this may be the last decent-temperature weekend for the year. We’re looking at frost warnings by this time next week. Get out of the house. Do that thing you’ve been putting off. Enjoy what’s left of this late-season heat wave.

Me, I’m going back to bed.

Current Issues / Morning Update / Natural Light / Nature / News & Comment / Personal / Social Commentary

Morning Update: 10/11/24

October 11, 2024

G is on his way to Florida for the next 10 days. Are we a bit anxious? Absolutely. G has never been one to even stay the night with his friends, let alone travel halfway across the country. The state seems to have spaced the worst storm surge. Milton hit far enough South of Tampa that the storm’s energy sucked water out of Tampa Bay, rather than bringing it in. There are still millions without power and A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man who was left clinging to an ice chest in the Gulf of Mexico. Where G is going is North of Tampa and inland quite a bit. Kat checked with the host of the AirBnB where they’re staying to make sure the facility is still in good shape. It’s going to feel strange around here without G’s presence.

The stats on Hurricane Milton are still coming in; different sources give you different numbers. As far as I can tell, the current body count is twelve, and there were possibly as many as 150 tornadoes. I think the Weather Channel may have some of the best videos of the devastation. There’s no question that between Helene and Milton, the Southeast is going to spend a lot of time and resources trying to put things back together where they can. The Gulf is still exceptionally warm. There aren’t any new depressions on the radar at this moment, but conditions remain for one to pop up at any time.

President Biden told Trump to ‘get a life, man’ and stop storm misinformation. The Orange Felon won’t listen, of course. He never does. I’ve been watching the President carefully this week, though, and as much as I hate to admit it, I’m increasingly of the opinion that his stepping aside and allowing Kamala Harris to take the Democratic nomination was a good move. Watching Biden this week has reminded me too much of the last two years of Reagan’s presidency, where he was little more than a puppet pushed out to stumble through speeches. And the Felon is behaving much the same with slurred speech, difficulty completing sentences, and awkward pauses where pauses don’t belong. We have a constitutionally required minimum age for the president. Perhaps we should have a maximum age as well.

I’m pretty sure almost everyone in North America got a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis last night. How do I know? 90% of you posted your views on social media. Personally, we had too much light pollution to bother taking a picture. I could see a faint hint of pink in the sky, but that was about it. Still, this was the highest coverage across North America I can remember.

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize goes to Nihon Hidankyo, a group of survivors from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki blasts that have worked hard against nuclear proliferation. The group has made sure that the world remains aware of the long-term consequences of nuclear war. We might have thought we were doing the right thing ending WWII this way, but history has proven us wrong. Of course, there are still those who disagree and Vladimir Putin is at the top of that list. I’d rather die slowly and painfully of natural causes, thank you.

Last night was definitely painful. My poor bones were aching to the point that it hurt to have Solaris lying on top of me. I’ve been awake since 4:00 this morning, which means there will be a nap immediately after finishing this post. Sure, I’m drinking plenty of coffee; that’s the only thing that provides a remote sense of coherence to my writing. The caffeine isn’t enough to override the exhaustion I feel after taking my chemo meds, though. I’ll be crashing hard.

BrucePac of Woodburn, OR has issued a recall of five tons of meat and chicken after the FDA found listeria in some of the packages. The recall specifically involves products processed and packed at a plant in Durant, OK, a sleepy city just north of the Texas border. They were produced between June 19 and Oct. 8 and shipped to restaurants, food service vendors, and other sites nationwide. That means you’ll have to just depend on food service managers paying attention to avoid getting tainted food. Good luck with that.

Taylor Swift donated $5 million toward hurricane relief efforts. Ask your local billionaire how much they donated, especially the ones running for office of any kind. Don’t expect a response.

I saw a headline that read, “High food inflation leaves less in lunch boxes of poor school children.” I was halfway through the article before I realized they were talking about India, not the United States. While I was reading, I received a phone alert that the price of Redi-Whip Zero Sugar had dropped. I’m sure whipped cream will solve everyone’s problems, right?

The New York Times is making the argument this morning that viral dances are changing the way women move. It’s an interesting read if you have a couple of minutes. I think women’s movement always changes with the culture, though. When I remember the way my mother walked when she was younger, a very proper but determined step with perfect posture, compared to any generation after hers, there is a marked difference. Does music and dancing influence those changes? Absolutely. But so do fashion, media, and changes in social attitudes. Their study needs a healthy dose of expanded reality.

The twins are making the argument that I’m done typing this morning. As they chase each other back and forth across the keyboard, I’m trying to keep up with the need to delete characters from the middle of words. If you see a misspelling, it’s most likely their fault.

Meanwhile, food, medicine, and coffee are up next.

Cancer Update / Current Issues / Morning Update / Nature / News & Comment / Personal

Morning Update: 10/10/24

October 10, 2024

Over three million people are without power across Florida. Milton has crossed the state and is now out in the Atlantic, but as it is still dark as I’m writing this morning, there’s no way to know just yet the extent of the damage. What we do know is that the storm was strong enough to shred the fabric covering Tropicana Field. Before the storm itself hit, more than 20 deadly tornadoes wreaked death and havoc across Southern Florida. Walls erected to protect hospitals seem to have worked. A report inside one hospital says they are functional with both electricity and internet. The rest of Sarasota is not likely to be so fortunate.

We know that there will be a number of deaths resulting from the storm. In one video I saw yesterday, a young woman complained, “Where ya’ll getting evacuation money? I can barely pay my rent! I can’t afford to evacuate!” I can relate to that sentiment. Indeed, gas prices ticked up ahead of the storm. There were reports of price gouging as hotel prices more than doubled along the evacuation route. Both state and federal officials, including Vice President Harris, have warned that companies will be punished for price gouging, but that won’t help anyone who was looking for shelter from this storm.

9,000 Florida National Guard members have been called to active duty and more than 5,000 line workers from as far away as California are hitting the state to deal with power outages. A team stayed at Tampa Zoo to help animals deal with the storm. Yet, not all prison inmates were evacuated from dangerous areas. As the sun is beginning to rise, the severity of the damage will become more obvious.

G leaves with his friend’s family to head right into the heart of Florida early tomorrow morning. They do have a contingency plan, should they not be able to reach or stay at their planned destination. I’m asking him to send back pictures as they travel, but he’s 15; the odds of him actually taking pictures are pretty slim. Tipper is spending tonight with her friend as well, which means Kat and I will have the house to ourselves for the first time in years. Don’t expect any hanky panky, though. I’ll probably be asleep before she gets home from the salon.

I’m having some difficulty sitting upright this morning. Balance is the issue as I’m feeling rather light-headed. I’m reasonably sure that this is chemo-related. I’ll take my meds when I finish the update and will lie back down for a few minutes. That’s usually enough to solve the problem. The twins are being rambunctious this morning, though. They just chased each other across my desk. And back. Rest may be challenging to achieve.

Other news? Well, let’s see…

Han Kang has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” No, I’ve not read any of the South Korean author’s work. We’ll have to put that on the list.

Severe solar storms could stress power grids. Normally, I wouldn’t be overly concerned about this. Solar storms happen all the time and rarely do we see any negative affect. This time, though, the power grid is already stressed from back-to-back hurricanes. Don’t be surprised if your power flickers a little this afternoon.

Oh, those “God Bless the USA” Bibles? They were printed in China for $3 each. I have at least two issues with this. One, it’s not exactly patriotic, is it? There are plenty of publishers in the US that would have been happy to print the Bible, but apparently, profit comes before patriotism in the GOP world. The second issue is that, being made in China, it is almost certain that slave-like labor was involved. This is becoming increasingly evident for all goods made in China. I have a HUGE issue with this and it is the reason I won’t buy anything from Shein or Temu. Fuck anyone who is making a profit by underpaying the people who work for them, no matter where in the world they’re located.

Before I finish, though, keep in mind that hurricane season isn’t over. Global meteorological computers are already studying conditions and creating new weather models. I’ve seen two, so far, that are predicting at least one more Category 5 storm in the Gulf. The next one could possibly land well West of Florida, though, giving Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana a taste of the terror. Keep in mind, that these are just models. They’re not actually tracking any tropical depressions… yet.

If you have the means and wish to help victims of Milton, here are some options.

Now, someone hand Jim Cantore a big ol’ mug of coffee and a muffin. The dude has earned it.

Camera / Nature / Personal / Photography / Travel

Pictures From A Bog

September 14, 2024

Jenn twisted my arm oh so hard yesterday that I didn’t have any choice but to go with her to Celery Bog in West Lafayette. This is what friends do for each other. She might have died out there without me.🤣🤣🤣 I was working with a new-to-me camera and after seeing the results it’s clear that my vision isn’t as good as I thought it was. I would have sworn I had clear, sharp images. Nope. Missed it by ][ this much. But you know what? Looking at not-quite-focused pictures is still better than having to deal with politics this morning. I can’t do it. So here, have some pictures. Tell me if you can identify that one grey bug ’cause I’m clueless.

Jenn’s deathly allergic to bees, so I scared them off by looking at them.

I swear, this looked so sharp and in focus when I took the picture. Ugh. Sorry, birb.

A little girl, about three years old, was on the viewing deck and was excited to see this grasshopper.

Great Blue Herron going for a stroll. I do so wish he’d been closer.

There we go. Now, a nap before football!

Current Issues / Morning Update / Nature / News & Comment / Personal / Politics / Social Commentary

Morning Update: 08/06/24

August 6, 2024

Surviving The Heat [2019 original with AI background]

Good morning! It’s Tuesday and, so far, everything is going pretty much the way we would want it to. The kids were up and out the door without making much sound, possibly because they both knew they hadn’t finished their chores yesterday. We’ll have to address that when they get home this afternoon. Everyone was tired and not feeling especially well yesterday afternoon, though. Kat even came home early and curled up in bed. She ordered soup for dinner and the kids and I all had smoothies. No one could handle anything heavier.

But on the home front, that’s it. Nothing spectacular happened. Just a normal day in a normal city in a normal summer. I’ve no reason to expect things to be much different.

This morning we have Tipper’s IEP meeting. We’ll be talking with her primary support coach who happens to be one of the top 10 finalists for Teacher of the Year. I met her at the back-to-school event a couple of weeks ago and it was pretty easy to see why she’s in line for such an honor. I think the meeting will go well and help to ensure that Tipper gets all the help she needs to be successful this year. G is anxious to actually get started on classwork. They finally got their Chromebooks yesterday, but he can’t bring it home without a note from a parent. I sent the email to his advisory coach last night so that matter should be resolved. I’ve never seen someone so anxious to do schoolwork.

There’s nothing especially earthshaking in the news this morning, either, unless you’re Google. The ruling that Google holds an illegal monopoly over search sounds more frightening than it actually is, though. Microsoft went through the same sort of ruling roughly 20 years ago, just before Google popped on the scene. Google’s only guilty of doing some of the same things Microsoft did to keep their Windows operating system dominant in the industry. For there to be any significant change there has to be someone with a better alternative and at the moment that alternative doesn’t exist.

Of course, everyone’s anxious to find out who Kamala Harris is choosing as her VP candidate this evening. The sitting Vice President secured the Democratic nomination yesterday via virtual roll call. This means that the Democratic Convention can be more about platform building and political hype. We’re 91 days away from the election, though, and something tells me we won’t have to wait until October for both parties to look for political bombshells against their opponents.

Remnants of Hurricane Debby are soaking the Georgia and Carolina coasts. This is pretty much what was forecasted, so hopefully there aren’t too many people caught off guard. Flooding is the primary concern at this point, and cities along that part of the coast have experience in dealing with this problem. Support teams from other states, including Indiana, are in place so hopefully they’ll have the mess under control soon.

If you’re looking at headlines about the Nikkei index having a 10% bump this morning, you’re looking at old news. The Japanese market ended up sliding back down as the day wore on. European markets so far are mixed (as of 7:30 AM EDT). No one is sure what’s going to happen over the next couple of days, so we’ll all have to watch together and find out.

To no one’s surprise, the hot summer is yielding a lot of unrest across the Northern Hemisphere. The UK, Brazil, Italy, Bangladesh, and Nigeria all have their trouble points that are internally significant but not yet bleeding beyond their borders. Summer does this every year. The heat intensifies unrest over perceived injustices and emotions explode into violent actions. Sometimes, the change created is ultimately good, but the loss of life and damage to property is often a high price for moderate results.

One of the most exciting Olympic moments yesterday may have been when a whale decided to join the surfing competition in Tahiti. None of the surfers were in any danger as the whale breached the swells and this type of occurrence isn’t that unusual around the better surf areas. However, in April, Pacific Indigenous leaders— including some from Tahiti— signed a treaty recognizing whales as “legal persons.” Perhaps the whales are taking that as a sign that they’re welcome to join some of our water-based games.

Those are the highlights. I’m sure there will be more excitement in the morning when we know who the Democratic VP nominee is. In the meantime, I hope everyone stays comfortable and happy.

Oh, and Frankie says “Hi.”

Art / Natural Light / Nature / Photography

A Walk Around Ogle Lake

July 23, 2024

Jennifer Tuttle is the kind of friend who never gives up being a friend no matter how challenging that might become. We’ve met a lot of people over the years, but Jenn’s the only one who regularly hits me up to go “hunting for snakes.” To an extent, “hunting for snakes” is code for “let’s go wandering around in the woods and see what we can find.” But at the same time, we really are looking for snakes. Jenn loves snakes. She has multiple, the largest of which, Sir Reginald, is big enough that he could kill and eat someone if he were of the mind. There are a number of snakes that she would love to find in the wild. So, we keep looking in the places where snakes are most likely to be found: outdoors.

For this trip, we headed South to Brown County State Park. The park is primarily known for its fall foliage, so in a sense this is “off-season” for them. We did see some high schools playing Wiffle Ball as part of a summer program that I’m sure was designed to pad their college applications. There were enough people out hiking and such that had I taken a tumble Jenn would have been able to get help without leaving me abandoned on the trail. The park was far from the crowded population one finds down there in October, though.

Temperatures have been fairly mild recently, so we didn’t have any issues with excessive heat. At 82 degrees Fahrenheit, the partly cloudy day seemed pleasing to any number of dragonflies and butterflies. The biggest challenge there was getting a clear shot without a lot of tall grass being in the way. There were a few other critters to be found as well, but it wasn’t until near the end that we finally saw a young water snake. You’ll meet him on down the page.

The only disappointment is that we’ve yet to see any bears. Jenn thinks we need to seed the state parks with Kodiak bears. I think that would make park trips much more adventurous. I’m not sure how the bears would respond to our warmer days, though, since their fur tends to run pretty thick. We did see one lone deer as we were leaving, but she bolted too quickly for us to get a shot.

So, here are the images we have from yesterday’s adventure. There are some notes along the way, so pay attention.

Dragonflies were all over the place, but getting them to stay put long enough to get a decent shot was challenging. It took half a dozen frames before this one sat still.

Butterflies were the next most frequent species we encountered. They were especially kind in showing us how they interact with flowers.

Here’s one where we need your help figuring out exactly what we captured. I had walked right past this log thinking nothing of it. Jenn called my attention to the orange dots on the bark, wondering if they were eggs or fungi. My call was eggs of some sort, They seem too neatly positioned to be fungi. I took a picture more for reference than anything. But zoom in and look inside the log. I didn’t even notice anything was there until I was processing the image and the white dots glowed on my screen. There is *something* down in that log and it looks something like a cross between a spider and an octopus. Let’s go with it being some kind of spider since octopi don’t generally hang out in dead logs. Who can tell me what it is? Are there any scientists on this plane?

If there is a National Sport of Old Men, it’s fishing. I loved how vivid the reflection shows up. I think this could make a nice print. Don’t you?

Geese. Sure, their citizenship card may say they’re from Canada, but there has to be more of them down here than anywhere. There were trees in our way when they landed on the lake. Here, they’re being coy, looking as though they’re just floating along while their feet do all the work underwater.

We kept hearing rustling in the leaves but not seeing anything. The squirrels in the woods surrounding the lake were fast and skittish until we came across this little one who couldn’t care less that we were taking his picture.

This was such a unique image I couldn’t pass it up. Think about the size of the bird that would leave behind a feather like this. We kept watching the skies for raptors of any kind but never saw any.

It’s a good day to get a tan, especially if you can be out on a log where no one can bother you except those pesky photographers.

NSFW: “Oh, look! It’s the [45th President]’s penis mushroom!”

There was no way to get a clear shot here, though I tried from various angles. There were three butterflies all trying to get to the same flower. This is the best of a dozen shots I took.

The detail of the interaction between the butterfly and the flower here is breathtaking.

At first, we thought this one might be damaged, but apparently, he was just taking a dirt bath. As we got closer he flew away just fine.

Chipmunks are so small that it can be difficult to see them at times. This one was not shy and gave us a chance to get a number of shots. This is the first of two shots we’re including here.

He moved off into the trees, making it a little more difficult to find him, but he was still munching on whatever he’d found to eat.

At first, I thought this was a Cardinal, but no… Do YOU know what it is?

Perhaps this wasn’t the most exciting place to kayak, but if you’re looking to relax it’s pretty good.

This is another shot where you want to take a close look. Did you know that turtles could turn their head like that? I didn’t. I did a double-take when I saw this.

A second later, he’s scooting around looking for food.

There were a number of these butterflies around but this is the only one that stood still long enough to get a picture. I love how the markings on their wings almost look like piano keys.

Look! A SNAKE! We watched this little guy for a while. Jenn estimates it is probably a little over a year old.

Remember those geese? I guess the water was getting too wet.

And finally, a tufted titmouse! I think.

Cancer Update / Current Issues / Morning Update / Natural Light / Nature / Personal / Social Commentary

Morning Update: 06/23/24

June 23, 2024

Wild Things Are Beautiful [original 2015 with AI enhancement]

Blame it on the full moon or perhaps the rain that appears to be headed our direction, but we’re awake and typing at 4;00 in the morning without any good reason why. Well, I don’t know. I crashed around 8:30 last night, so that could be part of it. The car going through the neighborhood with its stereo blasting at 1:30 might have something to do with it. A general feeling of uneasiness is probably a contributing factor. I took the dogs out around 3:30, the full moon to our South, and lightning to the Northwest. They ran the perimeter of the yard several times, certain that something in the wind was bringing trouble to the yard. We finally came back in and they’ve settled back down. This could make for an interesting day.

Yesterday was an interesting mix of napping and trying to clean. The amount of energy it takes to sit on the floor and scoop things into a trash bag is surprising. The amount of animal hair that had matted itself to the carpet was disturbing. There’s still more to do later this morning but I’m trying to keep things quiet until at least 6:00. I need to try and figure out a better way to store my vynil. I’d prefer it to be up high, away from the cats, and where it’s easy to find what I want. There’s not really any space for doing that, though. There’s no space for doing much of anything.

Most of the newsfeeds haven’t been updated yet this morning. Reuters has pictures of injured Palestinians tied to the front of IDF vehicles, which is a war crime. I’m not sharing the pictures, obviously. They’re gross and disturbing and are really only suitable for evidence in a war crimes trial. Another person has died in the grocery store shooting in Arkansas. There were at least two other mass shootings across the country this weekend. The orange felon is trying to convince Christians to support him again, but let’s get real: if you’re supporting a felon for president, you’re not Christian. This might also be a good time to mention that last least five pastors of large churches have resigned in the past week due to sexual improprieties. Perhaps that’s what churches really have in common with the felon.

Sitting here with Pinball curled up in my arms, I’m aware of how different life is in chemo. There have been many nights when I would just now be getting home from a club or a party. 4:00 at a Waffle House, any Waffle House, is an experience unlike any other. Now, hashbrowns scattered, covered, smothered, and chunked, my usual late-night order, isn’t something I’m supposed to have regardless of the time of day. The thought of staying out this late at any club in Indy makes me shudder. I doubt I could stay awake for even the best of parties. Life simply isn’t the same. There’s less of everything. By the time I finish chemo, I’ll be too old to be out late. I’m disappointed. I don’t like the thought of everyone having fun without me.

Maybe I’ll edit some more old pictures since I’m up. If you missed the set I posted yesterday, you should look at them now. I don’t see myself falling back asleep anytime soon. In fact, I don’t think the animals have left me any room on the bed at the moment.

At least I have coffee. Coffee is my only friend. 🤣

Morning Update / Natural Light / Nature / Photography / Status

Morning Update: 05/06/24

May 6, 2024

Jenn Checking For Snakes on the Horizon [2024]

Yesterday was one of the most full and busy days I’ve had in quite a while. We started with lawn mowing. I tackled the portion outside the fence starting at 8:30 so I could hand the rest off to the kids with the instruction to be done by noon. When I came back in, I had a message waiting from Jennifer Tuttle asking if I wanted to go hiking and look for snakes. Hell, yeah! I dug my hiking boots out from under the bed (not an easy task) and took a quick shower because I really needed it. By the time I was ready, the kids were done with the lawn and Jenn was here.

We went out to Eagle Creek Park and started our search. While Jenn looked for snakes, I kept a lookout for bears. You’d think as much as people have been talking about bears in the woods, we’d have seen several. Alas, we both struck out. No snakes and no bears, despite the fact that the trail was loaded with bear bait in the form of babies in backpacks most often carried by random men. Jenn got pictures of young frogs and a couple of adorable little goslings playing in the water. I took pictures of a freakin’ huge mushroom and a tree stump on which someone had decided to test their router. Why someone would take a router to the woods, I don’t know. Bears don’t eat routers.

We stopped by the store on the way home to pick up cat food and a few other things. I grabbed a quick bite to eat and then got a message from Kat asking if I wanted to go to the park with her and Tipper. This was a challenge. I’d already been to the park and hadn’t napped yet. Should I risk trying to go out again? I decided that I needed to challenge myself. I could pay for the consequences later.

The thing about going to the park with Kat and Tipper is that you know it will probably not be an overly energetic outing. Kat found a table where she could draw while Tipper and I slowly walked around Lilly Lake. Tipper never walks all that fast. She enjoys going slow and investigating everything she comes across. As we were walking, we found a tree stump surrounded by yellow flowers. A ray of sunshine delightfully lit the stump. I carefully guided Tipper in taking an amazing picture that would impress almost anyone. These are the Daddy/Daughter moments I cherish.

Once again, we stopped by the store on the way home. Kat needed a handful of things for dinner. We got home, though, to discover that one of our refrigerators had gone out. The food was starting to get warm. The food was quickly transferred to the other fridge so we didn’t lose anything, but the loss of the fridge is going to mean trimming back what we keep in stock.

Why do we need two refrigerators? Because there were three different sets of nutritional needs. The kids, so far, can eat anything, and will. Kat’s diet is limited, though, due to chronic ulcerative colitis. That means nothing with a hush or any kind of roughage. She’s mostly limited to proteins and simple starches, with no fiber. I’m diabetic: low sugar, high fiber, moderate protein, all the veggies. Finding meals we can all eat is a challenge. More often than not, the kids eat one thing, and Kat and I eat something else. This means needing to keep a lot of different food on hand, thus, the need for a second fridge.

Kat fixed a wonderful dinner, but by this point, I was having a lot of trouble staying awake. After eating and bundling up leftovers for breakfast this morning, I came back to the room and fell fast asleep. Total walking for the day was over 8,000 steps, just under four miles. That’s the most active I’ve been in a very long time.

The question now is how my body will respond to yesterday’s activity. I can already tell you that everything is sore, but with rain moving in I’m not sure if it’s because of the exercise or arthritis. Something tells me this will be a bed day. With rain forecasted for almost every day this week, yesterday’s exercise may have to do me until next weekend.

Let this be proof, however, that I’m not an invalid. I can get out, hike trails, and do things. I’m just not as fast and may need to stop and rest more often. If anyone wants to go for a walk/hike, hit me up!

Morning Update / Natural Light / Nature / Status

Morning Update: 04/28/24

April 28, 2024

The phone just dinged with an interesting alert: I used my phone one hour and one minute less this week than the week before. That seems odd since I had to use it quite a bit during Thursday’s adventures. But then, outside of Thursday, there hasn’t been much going on except watching wildflowers and clover growing in the yard. The news is frustratingly redundant: war, protests, courtroom tactics, political crimes. After you’ve read it the first time, you don’t need to go back, do you?

I also think I need to share less about how I’m feeling. The things I say can too easily be used against me. And based on the site’s stats, people are much more interested in the pictures, anyway. So, I’ll just be quiet about things that only matter to me.

The latest update to AI on Photoshop screwed up. Everything added via an AI prompt is blown out, often to the point of being unrecoverable. The results have been nowhere near as colorful and interesting. Finer details such as drop shadows from added elements are missing completely. There are other options, but they take a lot more time.

Warmer weather means more time outside with the dogs. I think we spent close to three hours outside yesterday. They had fun barking at everything that moved. I’m damn sure going to miss them when I leave.

That’s assuming I can find a place at all. I’ve been nothing but frustrated. Social Security isn’t enough to cover rent, bills, or food. I’m increasingly getting the feeling that the universe wants me to disappear simply.

Here’s a picture of clover before we mow this morning.

Art / Natural Light / Nature / Photography

All The Breasts On Display

April 22, 2024

One of the first things in my feed this morning was an article from CNN titled, “Baring it all: Breasts take center stage at this major exhibition” The focus is an exhibition in Florence, Italy’s Palazzo Franchetti. Why they didn’t invite me to participate, I don’t know. I definitely have enough content to fill a room or two without including any one pair more than once. I’d be offended by the exclusion if I had the energy. That’s okay, though. I’ll settle for entertaining you with re-processed images from 2013’s Rite of Spring series. And hey, there’s no admission fee this way.

Experimental / Morning Update / Natural Light / Nature / Personal / Portrait / Status

Morning Update: 04/22/24

April 22, 2024

Taking the Monster Under My Bed for a walk [2024]

Yesterday was… interesting. For most of the day, the kids were busy in their rooms, either cleaning, playing games, or napping. They almost enjoy napping as much as I do. Kat picked us all up around 5:00 and took us to the park. That’s when “The Monster Under My Bed,” which is how she prefers to be known, came out for some exercise. I mean, we have a decent-sized yard, but she really needs more space to hop and run around and chase ducks. She drew her fair share of strange looks from passing people, but she behaved well and didn’t attempt to eat any of them. She stayed close to me and didn’t fuss when it was time to leave.

From the park, we went to meet the rest of Kat’s family for Tipper’s birthday dinner. Tipper likes Mexican food but wanted something different than our usual restaurant. Verde was what was chosen. None of us had been there before. It seemed like a reasonable idea. Had I realized it was in the Ironworks building, just down the sidewalk from Ruth’s Chris, I might have suggested a slightly better wardrobe for everyone and I might have snacked more so that The Monster and I wouldn’t be as hungry. Although, after seeing some of the people coming out of Ruth’s Chris, maybe it’s not as big a deal anymore.

The prices were predictably high, $150 for a tomahawk steak, $23 for three tacos. I went with an $18 combination platter and made sure to not leave any crumbs behind. The food was good, much like my experience in Mexico: a hint of spiciness at the beginning, but mostly bland and easy to eat. The burrito Kat’s mom (Bubi) had was freaking huge, but neither she nor Grandpa Larry ate much and ended up taking 98% of theirs home. They tend to be the worst food critics, constantly commenting on everything from the amount of salt to the food’s position on the plate. Everyone else devoured their food, except for 1-year-old Harper, Kat’s neice, who was more interested in playing with the clip on G’s jacket.

The only problem I had was just how incredibly loud the place was. I was seated right across from Bubi and Grandpa Larry and couldn’t hear them well enough to hold a decent conversation. Tipper carefully positioned herself between me and Kat, not really in the mood to communicate much with anyone else. For me to talk to Kat meant relaying the message through Tipper, so our end of the table largely sat their quietly waiting for the food. Ultimately, the noise got to me and I had to excuse myself from the building. Tipper promptly jumped up and joined me outside.

Only Special Monsters have long tails [2024]

Before we left, they brought us back inside for the presentation of a giant piece of rainbow cake with a massive sprinkler on top. Those who can indulge in that much sugar (primarily those under 20) enjoyed the cake. Tipper finished off the last little bit of it for breakfast this morning. She and I then went back outside to wait for everyone else to finish their chatting. We watched the full moon rising, talked about how easy it was to see inside the apartments that had lights on, and how strange it must be to live in a place like that.

When everyone else came out, Tipper went and fetched “The Monster” from the car to proudly show everyone. She might have given Harper a bit of a scare, but she was already tired and clinging to her mom, so who’s to say? The Monster enjoyed hopping around the parking lot for a while before we went home.

I was hurting in every way conceivable by the time we left the parking lot. I managed to stay awake until we were home, but crashed almost immediately thereafter. I had never expected that noise would effect me quite that way. While I enjoyed getting to see everyone again (it’s been a year and a half), I would have to decline if we were eating at the same place. My body is still too weak to be out that long and under that kind of influence.

Then, the heartburn kicked in around 2:30 this morning. Fun. Thrill. I’m glad we had milk.

Portrait of The Monster Under My Bed [2024]

Temperatures dropped to 36 degrees by this morning. Both kids complained about having to wear their heavy coats again. The dogs didn’t seem to enjoy it all that much, either.

There are thoughts to make about other topics, but I think I’ll save those for later. I still have a couple more pictures of The Monster to share.

Current Issues / Nature / News & Comment / Social Commentary

Time To Eliminate The Hoarders

April 9, 2024

Waiting For His Time [2004 original with AI background] Yes, we were that close.

Dreams are odd and unusual things that sometimes have a meaningful message and other times are nothing more than a series of bizarre images that have no noticeable relationship to real life. Sometimes, dreams are replaying events of the past, especially those one wishes they could change. Other times, dreams indulge in fantasies, things we might like to do if we didn’t have to suffer the consequences of doing them. Dreams are not trustworthy. Dreams are not predictable. They are glimpses into a part of our mind that science has yet to understand. So, when I dreamed of a movement to eliminate billionaires the hard way, I woke up trying to tell myself that it absolutely does not mean that I’m bloodthirsty.

In my dream, we (those faceless individuals with me) commandeered a submarine and torpedoed Jeff Bezos’ yacht. We (presumably the same group) then used a surface-to-air missile to take Elon Musk’s plane out of the sky at 30,000 feet (Is that even possible?). Immediately, the world started being a better place as the billions of dollars they hoarded were distributed more equitably through charities named in their wills. While their deaths were news for a moment, people quickly forgot all about them and went on about their business.

Reality would be much different, however. For all the calls to “eat the rich,” killing rich people isn’t sufficient to redistribute billions of dollars of wealth equitably. Billionaires have wills, trusts, and succession plans already in place to make sure that whoever comes behind them continues to build on the wealth they already have. Like fighting the legendary Hydra, cutting off one head only causes two more to pop up in its place. If we’re really going to put an end to billionaires, all of them, then we are going to need a much better plan, one that ensures money is getting to where it’s most needed.

First, let’s take a look at who, exactly, we’re talking about when we use the term billionaire. Forbes just updated their list last week. Consider who’s hoarding the most wealth.

Bernard Arnault & family, the head of LVMH fashion and beauty powerhouse. They are sitting on $233 Billion in assets. While headquartered in France, their holdings are global.
Elon Musk is riding high on $195 Billion despite having made a mess of the X platform and continually having recalls and missing deadlines with Tesla.
Jeff Bezos is right behind Musk with $194 Billion and on any given day, depending on how the market fluctuates, they may trade places on the list.
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg comes in with $177 Billion but he may also be one of the more vulnerable billionaires on the list as his stock value depends highly on mass public appeal that could turn on a dime at any moment. Stop using social media and he’s broke within a few months.
Larry Ellison, the insane (literally) head of Oracle rounds out the top five with $141 Billion. Only because Oracle is a solid and proven product does the stock price withstand Ellison’s foot-in-mouth comments that are so bizarre he makes the 45th president sound sane by comparison. Fortunately, he’s not really in charge of the day-to-day operations.

The number of billionaires has increased by 141 over last year, up to 2,781 with an aggregate value of $14.2 trillion. The US has the most, by far. China comes in second and India third (up significantly from last year). It is almost impossible to wrap one’s head around how much money these people have. Let’s examine the obligatory comparisons.

It would only take $1.6 trillion to eradicate hunger on the entire planet by 2030 completely.
The UN doesn’t put a budget number on housing, but it would take only $20 billion to house everyone in the US. Extrapolating that out, housing everyone on the planet would only cost around $800 billion.
Educating everyone in the world through secondary school (12th grade) would only cost a little over $2 trillion. That’s every country, which would eliminate a great deal of the ignorance causing problems today.
Providing healthcare for everyone in the world would only be $2.2 trillion.

Excluding war, these are the four biggest problems addressing the world at the moment and they could all be completely eradicated by 2030 and our group of billionaires would still have more money than they can possibly spend. Think about that for a moment. All the world’s most critical needs can be met if the world’s billionaires would kindly get their heads out of their collective asses.

Apparently, all those billionaires need some incentive. The go-to response is that they need to be taxed. That sounds like it should be an easy solution. However, the US government wastes approximately .51 cents of every dollar on bureaucracy. Even at the most streamlined methods, it would still double the cost of any endeavor. Other countries are worse. Then, once the government has the money, there’s the fight over who gets how much. Inevitably, the military, which doesn’t need any more fucking money than it’s already getting, would be yelling and screaming for more and there are far too many politicians willing to give it them because of the pull the military-industrial complex has. Several billion would be lost to pork projects in individual states under the guise of “creating jobs.” The inefficiencies of government cause very little actual help to reach the people who need it.

A much more efficient way would be for the billionaires to get together and handle these matters themselves. They already have the people and the structure and, unlike governments, have reason to operate in the most efficient way possible. Think of all the good Chef Jose’ Andres is doing with World Central Kitchen and he isn’t a billionaire! These problems are fixable without involving governments and the solutions would almost certainly last longer and be more effective than any government-funded project would be.

The problem is, that billionaires don’t want to work together and don’t want to let go of the money they’ll never spend. The motivation has to come from people like us. We have a couple of choices: either we stop buying their products and dump their stocks (which puts more money in our own pockets), or… we start buying rocket launches and putting them to good use. How many billionaires do you think we’d have to blow out of the sky before they got the hint?

Before you get all self-righteous about murder being wrong, stop and think about the degree to which billionaires who could help world problems and don’t, are accessories in the deaths of millions of people who die because they didn’t have enough food, protection from the elements, enough education to survive, or sufficient access to healthcare. MILLIONS of people that they could and should be helping.

There is a moral responsibility we all have to help those in need. Hoarding wealth in extreme amounts does not excuse anyone from that responsibility. Knowing that you could completely eradicate an inhuman condition and doing nothing more than throwing pennies at it (donations less than $100,000,000) makes you just as inhumane. Billionaires are the real animals in our society, and yes, that includes the ones you like.

This all brings to mind the French Revolution and the solution they found for the inhumanity of the rich: cut off their heads. The advantage of using rocket launchers is that you don’t have to get as close to the filth.

Nature / science

Solar Eclipse 2024

April 8, 2024

Yes, there’s no question that the full eclipse was something wonderful. Sitting in the front yard with all the neighbors doing the same was special. Listening to the Star Trek soundtrack coming from IMS as we hit the point of totality was awesome.

I can confirm that no one from our neighborhood was raptured. Perhaps more importantly, I can confirm that no one from the track was raptured. There were a lot of people shooting their guns which is always disturbing, but we’ve kind of started expecting that from the nut cases around us.

I tried taking a picture of the totality with the RAW camera on my phone. I zoomed in, trying to get a decent shot, and… WTF is that shadow? I’m assuming it’s from the lens. Please, tell me it’s from the lens. If it’s not from the lens, uhm… someone call Neil deGrasse Tyson, stat.

FX / Nature / science

Is This Spring?

March 19, 2024

Sure, it’s supposed to be the Spring (Vernal) Equinox but does it feel like it? No, of course not. Even though the air temperature is 52 degrees Fahrenheit, the wind in Central Indiana is so strong that it stings. My eyes were watering just letting the dogs out for a moment. I can’t imagine even the hardiest of fae dancing around a fire in this weather. In fact, it’s really not safe to have an open flame with this wind. There will be other days for nudity and fire. This is one to stay inside wrapped in a blanket. The only fire should be in a fireplace with a big ol’ hound dog on the rug in front of it.

And what is an equinox? It’s when the hours of daylight and hours of night are twelve hours each. Kind of. Not really. Let Neil deGrasse Tyson explain:

Art / Editorial / Experimental / Fashion / Holidays / Just For Fun / Natural Light / Nature / Original Style / Photography / Portrait / Social Commentary / Studio News / studio nudes

2021 In Review: The Final Year

December 25, 2021

Our last year started slow but ended with pictures to carry into 2022

This was the year that broke the proverbial camel’s back. After 37 years, we decided that the costs were too high, the effort too great, and the frustrations too often to bother continuing as a photographer. Officially, we pull the plug on New Year’s Day, but barring some exceptional occurrence, we’ve already taken the last picture. The camera is safely stowed in case I decide to pull it out again, but it’s out of the way, out of sight, and hibernating. One of my chores today is to remove the lights from the back of the car and store them out in the shed along with my tripod and reflectors. We’re done.

Sort of. As slow as this year started, the last six months have been full of activity, much more than we’ve had time to process. Much of this was intentional. I wanted to have enough new material to still enter juried shows for the next couple of years (assuming they survive). As a result, I still have several hundred unprocessed images waiting for my attention. I won’t release them as regularly as I have before, and when I do it may be a single image rather than a full set.

From a public perspective, we’re taking this website into archive mode. There will be no information about booking or hiring. We’ll re-work the portfolios and they’ll take a dominant position on the front page in video format. New material will be toward the bottom of the front page and most easily accessible through social media posts.

Can I be coaxed into shooting again? Maybe. We’ll see how it goes. If I do, it will be on a shoot-by-shoot basis. The concepts need to be original and enticing, something I’ve never shot before, and the people involved need to be exciting. And it will cost more. Just getting everything checked and out the door is going to be more of an effort, so the price is going to be higher. No, I still won’t shoot your wedding. I’ll officiate if you ask (yes, I can do that), but I won’t take pictures.

So, here’s a brief glance back at what we did this year. There’s not a lot. Jan-April was pretty slim. We didn’t post anything the entire month of May because there wasn’t anything to post. That’s largely what prompted this decision. As always, click on a thumbnail to view to collection full screen on your device. Thank you for all the years you’ve watched, encouraged, and commented. We’ll miss you.

-charles

[tg_masonry_gallery gallery_id=”18538″ layout=”contain” columns=”4″]

Art / Editorial / Nature / Photography

Creating An Alternative Reality

September 19, 2021

Because sometimes the current one sucks

Watch This First

https://vimeo.com/608117227

I was admittedly seething with anger as I drove home after this photoshoot. We were working in an area I’ve shot at dozens of times over the past 15 years without incident. The only problems we’ve ever encountered were mud and high water. But this time, a woman jogging nearby saw our model and assumed she was underage and possibly there against her will. So, she called the police. The police proceeded to claim that we were on private property (we weren’t) and double-check that the model was of legal age (she’s 21 if you’re wondering and I have the requisite proof of age).

Once I calmed down a bit, I had to consider that what happened was a direct result of a reality with which I’m not directly involved. In the runner’s reality, the age gap between myself and the model was suspicious. In the runner’s reality, the model couldn’t be more than 12-14 years old. In the runner’s reality, the model had to be in danger. Therefore, in the runner’s reality, it was her responsibility to call the police.

Our realities are not shared. In my reality, I was shooting with a friend, someone I’ve shot before, someone who was excited about what we were doing. In my reality, the age gap was never an issue because there was no intention other than getting the best photos we possibly could. In my reality, we were having fun. In my reality, we both spoke to the runner as she passed, a greeting that was friendly and not the least bit aggressive or creepy.

So, as I struggled with how to capture all the emotions I still feel in looking at these pictures, the idea of creating a separate reality, a reality void of any ill intent on anyone’s part, a reality of music and love and peace, seemed appropriate. The result is a unique set of images that are unlike any I’ve shot in that location.

I do lament the loss of shooting there again. Given that we were watched all the way back to our vehicles until we both left, I’m not inclined to ever return to that area for any reason. While the area is one of the most beautiful in town, I don’t need the potential harassment. This is the last set of images I’ll shoot along the White River.

And so we move on to a new reality, one created by new experiences and understanding. Whether it is better than the old reality remains to be seen.

Enjoy the photos.

[tg_masonry_gallery gallery_id=”18126″ layout=”contain” columns=”4″]

Art / Nature / Photography

After The Rain Is Gone

June 27, 2021

A brief shower prompts a stroll through the yard

There were maybe 90 minutes this morning where the sunlight was perfect. The light coming from the East, reflecting off the soft gray clouds in the West, would have been perfect had someone, anyone, been willing to get up with me. No one was. A light shower moved through around 8:30 that lasted approximately five minutes, short and light enough that the dusty ground in the yard showed no sign of being damp. The only remnant of the rain were the drops left on leaves and the fence. I gave thought to getting out the camera and using the long lens to capture some of the detail, but then I remembered that my phone in Pro mode takes images at 108 megapixels. So, I pulled the phone from my back pocket and walked around the yard. These are the results. I’ll find pictures to take. They’ll be good. But always remember, it could have been you.

[tg_masonry_gallery gallery_id=”17878″ layout=”contain” columns=”2″]

Art / Nature / Portrait

The Joys Of Nature

October 11, 2020

Even when the weather is cool and damp, a natural setting makes for great photographs

Carefully distanced photography isn’t always as easy as I want it to be. If I use a long lens, which allows me to keep sufficient distance between me and my subject, focusing takes longer and sometimes means missing a shot or two. If I use a shorter lens, which is necessary for certain angles, I may end up getting closer than I’d like. Finding that perfect balance remains elusive with every shoot we’ve done this fall.

No more so was that true than with this week’s set of photographs. Ashley, our model, is a friend. We’re accustomed to chatting back and forth as we shoot and proximity isn’t an issue. This shoot found us both being a lot more careful and quietly paying more attention to what the other was doing. The distance affected her choice of poses and as we focused on angles and light direction our conversation had less banter and more construction. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you, but it is different.

Air temperature was a factor as well as the level of moisture. Neither of us need to be ill and running around in cool, damp air is a good way to catch something one doesn’t want. Despite waiting until afternoon to shoot, there was still a chill that kept us from being as comfortable as we would like. Copious amounts of petroleum jelly were put to use and still there were chill bumps to address in final production.

So dominant was the feeling that it was about to rain that we made it do so, in post production so it would actually show up in the photo. While I’m not big on spot color in a monochrome image, our natural production process pulled out the pink of the rain coat and I decided to run with that look. Yes, I could have stripped out all the color, but somehow the pictures feel better this way.

We’ve another set sitting in wait and we’ll show you those when the weather gets too uncooperative to shoot anything new. Ashley’s always an exciting model and spending time with a friend is an extra bonus.

[tg_masonry_gallery gallery_id=”17334″ layout=”contain” columns=”3″]

As always, click on any of the thumbnails to view the image full screen. Enjoy!

Editorial / Nature / PotD

September Misalignment Kills The Calendar

September 1, 2016

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer. —Helen Hunt Jackson

charles i. letbetter- september misalignment kills the calendar

How we act in September is totally out of alignment with the actual weather. Just throw the rest of the calendar out now.

Just go ahead and throw the calendar out now. The whole thing is totally screwed.

I was having a discussion with our seven-year-old, the one who adamantly insists that he already knows everything, and mentioned that he has a four-day weekend coming up (lucky brat). He looked up at me with some surprise. “Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That’s only three days. Learn to count.”

“You have Monday off, too,” I said. “It’s Labor Day.”

“What’s Labor Day?” He asked, destroying that notion that he knows everything.

“The first Monday after the first Sunday in September,” I said. “It’s the end of summer vacation.”

This confused the child who has been in school a month already. “No, it’s not,” he immediately insisted. “This is already Autumn. Summer was a long time ago.”

There you have it; forget what the calendar says. September is completely out of alignment. Fall started when school did, which means September’s insistence that the Autumnal season doesn’t begin until the 22nd is totally out of step. Kids, and stores, are talking about Halloween. And Christmas. Hell, if you’re not looking at a 2017 calendar you’re already behind. Never mind those silly things like the earth’s rotation and tilt in its track around the sun. Seasons are totally flexible and fall wherever we want, don’t they? Apparently, that’s what we’re supposed to think.

Things That Happen In September

I don’t like this misalignment. Sure, it’s been happening for years. Little by little, retailers have been putting out decorations months in advance of the actual event. September has always been a bit of a pivotal moment in the calendar, though. Our last turn toward the end of the year. We didn’t rush that changing of seasons when I was a kid. We wanted to squeeze every last bit of summer in that we possibly could. With schools starting increasingly early, however, it has totally thrown September out of balance. Our sense of timing is off. If kids are in school, it must be later in the year than we think. Mix that with the already aggressive out-of-season marketing and no one is quite sure what we’re supposed to experience in September. Here, let me help. These are some of the things that should happen in September.

The return of football. I know not everyone’s a fan. This season it’s rather like visiting a Catholic church when you’re not Catholic: no one is quite sure when you’re supposed to sit and when you’re supposed to stand. Still, this Saturday, college teams around the country kick off another round of bone-crushing, concussion-inducing sport that stirs the primal instinct of head butting. Football is an acceptable level of violence. So it tailgating. We’re ready.
Fashion week. This season, it begins in New York on the 8th. There’s going to be a lot of confusion even here, though. Normally, we would see designs for next spring/summer. But with the increased move to direct-to-consumer sales, an increasing number of labels are showing current season designs. Several totally skipped last February’s shows, which is when fall/winter is normally shown, and are showing those cooler weather clothes now. But not everyone’s doing that. So, we’re going to see everything from bikini’s to parkas on the runway.
9/11. This year is the 15th anniversary of this tragic event. Given that we’re in the midst of one of the ugliest and most ridiculous presidential campaigns ever, I fully expect the day to be dominated not by remembrance but political appropriation of the day. My prediction is for a lot of hot air that is totally and completely meaningless. Respectful people will take a moment to reflect on all we lost on that day.
Autumn. For real. The dictates of the planet say that the autumnal equinox occurs on the 22nd of the month. Not before. Not after. Put up your damn overcoats, 65° isn’t that cold. In fact, most of the US won’t have seen a hint of frost prior to this date. We’re experiencing global warming, remember? Fall starts here. Build a bonfire and enjoy.

Things That Don’t Happen In September

While too many people seem willing to ignore the things that are supposed to happen in September, they’re more than willing to insert things into the month that just don’t belong here. Stop it. Stop trying to make your pitiful life pass any faster than it already is. You’ll regret this rushed attitude later when you begin to actually value the number of days you have left. Not everything belongs in this month. Let these things stay put.

Halloween. I love playing dress up and assuming alternate identities as much as the next person (okay, not really), but Halloween belongs in October. The end of October. Feel free to pull the skeletons out of your closet on October 1, not before.
Pumpkin Harvests. No. Stop. The pumpkins aren’t ready yet, damn it. Get your big, lumbering feet out of the fields, you’re trampling all over the vines. You’re not being all connected with nature. You’re being pretentious and ridiculous and you just need to fucking stop. Pumpkin Harvest comes mid- to late-October. Put your spice on hold until then.
Christmas. Sure, go ahead and start shopping if you can really be that frugal and patient and actually know what people are going to want/need in four months. Decorating, though? Don’t you dare. Holiday sweaters? Put those damn things up; they’re ugly anyway. And if I hear a single note of “Jingle Bells” before December 1 I’m slapping someone.
End-Of-Year Lists. I actually saw a “Best of 2016” article last week. What the fuck? There are still four months left to the year! How can anyone possibly begin compiling a “best of … ” or “worst of …” list when there’s still so much that could happen. With the way this year has gone, we’re probably going to lose another dozen major celebrities/musicians/people of note. Just put the pen down and wait until after Christmas like the rest of us.

Showing Some Respect For The Calendar

You know, the ancients weren’t totally stupid. Even without their knowledge of how planets revolve and spin they knew that seasons fall in a certain order. They divided the year into specific periods because they understood that nature has a schedule. Nature doesn’t care about marketing two or three holidays ahead. Nature doesn’t care about what is more convenient for you. The natural order of things dictates that events are going to happen when they’re ready to happen. If you don’t like that, you can just sit over in a corner and pout.

September is an important month for even more reasons that we’ve listed. Don’t rush things. Life happens fast enough as it is. Snow will fall. Temperatures will get cold. We’ll be complaining about Winter soon enough. None of that is here yet, though. Take your time. Enjoy September.

And maybe we keep that calendar on the wall at least a couple more months.

Art / Fashion / Nature / Photography / PotD

Celebrating World Photo Day 2016

August 19, 2016

charles i. letbetter - world photo day 2016

There is nothing more miserable in the world than to arrive in paradise and look like your passport photo. —Erma Bombeck

Today we celebrate the joy of taking a photo, of preserving a memory, of telling a story

Welcome to World Photo Day 2016! This is a day in which we’re going to play along nicely and pretend that the organization behind this day isn’t just trying to sell their book. We like this day because it celebrates something we feel rather passionate about: photography! I mean, who doesn’t like it when someone captures a good photo of you? Granted, for some people that is excessively more difficult than for others. I will also admit that there are times, even when the photography is good, we don’t especially like how we look. I mean, that whole passport photo quote above is way too accurate.

Still, we like to celebrate World Photo Day. Mind you, we don’t celebrate because this was the day photography was invented. The date was determined based on the Daguerreotype, which showed up in 1837. Even that wasn’t really the first photo process. The first fixed-image process was the Heliotype in 1826. What this date actually celebrates, though, is your access to photography. The French government purchased the rights to the Daguerreotype on this date in 1839 and made them open to the public. This allowed for further development of the camera so that you can take selfies with your phone.

Photography has come a long way since 1839. Photography will go a lot farther. This has never been a static industry. Change is constant as someone is continually trying to find a way to take a better, more real photo. Every time someone snaps a shutter, they capture both a moment in time and a moment in photographic history.

The Joy Of A Photo

I’ve taken hundreds of thousands of photographs over the years. From the first time until today, I still get excited when I look at the finished product and find that I have captured something special. Of course, there are times when I’m the only one who thinks a particular image is special, but many of them hold a lot of meaning.

Your pictures are the same way. Sometimes the pictures we hold most dear are those that are not technically stellar. It’s that picture of someone special, or that moment that gave you an incredible feeling, or the last time you saw the person who gave you life. Photographs tell our life’s story. They mark the moments of highs and lows. They remind us that we’re human.

So, we’ve chosen a group of photos for today that spans a range of events and emotions worth remembering for different reasons. Some pictures were chosen not because of the photo itself but because of the people involved behind the scenes. Danelle French did make up for some really great make-up on several. Some are special because of where they were taken. And several are of Kat. That’s a good excuse on its own.

We’ll take more pictures. It’s not always convenient or easy, but we keep going. Some we share. Many we don’t. What follows is a mix of both. And if you want us to take your photos, just ask!

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Nature / Personal / Status

Weathering Persistent Weather

August 16, 2016

Nature is so powerful, so strong. Capturing its essence is not easy – your work becomes a dance with light and the weather. It takes you to a place within yourself. —Annie Leibovitz

charles i. letbetter - weathering persistent weather

weather is taking its toll and the forecast is looking grim.

Holding the dog’s leash in my hand, I check the current weather conditions one more time before we walk out the door. “High chances for tornadoes and severe storms,” the app says. I look at the dog as I put on my hat. We’ve made these early morning walks in the rain the past two days. He doesn’t seem to mind all that much.

I open the back door and we step out. The dog instantly puts his nose to the air and takes a big sniff. A cat has taken shelter under the carport during the night and he looks to see if the poor creature is still there. It’s not. We step away from the house and are met be a stronger-than-usual wind. He stops and sniffs the air again then turns and looks at me as if to say, “One of us is fucking crazy.”

“Let’s get this over with,” I tell him. He turns around and heads for the sidewalk. He knows the routine. I hardly need to hold the leash. There’s nothing falling on us this morning, but that wind is eery and brings the fragrance of storms from across the horizon. I’d like to say this weather sucks, but that would just be stating the obvious. Besides, it’s going to get worse.

Weather Has A Hold On Me

The Old Farmer’s Almanac released its winter forecast last week. That forecast is a climatological event that makes the folks at NOAA jealous. According to the Almanac, which claims an 80% accuracy rate, we’re in for a colder and wetter winter than we’ve seen in quite a while. Buy an extra snowplow if you live in the Northeast. Here in the Midwest, ya’ might want to buy an extra shovel and a lot of salt. This one could get nasty.

Of course, the Almanac’s forecast is exactly the opposite from what NOAA is saying. According to the so-called professionals, we’re looking at drier and warmer conditions than normal. Whether that weather news is positive or negative depends on what one considers normal. If the baseline is 45°F, then a degree or two warmer isn’t bad at all. Rather nice. However, if the baseline is -10°F then a couple of degrees warmer doesn’t make a lick of difference.

Yeah, I pay an inordinate amount of attention to the weather. I always have. When yesterday’s storms hit, I sent the kids and animals into the bathroom for protection. Then, I went outside and watched. I’m told that’s an Okie thing. I learned it from my father. You can’t trust the sirens. You need to see the funnel for yourself, then you take cover. I didn’t see the funnel. The weather system stayed to our West and North. We barely got a sprinkle.

With Weather Comes Pain

With this morning’s rain, we have now had precipitation for the past seven days straight. Fortunately, we’re not flooding like Louisiana has. Our rains have been light for the most part. While walking across the lawn feels like stepping on a wet sponge, we’re not in danger of needing to be rescued. The situation could be a lot worse.

Yet, for me, we’re nearing a breaking point. Such weather is hard on my arthritis any time it occurs. Having endured it for seven days straight now, I’m ready to scream. There’s no way to describe the amount of pain that has built up across my body. Neither is there any amount of pain killer that addresses that problem without making me lethargic and unproductive. I can either stay awake and deal with a limited range of motion, or go to bed and get absolutely nothing done. I can tell you now, no editing is getting done today.

So, I look at the two competing long-range forecasts and wonder: do I bother trying to put together a photography project for the winter? I don’t want to get people excited about a concept and then not be able to follow through. If NOAA is correct, then there’s no problem. We can probably shoot all winter long. If the Old Farmer’s Almanac is correct, though, then I’ll hardly leave the house all winter. I know who has the better track record. This isn’t looking good.

Weather-Driven Planning

What I need is a creative art director who can grab hold of a concept and find ways to make sure we pull it off no matter what the weather. There’s no way I’m going to be successful on my own. I need help, but it has to be that kind of creative help that knows how to guard against Murphy’s Law. When the weather is in charge of the planning, there’s no doubt that things will go wrong. I need someone who can recruit models, find locations, handle styling, and create backups so that once we set a date we know something creative is going to happen.

I don’t have that person, though. Kat’s school schedule is too demanding for such activities. I’d offer to take applications but I’m not sure anyone’s actually interested in the position. After all, we’ve already determined I have anger issues. Bad weather doesn’t tend to put me in a good mood. Does anyone want to expose themselves to such a situation? Not likely.

What I do know is that I’ll likely have the spend much of today in bed. I’ll take what meds I can, but they won’t do much good. I’ll try to keep complaints to a minimum, but I reserve the right to curse like a sailor every time I fall or drop something.

Tomorrow’s another day. Maybe by Thursday we will be able to mow the lawn. Life goes on, right?

Stop looking at me like I’m crazy, dog. You’re the one who keeps eating cat poop.

Oh look, it’s raining again. Damn weather.

Music / Nature

Music For Today’s Storms

June 22, 2016

The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board. —Grover Cleveland

Storms are coming today, especially if you live in Indiana. A little music should help ease the stress

This morning’s weather forecast made it clear: we’re in for storms. Not just a small line of them this time, but a whole mass that hits once during the day and then again this evening into tomorrow morning. For my friends in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, this is nothing new. Up here, though, storms this heavy don’t come along quite as regularly. I heard one meteorologist even mention the threat of tornadoes. I don’t like tornadoes up here because I can’t stand outside and see them coming. I don’t like any storms I can’t watch roll in.

I find it interesting how the weather is used as metaphor for many things. The storms of life. Stormy relationships. Situations get stormy, too, and I’ve even known a few people whose personality could best be described as stormy. The tumultuous, often violent weather is a destructive force over which we have no control. While we may see them coming, we’ve no idea how much damage they’ll wreak until they actually arrive.

Storms scare some and soothe others. There is a sense of cleansing that comes with storms, but there is also real danger with falling limbs and downed power lines. Those of us with arthritis would just as soon skip them.

A Relationship With Music

Storms have a sense of the poetic, which is why there is a link between the violent weather and music. Every genre I’ve encountered, including classical and polyethnic, has its storm music. The one that comes to mind most frequently is a gospel song by Alfred Tinley, Stand By Me:

When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea
Thou Who rulest wind and water,
Stand by me (stand by me).

The music slowly rising and falling infers the growing swells of the waves on an ocean with an emotional impact. When sung well in a baritone voice, One can almost feel the motion.

A Short Playlist

Violent weather seldom lasts long. They move through quickly and they’re gone. While today’s forecast calls for multiple rounds, we also know there will be periods of calm and peace. So, what I’ve assembled are five songs to get you through the loud, thundery parts of the day. They’re not going to out shout the storm, but hopefully, will give you something a bit distracting so perhaps you won’t feel quite so gloomy. Enjoy.

Nature / Photography / pop culture

Waterfalls And Sunshine

June 14, 2016

Many a calm river begins as a turbulent waterfalls, yet none hurtles and foams all the way to the sea. —Mikhail Lermontov

charles i. letbetter - waterfalls and sunshine

We returned last week to one of my favorite places in Indiana and found it glorious.

For eleven years these waterfalls have haunted my memories.

When I first moved to Indiana and was looking for places to shoot, McCormick’s Creek State Park was one of the first places recommended. I wasn’t expecting too much in the way of excitement because, after all, this is Indiana; the state’s not exactly well-known for its dramatic topographical variances. When I first experienced the waterfall, though, I was hooked. I bought an annual pass and made the trek down there two, sometimes three times a week. I would arrive at 7:00 AM, right as the gate opened, shoot through the early morning sunlight making its way down the canyon, and be eating breakfast in Bloomington before 10.

Some of the pictures we took here that summer are still among my favorites. Not only are the waterfalls beautiful, but the creek itself meanders softly through the canyon giving home to incredible amounts of wildlife, if one take a moment to explore. Small snails cling to the rocks. Minnows dart back and forth in the shallow waters. Uniquely colored birds fly through the trees. As a photographer, the choices of scenery and background are never-ending. One could shoot here for innumerable days without capturing the same scene twice.

Sadly, after that first summer, my circumstances took a severe change and I wasn’t able to go back. Even when I did have access to a vehicle and sufficient time, I knew I didn’t dare make the trip alone anymore. I’m not as sure-footed at clambering over the rocks as I once was. Excuses were easy enough to find.

Until this past week, that is, when I decided to put excuses aside and take the family on a day trip. We don’t get many chances to wander now that Kat’s in school full-time, but we had an opening and took advantage of it. Even as we packed the water and snacks we would need for the trip, though, I wondered if everything would still be the way I remembered it. Would the stairs down to the waterfalls still be steep? Would the waterfalls still be as broad or would natural erosion have taken a toll? Would the pool below the waterfalls be too deep or too crowded for the kids to enjoy? Would the creek itself be as I remember?

The drive to McCormick’s Creek is only about an hour South of Indianapolis. There are three different totally reasonable routes to take, but I suggest using state highway 67 South through Mooresville, Friendswood, and Paragon. The drive is much more quiet and serene, void of the traffic on Interstate 70 and without the maddening construction on state highway 37. Note: You’ll want to use Google Maps, not Bing, for directions. Bing won’t give you highway 67 as an option.

Since we were taking the kids, we didn’t arrive as early as I might have wanted for my own purposes. Putting kids in the car at 6:00 AM would have created challenges we didn’t need. So, we didn’t arrive until nearly 11:30. The sun was high, which normally makes for horrendous photographs, except that the canyon prevents much direct sunlight from getting through. As the light bounces off the bare limestone, the light is diffused so that there is almost always a good angle for taking pictures.

The kids, of course, loved the waterfalls and were thrilled that we actually let them get into the water (Kat tends to be a bit cautious). Little man tried climbing the falls while Tippy enjoyed sliding down the rocks. While there, we met an old hippy with dreadlocks in both his hair and his beard, a couple with a six-month-old great dane puppy, and plenty of other families out exploring. I have always been pleased that McCormick’s Creek is not one of those places where a constant presence of park rangers is necessary to prevent trouble. People who come here do so to relax, not act like assholes.

Of course, I have pictures and what we’re showing you today is just the first set. I made Kat take a swimsuit and do the model thing, but we’ll save those pictures for tomorrow. These focus more on the kids and the natural surroundings of the waterfalls. Peaceful. Quiet. I processed most in black and white because I feel the look is more dramatic, but I did keep a couple of images in color; one because Kat requested such, and the other because the bright orange of Little Man’s shirt against the dark rock of the waterfalls was too powerful to mute.

We’ll be returning to McCormick’s Creek a couple of times in the next few weeks. One will be with a friend I’ve not seen in a while, and the other will be to camp for the weekend with extended family. Both will give us ample opportunity to explore even more and capture additional pictures and different times of the day.

For now, we hope you enjoy these and that they’ll encourage you to get out, stop making excuses, and resuscitate your imagination with waterfalls and sunshine.

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Nature

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Our last year started slow but ended with pictures to carry into 2022

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Because sometimes the current one sucks

Watch This First

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A brief shower prompts a stroll through the yard

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Even when the weather is cool and damp, a natural setting makes for great photographs

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By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer. —Helen Hunt Jackson

Things That Happen In September

Things That Don’t Happen In September

Showing Some Respect For The Calendar

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There is nothing more miserable in the world than to arrive in paradise and look like your passport photo. —Erma Bombeck

The Joy Of A Photo

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Like this:

Nature is so powerful, so strong. Capturing its essence is not easy – your work becomes a dance with light and the weather. It takes you to a place within yourself. —Annie Leibovitz

Weather Has A Hold On Me

With Weather Comes Pain

Weather-Driven Planning

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The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board. —Grover Cleveland

A Relationship With Music

A Short Playlist

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Many a calm river begins as a turbulent waterfalls, yet none hurtles and foams all the way to the sea. —Mikhail Lermontov

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