Scenes From A County Fair

The news of the day consisted of someone getting kicked off an airplane for refusing to follow rules, a fist fight in a New York pizza joint because the wait was too long,  a road rage incident or two, and various random shootings. It was mostly the same as the day before. And the day before that.  But way out here on the South Dakota prairie it was the first day of the county fair. A place to escape the headlines and be reminded of things that really matter. Like family, friends and old fashioned values. I saw a lot of hope for the future, mostly in the faces and activities of young persons. They are our hope. Maybe our only hope. I can't explain it in words effectively. But I can show you - 

In this fast changing world, I'm glad some things stay the same. And I'm glad we still have things like a good old fashioned county fair. Time doesn't stand still here, but it sure does slow down. 

Roger O'Dea     8/2/2021

Curiosities

I've been going through my image files lately in an effort to get them better organized. It made me realize where my primary interest in photography actually lies. I like landscapes and people. But, it has become obvious that my main interest is in scenes that are...well...'odd' might be the best word to describe them. Merriam-Webster describes odd as : differing markedly from the usual, ordinary, or accepted : Peculiar : So, yeah, I guess that's about right.

There are several reasons. I'll try to list them, in no particular order.

One reason so many of my photos are a little odd is because I'm drawn to colors that are overly saturated or completely on the other end of the spectrum - significantly muted. Or just slightly off.  I'm not nearly as engaged in colors that are a true and accurate representation of the subject. I don't see things that way in my photography. Or often in real life either.  Also, sometimes I go for the extremes. A sky that is too blue for example -

Or a picture taken recently but has a look like it could've been taken 50 or 60 years ago. This happens frequently when I shoot film. Probably because I often intentionally use expired film.

Other examples of color pictures that I include in my collection of curiosities are this one -

I like it because it's out of balance. And there's a look to it that I would describe as postmodern. Or retro maybe.  I'm not sure. But I like it.

And this one -

That chair does not belong there. It doesn't match the surroundings. Or it does. Everyone will see it differently. It stimulates the imagination of people who have an imagination. I'm not concerned with those who don't.

People and portraits can work in color or black and white. It depends on the subject. This next one had to be in color, and off center with a lot of negative space. Wouldn't have near the impact otherwise. 

Here are two examples that I believe are more effective in black and white. In fact, I wouldn't have even considered processing these in color. (The first one is digital. The one below it is film. The correct formats for both in my opinion)  - 

   

                                     

                                                

I love black and white photography in any format. Black and white photos are timeless. They are about light and shadows. Colors can be distracting. You see more in black and white. A favorite quote of mine (I wish I could remember who said it) is, "black and white photography is more like reading the book than seeing the movie." 

Here are a few more of my curiosities -

The Portal

Man On The Street

Freak Show

Old School

Dead of Winter

Toy House

Basic Accommodations

Hi Point

Night and the City

Subterranean

White Lines

Notice a trend? That's right - black and white. The movie was good. But the book is better.

Roger O'Dea     6/26/2021

 

The Early Bird Gets ... Wet (Back to Devil's Bathtub)

Every so often I think about some of the adventures I had with friends back in the olden days, and some of the places where those adventures took place. Maybe "olden days" is a bit of an exaggeration, but it was a long time ago. One of those places has been on my mind more than others. I'm talking about Devil's Bathtub in Spearfish Canyon. Last time I made the hike was when I was 18 or 19 years old. So, I guess "olden days" is actually pretty accurate. And, while I don't believe in living in the past, it is nice to visit once in awhile. 

One of the reasons (the main reason) I haven't been back in so long is because it has been totally overrun by tourists and locals. Like other once-hidden gems in the Black Hills word has gotten out over the years. It used to be the only way to get there was to have someone with local knowledge take you or give you directions on the promise that you would only share the secret with like minded friends and family who would become fellow guardians of the mystery. The trail was unmarked, narrow, not groomed and somewhat difficult to maneuver. Back then there were no signs and designated parking was not available. Today? Well, not so much.

The trail is clearly identified and well worn. There is also a parking lot about a quarter mile up the road marked as "Devils Bathtub Parking." I've seen well over a dozen vehicles there at any given time. In spite of all that I decided it was time to go back. But, I was not interested in sharing the trail with tourists who read about it on Facebook or saw it in a YouTube video. My solution was to go early in the day. Way early. I got up before sunrise and pulled in to the parking area at 6:30 am. I slipped on my waterproof backpack containing a camera, water bottle, plus an extra pair of socks and shoes to replace the ones that would get wet during the several stream crossings required to reach the final destination.  I had forgotten details of the trail but it was no problem since it is so well travelled there is no way anyone could possibly take a wrong turn or get lost. It did feel familiar, though, in a peculiar sort of way. And when this site came into view I knew I was almost there.

Then, after just another few hundred feet, I saw it for the first time in 47 years. It was just like I remembered it. Spectacular!

And there was not another soul around. Perfect. So...I thought about it for a few minutes...and...decided to take the plunge.  Now here's the deal - I'm 66 years old and have had quintuple bypass heart surgery. What was I thinking? Crazy. Right? Especially since I was alone up there. Plus, the water was really rushing forcefully down the slide and the pool was pretty full. All that made me consider if it would be wise to tempt fate. On the other hand, I thought that perhaps fate should not tempt me, and after a brief hesitation I climbed on in and let go. I shot out of the chute like Marvin Garrett on Khadafy Skoal in 2004 at the Black Hills Roundup. The difference is that I couldn't hold on and was sucked down to rock bottom and had a slight moment of panic while completely submerged with the water rushing all around me. I popped right up, however, and everything was fine. Great actually. No. Better than great. It was the biggest rush I've experienced in years. For just that one brief incredible moment I felt more alive than I have in a long time. I let out a loud yell to put an exclamation point on it. The yell was probably just as much to do with the frigid water as it was the exhilaration of the experience. It was freakin' cold! 

The lesson of the story? There isn't one really. Other than maybe "You're never too old." Except that sometimes you are. But not me, and not on this day.

Roger O'Dea      6/8/2021

Bad(Nomad)Lands

Movies don't usually have a personal affect on me. They are entertainment, that's all.  But occasionally one comes along that stays with me. Nomadland is one of those. Achingly beautiful. And it was fun seeing some familiar places. Black Hills. Badlands. And Wall Drug, which was featured in a scene where Fern was working in the kitchen serving up a hot beef sandwich. I realize that's kind of a random detail. I tend to notice random details. Especially a hot beef sandwich. Classic. And delicious. It's been a long time since I've had one. So, a day later, I'm sitting in Wall Drug Cafe looking at the menu. Unfortunately, there is no hot beef listed. Bummer. Maybe it's a seasonable item or only served at dinner. I was there at lunch time, so I just ordered up a burger. Not bad, but not hot slices of beef on bread with mashed potatoes and gravy. I guess we're all forced to compromise once in a while. 

The day was not a bust, however. I made a full travel day out of it with stops at a few small towns along the way. Drove I-90 to Wall, then Highway 240 through Badlands National Park to 44 which took me back into Rapid City. Plenty of sites and photo opps along the way. I had forgotten how spectacular the Badlands are.

I love roaming around abandoned or nearly abandoned old towns, and there are plenty of them around here. It's particularly rewarding when I come across an old hotel or any kind of vintage signs. This was right off Interstate 90 between the Black Hills and Badlands National Park.

This was in the same town. Not much left of it but still has a lot of personality.

The further south and east I got the more it became apparent that crime may be a problem way out there on the prairie. This photo was taken at another small nearly forgotten town along the way. Might be the first U.S. Post Office I've seen with bars on the door and windows. 

My final stop was a place I've visited several times before. The abandoned town of Scenic, South Dakota. It's always had a strange attraction for me. I've walked up and down the highway that runs through town and wandered the side streets. This time I found these chairs lined up on the boardwalk of the run down old building that is in various states of disrepair each time I visit. 

I wanted to stick around and watch the traffic go by, but it was cold and windy, and I wasn't dressed for the weather. I might go back on a nicer day. If the chairs are still there I'll sit down and wave at passing cars. Maybe they will think I'm the mayor. The mayor of a town called Scenic. That wouldn't be a bad gig.

Roger O'Dea.    2/24/2021

To Be Fair : Political Bothers

 Observations on a few things that are on my mind right now in the wild wild world of politics.

* Term limits. Why hasn't that happened yet? Is there anyone, other than someone already in office, who thinks this is not a good idea?

* It's been almost five months since the South Dakota Attorney General hit and killed a person with his car. No one involved in the investigation is talking and there is no estimate of when it will be wrapped up. I believe the small town and local county officials involved are overwhelmed by the scope of this case and are too scared to talk or arrive at a conclusion that may be politically inconvenient.

* South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is a hypocrite. She waited until the recreational marijuana reform bill passed then decided to oppose it. No doubt she was hoping it would fail. But when it passed she jumped in to cancel the voices of the majority of her constituents. And she is seeking to overturn the new law on a technicality, even though she has repeatedly said she is personally opposed to it. So, basically, the majority rules...except if it's something she's against. Then she rules.

* Joe Biden is having difficulty speaking. He slurs words, gets numbers mixed up, talks in incomplete sentences. I don't believe it has anything to do with his stuttering issue. He has said many times he is over that. It seems like he just gets confused. He's pretty old. That worries me.

* I'm more worried about another big time hypocrite - Kamala Harris. Especially if she ends up taking over at some point, or if she obtains too much power as VP. When she was still a candidate in the presidential campaign, she said she believed the women accusing Biden of inappropriate touching and groping. Apparently she changed her mind or thought it was okay after she became his pick for VP.  Remember when she bashed Biden in that debate for taking the side of segregationists when he was in the Senate? She basically called him a racist, then later explained it all away by saying, "It was a debate." Makes me wonder what else she said in the debates that she didn't actually believe to be true. There are other events and issues in her political past that concern me. You can look them up if you're interested.

* That woman from Georgia who was elected to Congress in a runoff. She is a 911 denier, said Muslims do not belong in government, claimed the Parkland school shooting in which 17 people were killed was a "false flag" event, blamed lasers and blue beams of light coming from space as the cause of the 2018 California wildfires and accused Hillary Clinton of satan worship. Oh, on Facebook she 'liked' a comment about Nancy Pelosi which stated "a bullet to her head would be quicker." This person now sits as a duly elected representative in the United States Congress. By the way - she was endorsed by Trump. Good call right there, pal. 

* John Kerry is Biden's new Climate "Envoy" and travels around in one of his 12 cars, two yachts and a private jet. To be fair - the yacht and jet are owned by his wife. But he still uses them, and they run on fossil fuels. That's a lot of carbon being pumped into the air. Not very green of you, John.

* I like AOC. I disagree with a lot of what she says. But she is one of the few politicians who I believe are sincere and honest. Anyone remember the old Mary Tyler Moore show? The episode when Lou Grant told her, "You've got spunk." He then said, "I hate spunk." AOC has spunk. I don't hate it.

Those are the current topics. More later. Probably.

Roger O'Dea.    2-1-21

Hard Times In A Small Town

 I had no idea. The Feeding South Dakota food truck was something I had heard about, but only by way of a news story occasionally appearing in the paper or comments on our local Facebook community page. I would scan the story or glance at the comments and immediately forget about them. I did not realize how many people count on that truck. Without it they, and members of their family, would go hungry. 

On the day the truck was to be in town I just happened to be driving by the location where people come to pick up their share of the commodities being distributed. There were vehicles lined up in three rows nearly filling a large parking lot, with others backed up for quite a distance along an adjoining road. I recalled the starting time for the distribution was one o'clock. I looked at my watch. It was 11:30. People were lining up an hour and a half early. 

I was surprised. Are there really this many families in our little town who need to wait in line for two hours just to get a ration of canned goods, cereal and some pancake mix? The answer, obviously, is "yes." Actually, I don't know what was in the boxes being handed out. That's not important. What's important is that there is a tremendous need by a substantial number of families and individuals. 

When the truck arrived I decided to talk to one of the volunteers and find out more information. At this point I was only curious and didn't have much thought of becoming one of those volunteers. That changed following my conversation with Marilyn. My first question was, "Is there enough food in that small truck for everyone waiting?" She took note of the turnout and told me it was quite possible that on this day there would not be enough to go around. I found out later there was enough. Barely. I asked if this was about the usual number of persons showing up when the truck came to town and was told it was, but possibly there were more this time. I was curious about who these people are. What are some of their stories? There wasn't much time to talk as the unboxing was beginning so I agreed to accept her invitation and visit the Compassion Cupboard in town where these same people can come for food and personal supplies...depending on what might be available on any particular Tuesday or Thursday, which are the only days of the week it is open. 

The following day was not one of the open days but I went there anyway to see if anyone was around and happened to get there right as Marilyn and her husband were unloading some supplies. I helped move the boxes inside and that's when I heard some of those stories. Some related to COVID. Some due to poor choices and bad decisions. And some just plain bad luck. A few got to me, like the one about an older widow who never worked while her husband was alive so her only income is a small amount from social security survivor's benefits. Another was about a young man who had lost his job which meant he also lost his company health insurance and couldn't afford to pay his bills and buy food. Then there was the working family trying to take care of foster children as well as their own but both of their incomes won't quite cover it. The single mom whose deadbeat ex refuses to pay child support or contribute in any way. Seniors who have become guardians of their grandchildren because the parents are so caught up in substance abuse that they can't do it. There are more, including normal hard working people who, through no fault of their own, just don't have enough money to meet their own basic needs or those of their family. 

So now I know. And I have volunteered to help out in the future however I can - from donating items to helping unload supplies when they come in. It's the least I can do. Especially now that I have the time. But I don't deserve any pats on the back for being so generous all of a sudden. I could have done this years ago but didn't. I have plenty of excuses, but no good reasons. 

I hope those lines get shorter. I hope many of those people coming in can stop coming through that door some day soon and will no longer have to wait for two hours in the cold for the truck to show up. But my fear is that for every one who no longer needs assistance there will be another joining the community of those who need a little help. These are the times we're in. I don't know when that will change. Or if it will ever change.

Roger O'Dea     11/13/2020

               

The 2020 Mostly Staying At Home Pandemic Blues

It's been a long time since May. That's when the seriousness of the pandemic set in for me. In the months since I have remained optimistic (mostly) with occasional bouts of melancholy and periods of dullness. The current political climate has not helped matters. And now it's snowing. That whole Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD) thing is real. I get it every year, usually a little later than this. But after all it is 2020 so nothing is as usual. 

It's been tough. We normally would've taken at least two trips by now. Another one in October is not going to happen, either. I miss traveling. I miss live music. There have been some concert events that still happened but I am avoiding crowds so they just weren't something I wanted to attend. And one anticipated big show didn't happen at all, and likely never will. I miss my friends. A few I still see once in awhile in person. But it's different now. No handshakes or hugs. I miss human physical contact. I miss sitting in a crowded restaurant with a lively buzz in the background. I know some of you are thinking it's an over reaction and the virus is not as serious as it's being made out to be. But I'm 65 years old, with a heart condition and an uncommon type of asthma. So, if I'm going to error, it's going to be on the side of caution. 

In spite of all that...or because of it...every so often I take a day to seek out a few of the simple pleasures that lift my spirits. Yesterday was one of those days. I went to the record store and the library. Two places that never disappoint. As Penny Lane said in the movie Almost Famous, "...if you ever get lonely you can just go to the record store and visit your friends." That doesn't apply to just being lonely. It fits for any time you just need a little lift, because it's true. You always have a friend at the record store, even if you don't know their name.

 I found a copy of Heart of Saturday Night by Tom Waits. I've had the cassette tape for a long time but never owned the record. It's playing right now as I write this.                                                                

    Let's put a new coat of paint on this lonesome 'ol town                                                                                     Set 'em up  we'll be knockin 'em down                                                                                                              You wear a dress, baby  I'll wear a tie                                                                                                               We'll laugh at that 'ol bloodshot moon                                                                                                               In that burgundy sky   

Next stop - the library. Checked out "The Portfolios of Ansel Adams." I've seen most of his photographs, including personally viewing some of his original prints, but this book organizes them in specific related collections. I noticed something I hadn't thought about in detail. I noticed that the main feature of nearly every photo is either the lighting or the sky. It's rarely both. I like how I am continually discovering new concepts and interpretations when I view familiar art. New to me anyway. 

The other book is a book of essays that includes a topic I have been interested in for years. It's a summary of the lawsuit being brought by Wile E. Coyote against the Acme company. The case is based on the repeated failure of Acme products used by Coyote in his efforts to catch that damned roadrunner. The opening statement reads, in part, "Injuries sustained by Mr. Coyote have restricted his ability to make a living in his profession of predator. Mr. Coyote is self-employed and thus not eligible for Workman's Compensation." 

He is seeking compensation in the amount of $38,750,000. I hope he is awarded the full amount.

Looking out the window again I see it has stopped snowing. Things are looking up.

Roger O'Dea     10/17/2020