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Enjoying Color in Siouxland, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, NE

14 May
Flowers in bloom at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday March 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

There are various gardens in and around Siouxland that are fun to visit and explore. The indoor garden at Lauritzen Garden in Omaha, NE adds a bit of an educational aspect by listing the name of the plant so one can become better informed at what they are seeing. The same is true for the plants one comes across outside while traversing the garden’s grounds during the various season.

The indoor garden allows visitors a chance to shake off the cold winter months by enjoying these plants in their enclosed habitat and still enjoy wonderful plants. And the colors of some of these are simply amazing.

Flowers in bloom at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday March 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Flowers in bloom at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday March 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes when photographing, the flowers are wonderful subjects, but it is the color they produce and show the viewer that then becomes the subject, aided when the window rooftop allows in strong sunlight, somewhat filtered by the glass or whatever light passthrough material is used for the indoor habitat. On a cold winter’s day, or cold spring day, the color is fun, something to remind a person that yes, better, more seasonal weather is approaching, and a chance to just enjoy nature.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Flowers in bloom at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday March 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Flowers in bloom at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday March 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Seeing Red in Siouxland, Adams Homestead, North Sioux City, SD and Grand Meadow Heritage Center, Washta

16 Apr
A red wheel on a show wagon at the Grand Meadow Heritage Center’s 46th Annual Heritage Days festival Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, Washta, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes it isn’t until after the fact when I have been out traversing Siouxland that I run across various images that may or may not have anything in common. By themselves they may be simple, nondescript kinds of photographs. And some folk may think that anyway even as a collective. But collectively images should have something in common.

A cardinal sits in the shade of a tree at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Monday, July 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A Redwing Blackbird makes its presence known at Badger Lake Wildlife Management Area in Monona County Tuesday, June 14, 2022 near Sloan, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

It’s possible that even a tenuous element(s) can create a common factor. I find color is one such element. And it mostly depends on how one sees color and if color then becomes the main subject matter, relegating that actual subject of the photograph as a secondary subject. Beauty and art is in the eye of the beholder. Andy Warhol proved that time and again.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Red annuals bloom at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A red-bellied woodpecker looks for food on a tree near a bird feeder at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 in North Sioux City, South Dakota. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A house finch watches the backyard at a residence in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Admiring the (Pink) Moon in Siouxland, rural Woodbury County

10 Apr
A full moon or pink moon rises in the distance behind a barbed wire fence Wednesday evening, April 5, 2023 in rural Woodbury County, Iowa as the sun sets. Reports indicate the pink moon was named after ground phlox flowers that bloom in early spring and was used by Native American tribes as a way to keep track of time. The moon will be its fullest April 6. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Recently the full moon for the month of April appeared. It was reported to be a special moon, or pink moon, because of historical aspects reflected by different cultures. Spring brings forth flowers and blooms and it was thought that the appearance of a ground phlox was the reason April’s moon is referred to as a “pink” moon.

The challenge of photographing full moons in a rural setting is that, unlike cities, there generally are no tall buildings to visually play off of. Plus, as the moon rises above the taller buildings it has risen above the horizon and the sun has set, and general city lighting plus building lighting makes it easier to balance the brightness of the celestial body with that of nearby surroundings.

A full moon or pink moon rises in the distance behind a barbed wire fence Wednesday evening, April 5, 2023 in rural Woodbury County, Iowa. Reports indicate the pink moon was named after ground phlox flowers that bloom in early spring and was used by Native American tribes as a way to keep track of time. The moon will be its fullest April 6. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

So sometimes one must improvise and make do with what is there. All the more need to actually scout locations that face away from the east in general so there might be something to juxtapose with a rising moon. I always tell myself next time I will be more prepared than just driving out into the country and finding a spot I think will work. Hopefully next time I will be more prepared.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A full moon or pink moon rises in the distance behind a barbed wire fence Wednesday evening, April 5, 2023 in rural Woodbury County, Iowa. Reports indicate the pink moon was named after ground phlox flowers that bloom in early spring and was used by Native American tribes as a way to keep track of time. The moon will be its fullest April 6. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Making More Choices in Siouxland, Black and White, or Color, Omaha, NE

8 Apr
Downtown Omaha seen from the Gene Leahy mall in Omaha, NE Monday March 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

No matter where I might roam in and around Siouxland, there are always choices to be made when shooting photographs. And depending on the subject or location and other particulars like lighting, choosing to make black and white images or color can sometimes be a tough choice.

I like color for when it really work and is as much the subject as whatever the photographed subject is. But then, black and white could be a crutch when subjects are boring and the contrast between light and shadow creates some dynamics in the photo. But then, like color, it becomes the subject more than what is photographed.

Downtown OmahaNE seen from the Gene Leahy mall Monday March 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And tonality in black and white is important. The top photo uses darker shades to set off the buildings and architectural elements while the next photo the middle grey doesn’t enhance the image, but doesn’t necessarily detract either. So then it’s incumbent upon the photographer to frame the subject so it will stand out from the surroundings if that is the intention of the photographer.

And color is just that, color. People see their surroundings in color and do not give most times a second thought what they are seeing. So is the image more banal because color becomes a default or the norm? Choices. Sometimes too many, sometimes not enough.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Downtown Omaha seen from the Gene Leahy mall Monday March 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Artistic Choices in Siouxland, or Close by, Omaha, NE

25 Mar
Light and shadow play in black and white seen at the Gene Leahy mall in downtown Omaha, NE Monday March 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

When out photographing in and around Siouxland I sometimes make “artistic” esthetic decisions on the fly. Shooting with a digital camera one can “work” in black and white and then again in color. A lot of folk I know always, always shoot raw images and later decide what to do and state they then have plenty of image “space” to do as they believe an image should be represented, that is, their presentation of their artistic vision.

And that is good. Everyone sees differently. When teaching a photographic location class through a Lifelong Learning program at a local community college, the group would travel to 4 different locations that I would select. And these were vary and change with the seasons, indoors, out of doors, morning and evening. I wanted students to work in various conditions so if they happen to be traveling for vacation for other reason and wanted to photograph something, they could acquire a skill set and thought process that might help them navigate what it was they wanted to photograph and how to photograph it as well. Plus these sessions reinforced the basic photographic skills taught in another course about shooting manually, selecting appropriate white balance, or not, and picking an aperture and shutter speed while shooting in manual. It was all to get people comfortable in using their individual cameras and making informed choices when photographing rather than relying on the camera to make decisions for them. Aperture priority never takes into account low ISO settings and even slower shutter speeds while trying to achieve the desired depth of field for an image, and then the photographer realizes upon returning home that there is little usable from their most recent excursion.

A table and chair highlighted by the sun seen at the Gene Leahy mall in downtown Omaha, NE Monday March 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A recent discussion by some local camera club folk revolved around in camera and software editing skills and not truly representing the scene photographed as it was. Press the shutter and no cropping and minimal toning and voila, a Henri Cartier-Bresson moment. But that may not be what the photographer intended. Ansel Adams photographed a lot of landscapes and always brought a vision of how he wanted the scene interpreted. From his selection of lenses, film, filters, processing (over or under) then the printing and the use of his zone system.

The world revolves diversity of thought and vision. Although recently some might question that. So open and thoughtful debate should always be a good thing. Respectfully done of course, but then again, there will always be a few zealots not in agreement or nice about how they respond to others. Sad really, to be stuck in time with no before or after.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Practicing Creativity in Siouxland, Lawton

20 Jan
Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls slings a lighted steel wool pad around himself as other camera club members attempt slow shutter, long exposure photographs in Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Recently I joined a couple members of the local camera club in Siouxland, Sioux City Camera Club, as they attempted some slow shutter, long exposures of lighted steel wool done by another club member, Ron Nicolls, who attempts to get members to see a little differently and experiment with their photography.

Photographers stand at the right side of the image frame attempting slow shutter, long exposure photographs while Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls slings a lighted steel wool pad around himself. Stars can be seen above Nicolls during the photo demonstration that took place in field near Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls allows photographers to prefocus on him before lighting a steel wool pad to sling around himself as camera club members attempt slow shutter, long exposure photographs in Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls slings a lighted steel wool pad around himself as other camera club members attempt slow shutter, long exposure photographs in Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

It was interesting as Nicolls spun the lighted steel wool on a tether about his person in a snow covered field, a little fire prevention precaution. As one continued photographing the look of what one was seeing kept changing. This makes sense in that, like a camp fire, as the fire dies out, the intensity first seen when the steel wool is lit and and then flung about, it burns itself out and thus gives varying degrees of light for photographing.

Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls lights a steel wool pad to sling around himself as camera club members attempt slow shutter, long exposure photographs in Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls slings a lighted steel wool pad around himself as photographers attempt slow shutter, long exposure photographs in Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls slings a lighted steel wool pad around himself, and its begins to dim as sparks fly into the air and photographers attempt slow shutter, long exposure photographs in Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Depending on where one was standing you also had to be mindful of flying sparks either hitting you or flying nearby. However the sparks added a bonus of sorts to the images captured. I was shooting with an Olympus OMD M1 body which touts 4-5 stops of in-body stabilization and so was handholding my camera shoot between 2.5 seconds and 6 seconds at f/2.5 and f/3.2. I did get movement from Nicolls as he lobbed the lighted steel wool about his body, but for the most part, the in-body stabilization worked well, allowing me to somewhat “move about the cabin” and yet capture images created by the spinning burning wool pad.

It was an interesting and creative endeavor Nicolls presented to other camera club members and an opportunity to attempt a different type of photography that most have not considered. It was also nice that the weather that day was in the mid-30’s so not so bone chilling to make such an effort less than ideal. One’s pursuit of creativity is only limited by one’s non attempt at trying something different and experimentation which could lead to yet another effort to try another photographic approach.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Photographer Tom Schoening makes adjustments to his camera on a trip during a slow shutter, long exposure photography shoot by Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls who is slinging a lighted steel wool pad around himself in Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls slings a just lit steel wool pad around himself as photographers attempt slow shutter, long exposure photographs in Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls slings a lighted steel wool pad around himself as other camera club members attempt slow shutter, long exposure photographs in Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Photographer Tom Schoening and Carey Anderson finish their slow shutter, long exposure photography shoot by with Sioux City, Iowa, Camera Club member Ron Nicolls who was slinging a lighted steel wool pad around himself in Lawton, Iowa Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Enjoying the Holiday Lights in Siouxland, Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, North Sioux City, SD

23 Dec

Holiday lights at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

For the last couple of years the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve has been putting up Christmas lights around the homestead that folk can visit each of the four weekends in December, with Christmas Day not included should it fall on the weekend. When the pandemic hit a couple years ago the Adams’ parks manager, Jody Moats, wanted a destination place for people to get outside and enjoy some festive sights as most churches and other organizations were being cautious in having large crowds in small rooms adding to the chance of viral infections. The popularity of the Christmas lights was overwhelming embraced by locals as they can walk through the homestead and meet Santa before his big day.

Santa poses for a photo with fans at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Santa greets visitors at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Holiday lights at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I find it challenging to photographer as the blue goes fairly fast and the homestead is in a small wooded area, so trying to balance an exposure and still so activity tests one’s skill as a photographer. Some photos I made handheld with the help of a study tree while others were done on a tripod. In situations like this I mostly find the people as props to the Christmas lights rather than the other way around. For the brave folk who brave the chill a little popcorn, candy cane or coffee and hot chocolate brace them until they walk about and for a short time just enjoy the Christmas season.

Jerry Mennnega

Sioux City, Iowa

Holiday lights at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Holiday lights at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Holiday lights at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Candy cane decorations light up the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Holiday lights at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Holiday lights at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Making a Photo Choice in Siouxland, Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, North Sioux City, South Dakota

17 Dec
Canadian geese fly through a grove of trees at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Many times while out photographing in Siouxland I come across various scenes and shoot a number of photographs, worrying at the time about capturing or creating an image and deciding later which ones I should work up in the post processing. Much like developing rolls of film and scanning through the negatives with a loupe or looking at a contact sheet and then deciding which one(s) I should spend time on in the “darkroom”.

During an outing at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve this fall I was lucky to find some Canadian geese hanging out at a small lake area in the park not having yet left for the day to find a nearby corn field to eat and maybe spend the day. The lake area is bordered by trees and brush and I was at one end or part way down to the end and was photographing through a break in the trees without branches obstructing my view or appearing as an aberrant line that is visible but looks like something on the camera’s sensor.

Canadian geese fly through a grove of trees at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I found the geese flying through what remaining fall foliage more appealing that past bare branches, but the ability to get a clear angle to photograph them was limited and frustrating in that the color helps tell part of the story, as the geese are migrating to a an area for winter. I much prefer the line of the geese in the second and third photographs as they show the line of ducks in flight but believe the colorful foliage helps set them apart from their background although the flying geese’s formation began changing at that point, and would soon be leaving the grove of trees and wetland area. Shooting with somewhat of a super telephoto lens gave me a very slight and limited angle of view, in addition to the photographing through a break in the grove tree’s branches that line this wetland area. Sometimes one has to made do with what one has and be happy for a decent image as compared to telling maybe an interesting story ending with that famous line, “Trust me when I tell you………”

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Canadian geese fly through a grove of trees at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Enjoying the Holiday Spirit in Siouxland, Christmas Decorations, Gene Leahy Mall, Omaha, NE

9 Dec
After a 3-year renovation project the Gene Leahy Mall shows off Christmas decorations around which families photograph themselves seen Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 in Omaha, NE. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

With Thanksgiving past along with Black Friday, the Christmas holiday is beginning and many places are already decorating for the upcoming day. Recently I visited a newly renovated park in Omaha, NE, the Gene Leahy Mall. Formerly the place had a few lagoons, but those have been filled in with new landscaping and different design and now sports and Christmas decorations and other accoutrements for the upcoming holiday.

After a 3-year renovation project the Gene Leahy Mall shows off Christmas decorations around which families photograph themselves seen Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 in Omaha, NE. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

After a 3-year renovation project the Gene Leahy Mall shows off Christmas decorations around which families photograph themselves seen Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 in Omaha, NE. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The park is much more family friendly these days with many folk coming out to view the decorations and take photos, either by themselves or with a professional photographer in tow to capture this year’s memories to cherish later. And the magical effect of the decorations as the sun began to set made the area almost magical.

After a 3-year renovation project the Gene Leahy Mall shows off Christmas decorations around which families photograph themselves seen Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 in Omaha, NE. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Visitors enter the Gene Leahy Mall Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 in Omaha, NE. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And it’s always challenging to photograph the fading light and the Christmas light together, trying to find that fight balance of ambient and artificial light to create a photo that has a little impact and hopefully catches a viewer’s eye.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

After a 3-year renovation project the Gene Leahy Mall shows off Christmas decorations around which families photograph themselves seen Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 in Omaha, NE. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
After a 3-year renovation project the Gene Leahy Mall shows off Christmas decorations around which families photograph themselves seen Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 in Omaha, NE. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
After a 3-year renovation project the Gene Leahy Mall shows off Christmas decorations around which families photograph themselves seen Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 in Omaha, NE. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Fading Fall Colors in Siouxland, Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek

29 Nov

A hiking trail seen from a ridge at the Hitchcock Nature Center near Honey Creek, Iowa Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

This particular fall season in Siouxland seemed fleeting and unfulfilled. While there were pockets of color here and there, this fall was like a poem of unrequited love. It is always so nice to see brilliant colors and many hues when fall comes around. It is one of my favorite seasons as it is others as well. But this year that love of fall was not returned by Mother Nature. Mood swings in temperature in extreme seemed to have dampened expectations and the colors. So one must then hope and wish that next year’s fall will be better and somehow like memories past of a period of cooler temps and slowly changing colors that last a bit and not washed away with wind and rain.

Fading colors seen at the Hitchcock Nature Center near Honey Creek, Iowa Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Railroad tracks seen from an overlook at the Hitchcock Nature Center near Honey Creek, Iowa Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

There were nice days though when the temperature seemed perfect for sweater, fleece or jacket wearing. Too cool for shorts but not cool or cold enough for a heavy jacket. The sun and its light rays caressing the path with direct yet diffused lighting. Adding another element to be cherished in photographing landscapes and such. Not the harsh, direct light of summer. And once the colors have faded, the brown landscape emerges and holds sway until spring and warmer temperatures prevail and green shoots reemerge. But now patience is key and the ability to embrace other styles of photography until winter has passed.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A trail takes a hiker to an overlook at the Hitchcock Nature Center near Honey Creek, Iowa Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Fading colors during a fall hike at the Hitchcock Nature Center near Honey Creek, Iowa Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
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