No better time than the present…
It also takes dedication, long hours of work and a passion to pursue your chosen endeavor. It isn’t easy…
Tag Archives: photography
Gary, South Dakota ~ 1913
Works published or created before 1923 are considered public domain so I should be safe with this image from 1913 taken in Gary, South Dakota. A public domain work is a creative work that is not protected by copyright and which may be freely used by everyone.
Below is a scan of the original mounted print:
The image below has been edited to crop out the torn edges, visible spots retouched and made the shadows a little richer.
Along with old photographs comes stories and memories triggered from days gone by. My mother-in-law recalls a dance hall above this bar and when the dancers would be rockin’ the floor the ceiling lights, in the bar, would swing.
Farmers’ Night, usually occurring in March before spring work, was held in the dance hall where families would enjoy entertainment and hoped to win a prize. She remembers one Farmers’ Night as though it were yesterday: A handsome young man, that she had been corresponding with in Oregon, had returned to Gary and there he was… at Farmers’ Night. They were married the following fall…
Thank you to Buck Dessler of Gary, South Dakota for retrieving this gem from his childhood home.
Have you ever wondered about copyright laws and old images? The following link contains a chart with the laws when working with older images:
http://www.unc.edu/~unclng/public-d.htm
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The Prairie Bride ~ In a world of make believe…
Young children spend much of their time in the land of make believe, but imagination is not reserved only for children’s play. Adults constantly use their imagination to help them invent new things, visualize, solve problems, enjoy a book or movie and think creatively. No wonder Albert Einstein felt that “imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Imagination is a cognitive skill that is used throughout life and not reserved only for children. Why do you suppose the popular ad, Calgon take me away, has been so effective?
Keeping our imagination sharp is a highly useful tool in creative thinking and problem solving. Unfortunately, we do lose some of our playful curiosity and imagination as we mature. A study involving 350 children showed that kids’ natural tendency to daydream and wonder declines sharply around 4th grade. ~ Psych Info That is about the age peer acceptance becomes increasingly important to a child. We begin to worry about being “dumb” or saying/doing something wrong, as perceived by others. We are also constantly reminded to “pay attention.”
Einstein, who said we need to be child-like to be creative, also said, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” How true…
Now, excuse me as I go off to dream of faraway lands filled with adventure and intrigue .
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You’ve come a long way…
It’s been almost eighteen years since a tiny, fragile, two pound and four ounce baby boy was born. Family and friends gasped when they heard the size and a multitude of prayers were sent flying up to the heavens.
Thank God for answered prayers:
I know God has great things in store for this young man…
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A fairy tale on the prairie…
Yes, reality tells me that fairy tales are not really all that important in the whole scheme of life, but it is fun to dream. It’s just that all of us have different ideas of what really defines a fairy tale. Adventures and exploration can take place in my own neighborhood or the other side of the globe.
I’ve always said that I’m lucky that I’m easily amused and could entertain myself in a cardboard box. After all, lots of dreaming can be done inside a box.
Click on image for a larger view
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The Catcher
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.
Maya Angelou
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Baseball
Poets are like baseball pitchers. Both have their moments. ~unknown
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Leap of Faith
Three components here:
1) talented gymnast 2) late evening prairie 3) Scripture
I had the gymnast blended with the prairie, but something was missing. Found my old Bible, randomly opened it up to a page and Proverbs was in front of my eyes.
Click on image for larger view.
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4-H Photography… the times they are a changin’
Judging 4-H photography in Lac Qui Parle county was an eye opening experience for me. Judging is based on 50% photo display and 50% judging interview so I had plenty of opportunity to visit with the 4-H photographers. That’s my kind of day!
What surprised me was the quality of photos the kids were capturing with their phones. The problem with phones is that you have no control over shutter, aperture, and ISO settings and that hinders learning the relationship between light, shutter and aperture. But at least, it gets them started and they may continue to pursue this interest in photography and take it to the next level. There is a saying in photography that the best camera is the one you have with you the most and this may prove to be correct.
I’m expecting the camera phones to keep improving and when searching found that the Samsung Galaxy 5 does offer some controls. Although mobile phones can’t hope to offer the same level of customization as your typical digital SLR, they still come with a few manual settings which can drastically alter the way your photos look.
Click on the camera review link for a list of phones and reviews of their cameras: Camera phone reviews
If you ever want to feel good about the future of our world, hang out with 4-H youth. You will go home smiling…
I even used my phone to capture these images!
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Summer means baseball…
There’s just something about summer nights that brings back memories of youth and local baseball/softball programs. From chilly nights early in the season to warm and humid nights filled with the aroma of bug spray and sweat along with youthful chatter from the dugout.
These programs help develop more than just physical skills. You can’t win by yourself, you need your teammates and you must learn to work with others. These experiences also develop relationships which enrich the summer experience beyond the field.
It is also important to enjoy the now. It is highly unlikely that any college recruiter or professional scouts are watching these games so why not keep it all about the kids who are learning the sport together. Yes, some will be better players than others, but that’s the way it is in life. Some will always need to work harder and that is a life skill that will reap tremendous benefits in the long run.
Please take advantage of any opportunity to support local youth programs. It will be money and time well spent.
You gotta love summer…
All images by Joyce Meyer – RJMeyerArts
RJMeyerArts 