Sunday, March 10, 2024

Foggy Woods

On a drive around the area where we grew up, I noticed the fog rising out of the woods. It was a gloomy winter day but this scene was so interesting. Of course I had my husband stop the car so I could grab a snapshot. He's so used to this. I shout "STOP" and quickly, but carefully, he pulls off the road. Or he'll say, "I can't stop, there's cars behind us!"

Fortunately, this is not a heavily traveled road. Anyway, I got my shot and in looking at it later, it was kinda blah. But it had potential! I just didn't know how to bring it out. I wasn't even sure what I "saw" but I know what I "felt" -  there was more to this scene and I needed to find it.

So, here I am over 10 years later and have learned a lot about Photoshop, Lightroom, and now some AI generative toys. I think I've jazzed up this photo to convey what I saw in my mind's eye, thankyouverymuch, Mr. Adobe.

By the way, when I began my entry into the world of image editing software, I was inspired by an artist I stumbled upon online who created gorgeous digital graphics. Her bio said she was a self-taught, 63 year old. At the time, I thought that was ancient! I was so impressed that an "old lady" could do such a thing. Now, (after an appropriate apology), I wish I could tell her what an important example she was to me. You are never, never too old to learn new things, to be creative, to stay engaged with life.


"Stay engaged with life." Kind of an ironic statement, considering that my latest tinkerings have dealt with ghostly apparitions, spooky fog, and gravestones. I don't think there's any subliminal reason for that. They just seem to lend themselves to these ethereal effects I like. Did you notice the spectral ladies in the pictures above? I couldn't decide on having one or two. I may have to go back and lighten them a bit if they're too hard to see.

Anyway, that's the story. Just a quick post for today.


Saturday, March 9, 2024

Practicing Digital Art

I love editing photos and working with Photoshop brushes and effects. Been learning some new techniques lately. The first two images were shot at a cemetery in St. Clairsville, Ohio. (Check out the name on the second picture)


The next two images are from an old church in Reno, NV.



Just wanted to get these on the blog. Don't have any musings this evening.

Monday, October 30, 2023

Photoshop Experimenting

I'm sooooo far behind processing pictures and updating the blog! I have a ton of neat photos but I'd have to work every day for weeks to catch up. 

Well, ya gotta start somewhere. 

While on a drive around Gatlinburg, TN, we came up on a plane wreckage. Don't know the story behind it. Maybe it crashed there years ago, or maybe they just dragged this old thing here and left it.

Whatever the story, I thought it had potential for an interesting image. Seemed like something I might want to try out Photoshop's new Generative AI on!


So here's my first outing with creative AI, before and after. It has a way to go, but it was fun trying out!

Monday, June 12, 2023

Saddle Up

After a little health setback which was causing me to not want to do anything, I'm trying to get back in the saddle. Not literally a horse's saddle, although I'd love that. The figurative kind. Creating, to be exact.

It's a terrible thing to lose your mojo. You think, "well, that's it. Guess that's all I had." But you know better! You know that's not all you have! As a believer in THE Creator, you know art is yours to make as long as you have breath in your body. It's just amazing how that body can drain your desire to create anything when it's not working properly.

 But, got that little issue fixed and now I'm doing things to get the juices flowing again.

I needed a local iconic photo for a work project. This neat sculpture was installed to celebrate this year's Route 66 anniversary. Problem is, they located it in a roundabout surrounded by light poles, wires, trailers, and all kinds of unattractive structures. It's really unfortunate. But, it gave me good practice in editing and spiffing up images! 


made myself get up early one Saturday morning, determined to get back to doing one of my favorite things - drive-by photo shoots. Just grab the camera, put my dog in the car and take a drive, looking for something interesting to photograph. Discovered this abandoned boat near a country intersection, only a couple miles away.

I was inspired by a book on mixed media to make a photo collage about one day in your life. As I was going through the house this morning, putting things away & straightening up, I realized something. Everywhere I land in my house, I have something to read. There's always a stack on the kitchen island. The bathroom window ledge. Top of the sewing machine. A basket of art magazines next to the desk and galvanized bins-full on top. Bibles and spiritual books on the dresser, next to the bedroom chair. Stacked on the nightstand. And a Kindle charging on the recliner. (The center image is a sculpture in front of the library).

I've always been a reader. My grandmother was a reader and so was my dad (Westerns were their favorite genre). And thank the Lord, so is my son. I started reading to him as soon as I got him home from the hospital. He started recognizing the alphabet as soon as he could talk. All grown up now, it's a delight to discuss books we're both reading.

And speaking of saddles, I do have another set of photos coming from that aforementioned Saturday drive-by. It's a pasture full of miniature horses. I can picture (pun intended) how I want it to look, but haven't quite put my finger on it yet. I'll be working on that next! 

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Showmen's Rest: final


"I used to tell them before I retired that if I drop dead in the ring, make it funny and get me out of there."  Thomas Sink, aka Popcorn the Clown, lived & breathed circus life for over 30 years. He didn't expect this to be his lifelong career, but said he just had a knack for it. Popcorn also participated in an oral history interview, which you can read here:  https://www.loc.gov/podcasts/america-works/transcripts/AmericaWorks-Podcast_Season3Episode6_transcription.pdf

Zefta Loyal said to her daughter one day, “Dolly, I will retire center ring. I will never stay long enough to where I’m going to be in the side ring.” And that's just what she did. She retired in 1954 after nearly 30 years a center ring star. "I was center ring from the day I went in until the day I retired.”

Known as "Queen of the Bareback Riders" she was a member of the original Loyal-Repensky Troup, a family who performed amazing bareback horse riding stunts. For another interesting oral history, click here:   https://www.loc.gov/item/2017655385/


Circus folks aren't the only celebrities buried at Mt. Olivet. There's another section called Bull Rider's Reprieve. Several champion rodeo & bull riders are buried here. We were particularly interested in finding Todd Whatley's grave because an elderly friend of ours used to be a rodeo clown and knew Mr. Whatley.


Here are a few snapshots of some other headstones and interesting inscriptions, epitaphs to their life's work.




And finally, as a fitting close to my collection here, the inscription reads:
We have had the good life but the season ended.





Monday, February 6, 2023

Showmen's Rest: part 3

Welcome to the third installment of Showmen's Rest. This is a collection of photos from Mt. Olivet Cemetery's section of memorials to people who lived the circus life.

Dudley Warner Hamilton, born in 1929, was once a state highway patrolman, a bread truck driver, and he bred and showed champion Collies. He didn't actually get into the circus life until he was in his 50s! He began as a booking agent, then press agent. In his golden years, he became the groundskeeper of the winter quarters for the Kelly-Miller Circus in Hugo. He gave a very interesting oral history that you can read here:  https://www.loc.gov/item/2017655374/  His epitaph reads: May all your days be circus days.


"Big John Strong" has one of the biggest and most intriguing monuments in the cemetery. He got into the circus life the same way most others did back in the day - with a small animal act. John wanted to be an actor. Maybe that didn't work out or maybe his long desire to have his own circus took precedence. As newlyweds, the 6-foot-5-inch John and his young bride, Ruth, trained a dog and a pony and took their little show on the road from Hollywood in 1948. Within 15 years, they had one of the biggest 3-ring tented shows around. On the reverse side of the monument is etched: "Big John" The man with more friends than Santa Claus.


"Buckles" Woodcock was born in a circus family. His father was a legendary elephant trainer. The Anna May you see written on the center of the monument was not his wife or daughter. Anna Mae was one of the country's most famous elephants, acquired by William and trained by Buckles. She was even in the 1955 film, The Big Circus. His wife, Barbara, was an aerialist and leopard trainer. You can read more about this family of elephant experts and circus historians at this page: 


John Carroll was an elephant trainer for many years. It seems he didn't have any family. When he died in an accident, his friends put his money into a trust fund. It was established to pay for funerals and burial plots for circus people.


Not all the headstones are elaborate. James O'Donnell's simply reads Acrobat and Clown.
Bonnie Warner's is just a flat stone in the ground. Underneath her photo it reads Chimp Trainer.


There are just a few more photos to show. Check back for the final post.

Sunday, February 5, 2023

Showmen's Rest: part 2

Here is another wide shot of part of Showmen's Rest. Can you spot the the ghostly additions? Some are actual images of items related to the Kelly-Miller and Carson & Barnes circuses.




Herbie Weber, The Great Huberto, was in demand and performed with many circuses. He also appeared on Broadway in "Around the World in 80 Days" and in the movie "The Big Circus." He showed off on the low-wire, walking, running, jumping, and dancing across the wire.  He would walk up an incline wire to the top of the tent and slide backwards to the bottom. He would also fake a fall by attempting a jump and dramatically falling from the wire. His wife and the ringmaster would run to him begging him not to try again. He would do it anyway, succeeding, and bring the audience to their feet cheering.


This is the headstone of Albert Louis Vonderheid (and family?) The family name is etched in a festive circus style font. I really can't find information about him, but I think the monument does tell us a little about his life. Member of the United Zoological Assemblies. Other names listed are Maria Louise, National Park Ranger and Susan Annette, Circus Performer & School Teacher. The Riding Conleys and Circus Tow Truck are also mentioned. The quote says, Life on the road was our adventure, Circus or National Parks.
 

It was a lovely October day when we visited. Here's a closing shot. There's more to see so come back for part 3!



Saturday, February 4, 2023

Showmen's Rest: part 1 Introduction

 
In a little town called Hugo, in southeast Oklahoma, is a most unlikely site. It's a portion of Mt. Olivet cemetery named Showmen's Rest. It's the final resting place for circus owners and performers, most of whom lived in Hugo during the off season. Their granite memorials are unique tributes to people who must have loved the nomadic circus life. Scattered throughout the cemetery are smaller monuments topped with an elephant. A large memorial pays tribute to "all showmen under God's big top."(next photo)

I love interesting architecture, and architecture & landscape photography. Cemeteries can be a treasure trove of both, particularly the old ones back east. Since Oklahoma has only been settled a little over 100 years, our resting places are rather plain. To discover Showmen's Rest right here on the prairie was a pleasant surprise.


I am normally not into "dark" things, but I was inspired by the artwork of the new streaming show, "1883" and the work of a photographer who lives where I grew up. She does interesting composites of the grand cemeteries and other landscapes in that area (find her on Facebook - Whispered Tales of the Ohio Valley).  I've always wanted to try my hand at that and so here begins a series of blogs with composited photos from Mt. Olivet's Showmen's Rest. Look closely to find some ghostly images from the past.


Hugo, for some reason, became a popular winter headquarters for traveling circuses. In fact, even today, two still winter here, Carson & Barnes and Kelly-Miller.

Born in 1886, Obert Miller started with a small dog and pony act on the vaudeville circuit. The Miller family performed most of the acts and the small circus was successful in its early stages. Obert and his sons, Kelly & Dorey, purchased canvas and hand sewed a 40' x70' tent. The family created the animal acts, sold tickets, did their own bookkeeping, performed a wire act, trapeze work, and clowned. They moved about by a straight body truck, one semi and a pick-up. You may be thinking, "must have been a big family!" but from what I've read, it was just  Obert, his wife, two sons and their wives! Started in 1937, by 1950 the Kelly-Miller circus was one of the country's major motorized circuses. I'm assuming they added more staff and other acts, too!


Jack Moore was co-founder of the Carson & Barnes Circus. He also started with a small animal act. In 1952, he moved his family to Hugo where he met Dorey Miller (son of Obert). They formed a partnership where Miller leased tents, equipment, and Mabel the elephant to Moore. Now a larger circus, he called his show the Tex Carson Circus. 

Jack, his wife and four children all worked and performed in the circus. In '58, he renamed it to the present Carson & Barnes Circus. I cannot figure out how Carson or Barnes fits in, but the circus still performs and winters in Hugo. 

Scroll down to the next headstone; its owner is also linked to C&B. No wonder circus people feel like family - they're all somehow linked by blood and business!


Ted Bowman worked for a few other circuses before settling with Carson & Barnes where he was general manager for 17 years. Under the circus wagon wheel that makes up his headstone it sadly reads, There's nothing left but empty popcorn sacks and wagon tracks - the circus is gone.


That concludes the introduction. Stay tuned for part 2!





Sunday, October 9, 2022

'Pacas & Pelicans!

In late September, early October, the American White Pelican migrates & stays awhile in Oklahoma. One of our beautiful lake areas hosts an annual Pelican Festival.  It's the usual small town festival - food, music, craft tents.

When I first read about this event, I wanted to go - not for the festival, but in hopes of seeing a big flock of these birds in one place, like the advertisements show! We went there a couple years ago and only saw a flock flying overhead. We could not find them in the advertised usual spots.

Last Monday, it was our day off and the weather was beautiful. We decided to take a convertible ride to Grand Lake for our Great Pelican Hunt.

We stopped at the places where they supposedly hang out and finally found a few at Bernice State Park, just outside of Grove.

These shots were the best I could get. They were too far away to get a nice closeup and the sun was not in my favor. But I was thrilled anyway to finally find some pelicans!



This guy below looks like he's wondering "what's the big deal?"


Later, I was excitedly telling a friend about our excursion. She said, "oh yeah, we saw them over at Ft. Gibson Lake." Like, no big deal, they're everywhere.  Whaaat?

After enjoying the pelican sighting, I remembered reading about an alpaca ranch nearby. I looked it up and found they are still in operation and receiving visitors. (How did we ever live without cell phones & Google? And Google on our cell phones?)

We hurried over and spent a delightful hour at Zena Suri Alpaca Ranch. (Link to their website here)


I loooove alpacas! Their sweet faces! Their gentle presence! Their soft fur!


My fantasy is to have an alpaca ranch - with ranch hands to do the dirty work, lol.

This is actually a llama. I've never seen one with a lion's ruff. The owner said he was left there by a former employee. She sheered the ruff once and Mr. Llama acted as if she'd taken his crown, so now she leaves it. I think it makes him look royal.


We visited an alpaca ranch in New Mexico a couple years ago. That owner told us they weren't sociable, they were shy, and didn't want to be touched. On the other hand, at the ranch we visited in South Dakota last year, the owner said just the opposite. His animals acted like house pets! I asked the Oklahoma ranchers about this and they said it's all in how they're raised. I'm suspecting the NM rancher was the skittesh one, not his animals. 

But back to the llama... the SD ranch had a guard llama. He was very serious about his job of guarding the gentle 'pacas. The owner said that many ranches have llamas instead of dogs to guard the herd.

Here at the OK ranch, the llama was very approachable and curious. Again, it probably depends on how they're raised and the temperament of the animal.


Oh that face!

They were all so curious about their visitors. And probably looking for treats, too.


This is the same guy as pictured above. Don't know why he pinned his ears back but he looks like an ostrich that way. Maybe he was annoyed at me.

And here he is again, on the left. Hasn't moved, same expression!


I love these nuzzling shots. They could be Valentine cards.



This baby! Such sweetness!


Coming home, good ol' Maps routed us on all the county roads. They wound around the lakes, up & down hills, on winding roads. But after nearly 3 months of temps in the upper 90s & over 100, when you don't even want to go shopping, it was wonderful to get outside & out of town for the day.  

October - the best month of the year!