When I started taking pictures, however many years ago, I was using actual film. Kodak, at one time (I think they still do), made film for cameras, and you would take the film, load it into your camera, take photos, remove the film, and then entrust some stranger to make that film into pictures.  Luckily, I never had any of my film damaged or lost.

The pictures were usually 3x5, which graduated to 4x6, and you could get them even larger if you paid more.  It wasn't like cameras today, where you get to see the picture you're taking. You hoped what you took pictures of was actually on the photo paper.

Many times it was, "well, that was a waste of money and film."  Now you can see the photo and throw it away digitally, and no one has to know!

What Does Iowa Have to Do With It?

When my wife and I moved back to Cedar Rapids, I wasn't sure where to go to get some good shots, as the landscape had changed quite a bit since I last visited.

I'll take pictures of almost anything that'll let me, and some that will not.  I say that because birds are jerks in Iowa... and almost every other state.  They rarely stay in one place for very long, and when they do, "chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp chirp."  I get it, enough already, you could've stopped at "chirp, chirp."

I don't think it's a tall order to ask a bird to stay put for a few minutes to half an hour. Maybe 45 minutes to an hour, tops, so I can compose a decent photo.  Don't ya think?

Sloppy Joe/Canva/TSM
Sloppy Joe/Canva/TSM
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Where Can You Get a Good Shot These Days?

I asked for some recommendations on our Facebook page.  Where could I go and take some pictures? There were LOTS of ideas, and several people recommended Palisades-Kepler State Park. I thank you for that recommendation.

I've been several times, and almost every time has been fruitful.  On one of the last trips in 2024, I caught some images I'd like to share.

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I followed a trail by the water and wasn't seeing anything, so I took a way out I wasn't familiar with that routed me through rental cabins and the camping area.  As I crested the hill near some cabins, I noticed movement.  I took a few shots and slowly moved to my left. A deer stood munching away, and didn't care I was there (or didn't see me). I kept inching to my left until I was at mid-parking lot.

We are only about 50 feet apart, and I do not understand why the deer does not flee.  I was in the middle of a parking area, hardly camouflaged by asphalt.  Maybe the birds in this world could take a page out of the deer handbook.

Something finally spooked the deer, and it wasn't me. I was seated with a silent shutter.  It walked away slowly, and then pranced into the woods.  A friendly woodpecker stopped by, along with a not-so-friendly woodpecker, and that made 2024 a success. Happy New Year!

The deer is here, check it out!

(Gallery) Palisades-Kepler State Park

Gallery Credit: Sloppy Joe

Photos of The Iowa Hawkeyes Vs. Troy Trojans September 14, 2024

The Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Troy Trojans, 38 to 21, on September 14, 2024. I took these pictures with my first press pass, thanks to U of I. After reviewing over 3,000 pictures I think these are decent enough to share. I hope you enjoy them.

Gallery Credit: Sloppy Joe

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