It's Getting Better All The Time

Nikon D200, 70mm, 1/750 @ f/4.5, ISO 400

Music. Music In Plymouth. There is nothing better than gathering a few thousand people on a beautiful summer night in front of a large band shell nestled at the foot of a natural amphitheatre. Plymouth is another suburb, just over there a little ways, and every summer before the Fourth of July, they throw an extraordinary party celebrating our heritage, our culture, our freedom and humanity! Quite possibly the only event of its kind that I will attend until next year’s event. This was the 39th anniversary of Music In Plymouth christened “It’s Getting Better All The Time.”

Last night we were running a bit late and didn’t arrive until the end of what sounded like a local swing band’s set. The grounds were buzzing with summer and covered with the customary “stake-your-claim” family tarps fortified by the circling wagons of nylon camp chairs. We found our place among the others in our tribe (who had earlier staked our claim for us) and to many exchanges of courtesy we unpacked the cooler and settled in for a light supper.

Nikon D200, 70mm, 1/500 @ f/4.5, ISO 640

It escapes me the number of times we’ve attended but I know we have enjoyed it every time possible for at least the last eleven years or so.

The next performance was a nice little surprise, I think for most, as I don’t remember Music In Plymouth ever having a good blues band open for the Minnesota Orchestra. But, this year they did. Lamont Cranston. I saw Lamont Cranston open for Hall & Oates at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA circa 1981. Thirty frickin’ years ago! They had Charlie Bingham and Bruce McCabe with them and were a wicked good opening act back then. Out promoting their “Shake Down” album “Upper Mississippi Shakedown” was getting a lot of airplay.

These guys brought back memories of The Cabooze, Five Corners Bar, The 400 Bar, The Blues Saloon, The Uptown and Archie’s Bunker: cornerstones of a vibrant 1980’s music scene! Now, thirty years later, it was like we all got back together for another bottle of Pabst and a round of head bobbin’ feet shufflin’ blues that went right to the soul.

Nikon D200, 300mm, 1/640 @ f/5.6, ISO 400

Nikon D200, 300mm, 1/320 @ f/5.6, ISO 640

Nikon D200, 140mm, 1/160 @ f/4.8, ISO 640

I love working the crowd with my camera and have all sorts of fun. Children, their faces painted like animals or America, or just sparkly with purple hair, ribbons and all sorts of attire, are especially giving subjects. I went down toward the stage as I always do to get some photos and people were dancing with every bit the enthusiasm of thirty years past. But … these people were children almost twenty years younger, yet! Dancing, singing and air-guitaring to the blues!!!

Nikon D200, 300mm, 1/1000 @ f/5.6, ISO 400

The Minnesota Orchestra has always held a special place in my heart. They are so good and absolutely magnificent to listen to. But even the rousing finale of the “1812 Overture” and the world’s most recognized piccolo passage from “Stars and Stripes Forever” were overshadowed by the sight of boys and girls not even in junior high dancing, singing and moved by an art form that is as uniquely American as the blues.

Nikon D200, 240mm, 1/90 @ f/5.3, ISO 640

Thanks Lamont.
View full Music in Plymouth image set on Flickr

The Marathon ... sort of

The Twin Cities Marathon was last Sunday. It's a great event and over the last few years my brother-in-law has run which gives us a lot of good reason to get out and attend. Not only that but, we're the pit crew. We drive the course through all the neighborhoods to meet up with Steve about every five miles ... seven of us. In a Dodge Caravan. It's fun stuff.

This year was no different. I usually get some nice event pictures, the obligatory group shot of the "crew" and of the tortured soul of my brother-in-law. But, that's not what I'm here to talk to you about ... what I really want to talk about are the interesting things we saw along the way ...

The race begins in downtown Minneapolis and so the first stop, five miles from the start, is Lake Calhoun. We get there usually around 7:45 am. The first competitors get there just around 8:30. So, there's some time to get a few shots of the ambiance.





Once we got to the runners my favorite feature of the day turned out to be the footwear. Until Converse got their hands on some colored canvas, shoes were pretty much white when I was a kid.







We made our way through south Minneapolis to the Lake Nikomis neighborhood (our third stop) where we ran across a few interesting things. We had parked the car and were making our way to mile fourteen when we ran across this chair. It was just sitting out by the curb in front of, I assume, the owner's house. Perhaps it was used for gardening, hard to tell ... but here it was on display, right in the front yard. In fact, on the easement between the curb and the sidewalk. It was quaint, simple, curious. Definitely something that needed to be recorded.

But, that wasn't all. We were walking back to the car when we turned up this alley shortcut and ran into this great looking MGB ... bright yellow, mint condition. My guess ... a 1972. I had a black '67 when I was in high school but this one was in spectacular shape!



Over by the river we cut across at mile twenty-one. In Saint Paul, the Lake Street bridge had this view to offer.





This Marathon thing is actually pretty cool, lasts about as long as a football game, that is if you're following someone that can run the damn thing in just over three hours and finishes up at a big gathering in front of the State Capitol Building.



We got there about ten minutes before Steve crossed the finish line. The sky had been working up a threat most of the morning but held off until I got this shot of the Quadriga. Then it started to rain ... that was cool, we were done.

Quintessential Majesty

Generally speaking, I'm an animal lover but, rarely photograph them unless my dog happens to be the only subject available. I did however, get a couple of shots that I really liked. This is Dakota. He's my sister's dog and a beautiful one at that! A Siberian Husky would be my guess ... docile, affable, just a great dog.


While strolling past Lake LaVerne the swans are always a marvelous attraction. This one was preening its feathers showing off his wing. For as long as I can remember this little lake in front of the Iowa State Memorial Union has been populated with two swans ... 1959 would be my first recollection of them: Lancelot & Elaine.

Alma Mater ... All My Matter

Was back home in Ames this last weekend on the ISU Campus ... one of my favorite places to photograph. Howe Hall, College of Design were all targets.


Engineering: Howe Hall


College of Design: Atrium of the King Pavilion



I was really taken with the new King Pavilion at the College of Design. The spaces there are loosely defined by screens separating the class spaces and in the center was an atrium for lecture, presentation and discussion that was literally nothing more that a smooth concrete floor with a shit-load of chairs on wheels. A class can take any form that it wants. Move and flow with presenters, mix, formalize, and morph into a completely different character with the next set of students ... it's great!





College of Design: Atrium chair changing color

Song in Autumn

This is most definitely autumn. And despite the cliche, there is music to be found in the trees. My mom has a small maple tree in her backyard that gets hit with some awesome light early in the morning. Here's a product of that complete with two eighth notes right off the page of Nature's newest symphony.

If you don't see the notes, click on the image which will take you to Flickr, wave your magic cursor (that's mouse talk for pointer) and see the embedded note.