Heartland Views

If you were raised by a world-class mother like I was, then you will know what I mean when I say that there is something special about a mother’s love for her child. Much of what she does in her life is focused on her child, making sure that the world keeps at a distance as one grows into adulthood. And as she does this, she asks for nothing in return, choosing instead to take her reward in watching her child grow into someone special. This one is for you Ma…and for all the other mothers who have helped us become who we are. We owe you more than we can ever repay.

It’s that time of year when the sun becomes a fugitive, the roads turn to slush, and the air is wet, heavy and cold. There’s nothing like winter in the heartland! Fortunately, even in times like these, one can find something special to lift one’s spirits as we move into the winter months. Take this photo for example. In all of the dreary weather we have had for the past couple of weeks, this lone tree seems to say that all is not dull and dreary. This small tree, and the lady bug that can be seen up close in the lower left of the frame, hopefully finds you feeling good about what is coming as we wait for winter.

No matter how hard I try, I have a terrible time getting up at the crack of dawn. In fact, the day that I shot this photo was the first time in months of not years that I was up with the sunrise. I have no doubt that I got lucky on this day. The light was fantastic. I shot this image looking directly east. If you look closely you can see the sun popping through the base of the tree. Believe it or not, I did not alter the colors in this one. They were already there just waiting for me, or so it seemed. If only there was an alarm clock that would go off on days like this! Either that, or I will have to start peaking out the window in the early morning hours, just on the outside chance that something like this will happen again. I hope you like this photo that I call, “Daybreak.”

Here is another triptych that is made up of some really beautiful WWII aircraft. The top two are P-51 Mustangs, named “Big Beautiful Doll” and “By Request.” The bottom aircraft is a B-25 Mitchell named Martha Jean. All of these warbirds were on display at the recent air show at Offutt AFB. I really like the way the metal glows under the mid-day sun. And the nose art on these planes is truly fabulous. When I was looking at these airplanes, I could not help but be awed by what the greatest generation did for all of us in WWII. Hardly a day goes by without my being reminded of all that our parents and grandparents sacrificed so that we could enjoy our lives in peace and prosperity. These warbirds and those that both flew and cared for them will always have a special meaning for me and for millions of others around the world.

Greetings all. I forgot to add the most important thought for my previous post. I would really…really appreciate it if you would send me your thoughts/comments/corrections/etc. on my Facebook effort. I am absolutely certain that I need the help to make this work. Thanks!

Greetings all. Just to make sure that I have not a restful moment, I have opened up a page or more on Facebook. Hopefully after a daylong effort, I have managed to put my photos on a Facebook package that breaks down my images into a few fundamental categories. At the very least, if this works, it will be easier for you to find the type of photograph you might be looking for. Here is the link that will take you to my Facebook page. Be sure to click on the “photos” button to take you to my photographs. Good luck. And thank you so much for your support!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/updates.php?id=53522580177&sent=1&e=0#/pages/Heartland-Views-Photography/53522580177

This photograph is the second in a series of three that I am working on. Hopefully when I am finished, I will put all three of these into one final image. You could say that this image is a work in progress. If things do not work out for the set of three, I am sure that this photograph work as a free standing image. If you look carefully, you should see why I named this one, “Questions.” In my day job, I always stress the fundamental concept that one should always feel free to ask questions. It goes without saying that if you have any questions about my photography, please ask. I truly enjoy the exchange.

One of the things I enjoy the most is sitting down with family members and swapping stories. No matter how many times a tale is retold, there is always a lot of joy to be had when we recount days and deeds of times gone by. When I saw this photo, I thought of our family story telling activities. Our stories all have something unique to them. Yet they also have a lot in common. Our stories remind me of this photo that I shot yesterday and edited today. I found this pile of leaves right next to a large brick building that overwhelmed the tiny patch of dirt that allowed a single tree to grow in a field of concrete. Sometimes the simplest situations can make for some wonderful moments. Here’s hoping that you too will have many family stories to share in the upcoming holiday season.

Those of you that follow the calendar better than I will realize that our monthly Second Fridays art event is upon us once again. This time, I will be located on the fifth floor of The Park Building – 500 Willow Ave. in Council Bluffs. I will be sharing the space with three other outstanding artists. This is going to be a blast! I hope I see you there.