Monday Morning Coffee: Political Question / Response

 

 

Been attempting, these past months, to gain some kind of understanding about the United States national  political environment. 

 

The population is indeed greatly divided.  Wish to gain an understanding of how / why this is the case. 

 

Living in a small city, have limited knowledge of the near-by rural landscape.  While a brief rural journey won't provide everything, at least it would be an introduction.

 

So, as Sunday morning was a rather warm bright start to the day, decided would be a fine time to pack up the camera kit, load up the car and set out to West Central Ohio for a look see.

Drove out of town a short distance along US Route 40.  Just over the Indiana boarder and into Ohio, came across 

 

    Route 40 / Ohio. 

 

what was left of a truck stop that was abandoned when Interstate 70 was constructed and opened.  A new Station was constructed nearer to the freeway.

 

A few miles further along 40, turned North onto a secondary rural road bounded on the left and right by harvested soy beans fields and dried corn fields ready to be harvested. 

 

Passing farm fields, isolated homes and very small communities.  The dominant structure, if there was one, would be a grain elevator with little if any other businesses.  This is the Rural Midwest.

 

Stopped in Pitsburg - population less then 400 - where, except for the elevator, there appeared to be no other open commercial operations.     

 

    Pitsburg, Ohio.

This scene was repeated over and over and over.  Oh there might be a very small bar / restaurant, perhaps a elevator, but for the most part nothing else.

Have written it many times, these are hard times in the  Midwest, especially for rural folks.  Ever so many are leaving and communities are losing not only people but opportunities.

This region and these folks require solutions.  It's time for something / someone to come in order to improve these conditions.

At a final stop, believe have discovered the answer for many, especially rural America, to my query w.r.t. the national political environment.   

    Greenville, Ohio.

 

This is what so many believe is the answer to their difficulties.  For others, the memory of a snake oil salesman comes to mind.  

 

Enough already, today have traveled on this day about 100 miles on rural backroads and found no, none, nada signage or support for an alternative choice. 

 

Time to turn around and head West an then South to the safety of home.

 

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

TGIF: Journey Not Destination

Been involved with photography for over 75 years.

Beginning with a 616 film box camera followed, over the years, by a sequence of 35mm, medium format and view cameras.

In addition to photographing, from the start, have processed the film and made prints.

While most of the work was in using black & white materials, when the color materials permited in house use, have also developed color film and made color prints.

While perfectly content to continue working in a analog world, the times, tools and materials morphed into a digital world.

Taking a deep breath along with little understanding of this new landscape decided give it a go and in 2002 purchased a digital camera.     

    Richmond, Indiana.

Quickly discovered digital photography wasn't just a camera but also a new world of memory cards, batteries, chargers, printers and computers.

No darkroom needed.  The digital universe was a lightroom. 

In today's world, with cameras offering 60mp or more, the 5 mp camera is long outdated.

Yet, consider 

   Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

 

    Zihuatanejo, Mexico.

 

2002 results that the 5700 was able to deliver.

 

Since the entry into digital, have owned / used a series of cameras, software, printers and computers.  Each offering improvements, over the previous generation.

 

It has been an interesting / learning / expensive not always successful time period.  

 

But - it's a big but - has use of latest tools produced improved results?

 

To respond to that question, decided to return to 2002.

 

While still have and use same computer and software as before, purchased a used Nikon 5700 camera along with the corresponding memory cards, batteries and chargers.

 

With a loaded Nikon 5700 camera in hand, set out to photograph.

 

First stop, a color version of Wednesday's photo post

 

    Richmond, Indiana. 

 

and a couple of miles away

 

     Richmond, Indiana. 

 

parked and photographed this recycled office supplies now flooring building. 

 

Believe, the 20+ year old camera and materials continue to offer acceptable results.

 

What has changed is that today's cameras are much easier to use and processing time in the Lightroom is a lot shorter.

 

If willing, assuming careful and thought fore use, early 2002 digital equipment and materials can be successful in 2024.

 

Personally, It been an Journey Not Destination.

     

Black & White Wednesday: Something Old Is Still Valid

 

Taking an equipment step back in time.   

    Richmond, Indiana.

A quick result using a recently purchased used digital camera that was introduced in 2002.  

Took a bit of searching to locate a rather well cared for  operating body and all the necessary parts - memory cards, batteries, lens hood and filters. 

Finally, thanks to e-bay / Amazon, everything is on hand.

Will explain more on Friday along with addition results.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Monday Morning Coffee: Architectural Detail

 

Every now and then a small architectural detail cries out photograph me.

    Chicago, Illinois.

Nothing else need be said.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

TGIF: Dot Foods

 In 1960 Robert and Dorothy Tracy founded Dot Foods.

Dot Foods purchase large quantities of product from a supplier and store it in a distribution center.

There are 13 distribution centers with 4.9 million square feet of warehouse space across the U.S. including this local one.

    Cambridge City, Indiana.

Distributor and food processor customers are able to order, in less-than-truckload quantities from 42,000 stocked products provided by 1,500 suppliers, with as little as a two-day lead time and have it delivered in two to four days.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Black & White Wednesday: Those Were The Days

There was a time when arriving at Arches you had a choice of campsites to put up your tent and settle in to a rather empty campground.

No RV's just a few tent campers quietly enjoying slick rock views.

   Moab, Utah.

Those days are long gone. Now you are limited to the number allowed to enter.  Reservations are a must.  Few if any tent campers, rather mostly RV's scattered about the campsites. 

Gone are the quiet sunrises and sunsets.  Early mornings are filled with the sound of engines and moving vehicles rushing to the next scenic site. Sunsets are accompanied with the sight and sound of TV.

Thanks to the works of Edward Abby, was able early on to go to the world he wrote about. 

Finally, for me to know and you to discover, there are still slick rock locations that are as Arches once was.

You're on your own - Good Luck.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

      

Monday Morning Coffee: Helene / Graffiti / Signage

 

Yes, Helene arrived in Richmond.  Thankfully the storm caused only minor damage.  Branches scattered about, a few trees down and short power outages.

Off course, since we are on the back end of the storm, it has been constantly raining off and on.  Nothing heavy, just continued light fog like rain.  Promised to clear up later in the week.

Managed to find a couple of dry / protected spots to photograph a bit of local graffiti and signage. 

Under a bridge in a river gorge

    Richmond, Indiana.

and Public Works sidewalk marking

   Richmond, Indiana.

in the Historic District. 

If all goes well, later today expecting a package containing some used photography equipment.

After successfully testing, will post a few results later in the week.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.