Non Fiction (Adventures In Street Photography)

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Roger O'Dea     5/14/2024

       

 

    

Life Is A Highway

Life is a highway

I want to ride it all night long

If you're going my way   

I want to drive it all night long

(Song by Tom Cochrane)

Road trip season is nearly here. I have some ideas. They involve all of these highways -

But first, some facts. Highway 34 is the shortest of these three, but also the longest state highway in South Dakota at 419 miles.  Beginning at the western border where Wyoming Highway 24 ends, it continues all the way across the state to the eastern border where it becomes Minnesota Highway 30. It is also the most boring of the three shown above. The state capitol of Pierre is along the route, but as far state capitols go, Pierre has to be ranked near the bottom on a scale of most interesting. There are some towns with cool names...White Owl, Woonsocket, and Fedora to name a few...although Fedora isn't actually a town, and I don't believe the few residents remaining are prone to wearing the classic style hat on a regular basis. (Be a lot cooler if they did, though). Otherwise, not much going on with Highway 34.

U.S. Highway 85, on the other hand, is pretty awesome. Technically, it stretches 1,479 miles from Canada to our southern border with Mexico. Once you're headed south out of Denver, however, it becomes 285 for the rest of the way. Or, 385 if you join up to it a little further to the east. So for the purpose of this story I'll concentrate on the North and South Dakota section of the highway. I've driven most of it, but have missed a few points of interest along the way. That is something I intend to correct this year. I'll probably start with a day trip to the Cave Hills. I've been up in that country before but I'd like to find Ludlow Cave and the Cave Hills Church, two places I haven't been. Maybe I'll make it as far north as Fortuna. That would be an overnighter. Even though I've never been there I'm extremely curious about that place and its history. Depending on what I find, and how I'm accepted by the locals, it might turn into two overnights.

Then there is good old 212. It starts near the east entrance to Yellowstone Park and continues east through Montana, cuts a corner in Wyoming, then across South Dakota, ending just outside of Minneapolis. I have personal experience concerning strange things that have been known to occur along that road. I won't take the time to recount them here, but ask me sometime about the legend of the owl on the mailbox or driving through the same town twice...without turning around.  

This summer my Highway 212 focus will be on where it enters Custer National Forest between Broadus and Ashland Montana. I've driven that section many times but have never turned off the highway and gone in deeper to see what that part of the forest may have to offer. This will be the year to do it.

So, those are the plans for my summer road trips. So far. There are many other possibilities and many more miles to consider. Who knows...I might even end up out on Highway 61.

Georgia Sam asked Poor Howard where can I go

Howard said there's only one place I know

Sam said tell me quick man I got to run

Ol' Howard just pointed with his gun

And said that way down on Highway 61

(Song by Bob Dylan)

Roger O'Dea     4/9/2024

The Cathedral and Woyatan ... A Photo Essay

I went to church the other day. It wasn't Sunday and no services were being held. I had taken notice some time before of the contrast between the large wealthy churches and smaller, more common ones. My plan was to post the pictures with some brief social commentary. It turned into a much more moving experience. 

My first stop was the Catholic Cathedral. I was a bit overwhelmed.

It is magnificent. But I don't necessarily mean that as a compliment. 

I understand they have a large congregation and need to accommodate all those worshipers, but the grandeur seemed rather excessive. If the purpose is to please and impress the parishioners, mission accomplished. If the purpose is to get closer to God, well, I'm not so sure about that. 

Next, I stopped at Woyatan Luthern Church, which has been converted into a warming shelter, meal provider, and provides beds for those in need of a safe space to rest. I was more impressed with what I saw there, in spite of their rather humble appearance compared to the Cathedral. 

                         

Coincidentally, it happened to be a volunteer community clean-up day.

It was a busy place, and with most of the people being Native, I felt a little out of place at first. Then I was introduced to Priscilla. She immediately put me at ease and gave me a tour. I was very impressed with the work they are doing. Providing personal hygiene and shower-related items -

Hot food for people, I'm sure some of whom hadn't had a decent meal in awhile -

And the sanctuary has been converted to a space providing beds for those who might need a temporary place to sleep. Much warmer, more comfortable and safer than under a bridge or in a doorway.

Priscilla led me outside to a playground area, showed me some beautiful artwork, and pointed out the youth center next door.

I felt welcome there. That meant a lot. They are good people. All of them...volunteers and staff as well as those who had nowhere else to go. Perhaps you might consider going for a visit. Donations are appreciated. If your heart and mind are open, and with the right kind of eyes,  I'm sure you will be welcomed also. 

Roger O'Dea      2/7/2024

   

Saved For Later (Bits and Pieces)

This one is mostly for me, but feel free to follow along if you are so inclined. 

I've been saving some photos, downloads and random items on my laptop and phone that I thought I might post on social media at some point but never quite got around to it. Not wanting to flood my social media feed, or yours, I decided to gather up some things I have hanging out there and put them here. That way I won't lose track of something I may want to revisit later at some point. Sort of like the Memories page on Facebook. 

For instance, this picture I took recently at the Spearfish Fish Hatchery -

The glass and surrounding area are not being maintained during these winter months as much as during the summer tourist season. That is totally understandable. And it's also fine with me. I like the rough, dirty look. It just seems to fit this image taken during the mid-winter off season. It almost felt a little like I shouldn't have even been down there. 

This is a photo of my friend Cary, taken last Fall. I posted some others at the time, but not this one -

The is a Facebook group named The Peeling Paint Appreciation Society. 

I haven't joined yet, but I'm thinking about it.

 My friend Trish Benham turned me on to Jose Feliciano. She played this album for me one day when we were at her house listening to records. When I was able to save up the three or four dollars it cost I went right out and bought it. That was over fifty years ago. It's a little ragged these days, but I play it often and it stills sounds great.

                                        

                                        

I would like to do a photoshoot based on the styles featured in the movie Once Upon A Time In Hollywood...especially the hippie looks -

I need to make a better effort at finding a couple of models that would fit the part. If you know anyone, let me know.

I'm falling behind on my reading. Non-fiction has been the theme lately. Next up is some good old science fiction. Specifically, Philip K. Dick. 

I've been waiting for then opportunity to post this meme as a clever response to a text or a comment on social media -

I keep forgetting I saved it, and have probably missed several opportunities, so I'll just put it here. And now I want to find some old Dragnet episodes to watch. 

Alrighty then, that just about catches me up. There's probably more I should write down, but I can't think of anything right now. And, like the song says, it seems like kicks keep getting harder to find.

Roger O'Dea     2/2/2024

The Year In Pictures

It has been a mostly uneventful year. As Jeff Lebowski said, "you know, strikes and gutters, ups and downs." I'm happy to say that for me it's been mostly ups.

Nothing much happened in January. In February we traveled from our home in the Black Hills of South Dakota to meet up with our son and daughter-in-law in Las Vegas during Super Bowl weekend. They live in Connecticut so we don't get to see them all that often. It was a fun, but I have to say that all the glitter and bright lights are not quite as appealing as they once were. Kind of cool to look at, but the vibe has seemed to change once you get inside. Just not as exciting as it used to be. 

Record Store Day in April was kind of a big deal. I got there early but I was still pretty far back in the line.

Luckily there was one copy left of the album I most wanted - the 20th anniversary reissue of The Wind by Warren Zevon. He knew he was dying and some of the songs reflect the deep personal feelings of someone facing their own mortality. 

In May I hit the road. 

I drove out to Reno to visit an old friend and attend his daughter's gallery exhibit opening. 

Alexx is a very talented photographer and artist who was also working on her tattoo apprenticeship at the time. I had been thinking about getting another one...so I did. What makes this one extra special is that it is one of her original designs. 

Marty, my friend, took me on a walking tour of the city, and drove me up to up to Lake Tahoe and points in between. We crossed over the California state line at one point, but I wasn't too concerned since I'm sure the statute of limitations had run out by then. 

It was mostly interstate highways on the way out. On the return trip I took Highway 50, known as the loneliest road in America. It's an accurate description.

The Battle of the Bands in June made an impression on me. There is so much talent out there that most of us never get to see. I'm glad they still do events like this so the public can experience it.

July was my 50th high school class reunion. It was so great to see so many old friends and classmates, and talk about the old days.

Late summer and fall provided me with the opportunity for a couple of photoshoots which, in my opinion, resulted in some of my best work. I know, not everyone's cup of tea, but my mood at the time.

One of my best and most memorable experiences of the year, and ever, was being cast in a stage production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. The entire cast was amazing. So much incredible talent on that stage. And - we nailed it! 

Other highlights included several fun, if brief, camping trips in "Louise" ....

And I did more fishing than I have done in years. Even did some catching on occasion. 

I continued my volunteer work with Feeding South Dakota. Then there was that live music concert way out there on the prairie, and my continuing obsession with exploring old and abandoned buildings. 

2023 was aslo a year when I expanded my creative efforts to include experimenting with abstract painting. Mainly fluid painting, and specifically acrylic on old vinyl records.

Another project with old vinyl records invlolved prepping them with a base coat of paint and adding some of my favorite song lyrics and pop culture quotes. 

   

(Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell - if you're among the unenlightened)

So it was a pretty good year. I hope 2024 turns out to be another good one. For all of us.

And...that comment about the statute of limitations...I was just kidding. Probably.  

Roger O'Dea      12/31/2023