Friday, October 27, 2006

Friday, October 20, 2006

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Car & Truck Show

Back in July, Stacy and I met my parents at a car & truck show on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. My parents, Carl & Becky, had driven their 1956 Chevy 3100 Series Stepside pickup truck 400+ miles from Illinois to be at the show. They ended up driving it a lot further, as they left from the show and went to Northern Minnesota, then to Sheboygen, WI, and finally back home to Central Illinois. We had a lot of fun looking at thousands of cars and trucks. It's amazing the character & style the classic automobiles have. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take the time to photograph all of the beautiful cars & trucks I wanted. Below is just a tiny sampling of what was there (top-left corner are my parents with their truck). Click on the collage for a larger view.
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Monday, October 02, 2006

Shakopee Bridge

I've heard that it is now illegal to take photographs of bridges. I don't know if this applies to them all, or a few. I figured that I was probably safe taking the photographs below, because this is an old bridge that is no longer used. Who knows?

Anyway, I had some time on a Saturday and wanted to go for a walk, and happened upon this bridge. It was constructed in 1927 by the Minnesota Highway Department and was designated Bridge No 4175. It spans the Minnesota River at Shakopee. While it is no longer used for vehicular traffic, people often walk across it. The underside appeared to be a place where wanna-be gangbangers or graffiti "artists" like to hang out. I like seeing & photographing all of the different aspects of architecture and this bridge had plenty. Arches, metal braces, etc. It is a testiment to the workmanship of the men that built this structure, that it remains sturdy & standing to this day. Click on the photographs for a larger view.


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Friday, September 29, 2006

All Smiles

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Monday, September 25, 2006

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (1 of 5)

On a Saturday back in August, Stacy and I spent a few hours at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. It was a beautiful, sunny day and I was excited to get out and take some pictures. I had never seen the Spoonbridge and Cherry, which I had heard was synonymous with all things Minnesotan (not really sure why). This was a prime opportunity for me to work with the circular polarizing filters I had bought for my lenses. I was pretty happy with the results. I had noticed, by looking at their work online, that some local photographers like to come here to take senior & wedding portraits. Sure enough, we saw two wedding parties and a senior there for photographs that day. The garden is a free venue and there is limited free parking close to it. There is also paid parking that isn't too expensive. So, check it out sometime, you will have fun.
Joel
Click on the photographs for a larger view.
Cowles Conservatory

Standing Glass Fish

Stacy inside Cowles Conservatory

Flower

Joel inside Cowles Conservatory

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Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (2 of 5)

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Spoonbridge and Cherry

Spoonbridge and Cherry with the Basilica of Saint Mary in the background

Spoonbridge and Cherry

Alene Grossman Memorial Arbor and Flower Garden

Butterfly

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Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (3 of 5)

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Butterflies

Butterfly

Bumble Bee

The Spinner

Prophecy of the Ancients

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Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (4 of 5)

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Hare on Bell on Portland Stone Piers

Stacy standing next to Walking Man

Man sitting at a bus stop

Stacy thinking she's avoiding getting her picture taken

Basilica of Saint Mary

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Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (5 of 5)

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Minneapolis Skyline

Spoonbridge and Cherry
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Look Up

Como Conservatory - St. Paul, MN

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Iowa Sunset

My wife and I were driving down to IL from MN and experienced a beautiful sunset in IA. Stacy, my wife, took these photographs through the side window of our car as we were driving down the interstate in the rain. God's creation can be so beautiful!

Joel

Click on the photographs for a larger view.