Photographing in Siouxland, Durham Museum, Omaha, NE

Descending stairs at the Durham Museum, formerly a Union Station, in Omaha, NE Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes as one pursues his/hers photographic interests or various endeavors, clicking the shutter can be a leap of faith. Going somewhere while making images but not really certain where that somewhere will lead them.

I enjoy creating images with light and shade. The two work hand in hand to help create an image. To me at times the images can be intriguing and ambiguous, and at other times pretty straight forward.

But unless one clicks the shutter and captures a moment to share with others, one may never know. One foot in front of the other and one click of the shutter at a time. Following the light into the darkness and vice versa. And I guess it is as some folk say, it’s not the destination, but the journey.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Enjoying and Preserving Memories in Siouxland, Joslyn Museum, Omaha, NE

A couple of photographers capture their visit by photographing an indoor fountain at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

When we all visit places one time, or many, most people these days as before, take a photograph to help remember that trip and today more than ever, share with their friends. And what I find so fascinating is how we all have a different way of seeing such places and remembering them. Each an artist in their own right. Creating an image of what was encountered.

A visitor to the Joslyn Museum records a favorite piece of art while visiting in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

For myself I find it to incorporate all of what is seen within the camera’s frame and try to make it all work together using light and shadow and angles and lines and juxtaposing the various elements.

As well as just documenting what is going on.

A Joslyn Museum curator gives a guided tour to visitors so they may more appreciate the works of art seen in museum in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

A Joslyn Muaeum employee has her photograph taken next to a painting in the museum in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

We all take away those memories we enjoy and cherish and hopefully will relive by looking at the images we have taken and shared and maybe revisiting the place again. I find traveling to a place more than once becomes the challenge to come away with a different set of images which is possible depending on the time of year and time of day one visits a place. Indoors, things tend to stay the same, but that just proves more of a challenge to become more creative, see familiar objects in a different way and grow as a visual person.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Visitors document their visit to the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Architectual aspects of the Joslyn Museum lend to various types of framing opportunities while visiting in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Deciding about Perspective in Siouxland, Nebraska State Capitol, Lincoln

In a hallway in Nebraska’s State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Somedays out photographing while traipsing about Siouxland and nearby destinations I come across scenes that immediately grab my attention. And then later realize what a tough choice to choose one photograph of which basically contains the same elements as the other photographs, but imbue the same sense of place, just differently.

In a hallway in Nebraska’s State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And the use of light and shade can greatly affect how an image is portrayed and received. Each has its own feeling imparted to the viewer. And of course one never has enough people about to sometimes populate one’s photos to help lead the eye through the scene. These images were taken in the state capitol of Nebraska, in Lincoln.

In a hallway in Nebraska’s State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A closer perspective of the scene looks different than one farther away, and yet shifting to one side or another gives yet another variance and fell to the same scene. Of course a body in the hallway helps ring the eye of the viewer into the receding aspect of the hallway.

Even during a legislative break there are folk walking the hallways of power at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And lastly, those hallways that are not accessible to the photographer except through a window reveal one more way to depict a similar scene with one more variance of the perspective. And I will confess, I like all of the images, each interpreting what is seen in a different manner.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

An outside hallway in Nebraska’s State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Enjoying a Day out of Siouxland, Joslyn Museum, Omaha, NE

One of the Joslyn Museum’s docents who keeps a roaming eye on exhibits almost seems like one himself while standing in a doorway at the in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I always enjoy visiting art galleries, museums and other places around Siouxland where the visual arts is on display. Somedays it’s a struggle to leave my camera in the bag as I wonder about looking at various paintings and sculpted pieces, enjoying what’s before my eyes as opposed to making images. The Joslyn Museum is a very pleasant place to visit. Especially on a winter’s day when it’s more inviting to stay indoors.

This particular visit I couldn’t resist the draw to make images. I have visited the museum a number of times and am always inspired by what I see. Works of art dating from the 1600’s with their use of light and shadow to create significant scenes of a time and place that is really no longer in existence. As it once was. And it is through looking at this work that inspires me to create images utilizing light and shadow. Learning to see opportunity, and the museum’s use of lighting to highlight its treasures helps a photographer create his/her own images. This time I strove to do more than what I was seeing, but look a bit further.

A reflection of a sculpted piece of art on marble at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

A closer view of a fountain in the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Looking for details and the seen but not seen images that surrounds one. It’s tough because my eyes kept drifting back to the magnificent images hanging on the walls.

One of the Joslyn Museum’s docents who keeps a roaming eye on exhibits almost seems like one himself as he walks through the exhibit areas in the museum in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And what a better way to spend a day than immersing oneself in art and all that it has to offer as well as staying out of the cold and snow. As spring gets closer, and hopefully warmer weather with it, I will be spending more time outside driving about Siouxland and exploring other areas I have not been to before. But I will always make time to go to a museum simply it’s always time well spent.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A sculpted stag on display shot with an arrow by another sculpted piece not seen but across the room looks ready to jump away at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Wistful Christmas Memories in Siouxland, Durham Museum, Omaha

Celebrating Christmas in a big way at the Durham Museum, formerly a Union Station, in Omaha, NE Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Although spring will officially start soon here in Siouxland, winter still has its grip on the region with air temperatures hovering just above zero and for a few days below zero without any windchill. Which makes me a little wistful for the Christmas holiday season because it was relatively “warm”, all things considered at the moment. It’s hard when cabin fever sets in and one wants to get out and photograph, but that darn cold air somewhat takes the fun out of it.

When visiting the Durham Museum this past December there was a magnificent Christmas tree on display. And looking at a photograph doesn’t quite give it justice, unless of course there are people seen in the photo.

Perspective sometimes gives one pause, like seeing a giant Christmas Tree at the Durham Museum, formerly a Union Station, in Omaha, NE Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I enjoy the re-enacted scenes in bronze that grace various areas around the what was the grand hall or waiting room at the former Union Station in Omaha, NE. And enjoy it even more when serendipity allows one to capture life imitating art imitating life. Sometimes it’s just good to be lucky.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Feeling at home with a display at the Durham Museum, formerly a Union Station, in Omaha, NE Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Enjoying Architectural Beauty around Siouxland, Lincoln, NE

Traveling outside of Siouxland and visiting the state capitol of Nebraska in Lincoln recently was a real treat. The architecture is striking and sometimes it’s a challenge to observe and appreciate so much grandeur in one visit. I have only been to this community a couple of times but already would like to return and explore it some more. And capitol cities have a lot of amenities that other communities do not simply by virtue of being the capitol. And I am certain the community will look different in the spring, summer and fall.

Nebraska’s State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Plenty of outdoor seating available on the walkway up to Nebraska’s State Capitol this time of year in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The legislature in Nebraska is a unicameral. A one body organization that is basically a part-time gig for those representing others in their respective districts. And it is the only one in the United States. Evidently it was a popular governmental system, and although studied, was never implemented as a legislative body for another state.

The West Chamber renamed the Warner Legislative Chamber at Nebraska’s State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

The Unicameral chamber in Nebraska’s State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Like all state and federal government buildings of note, the entrance inside is beautifully done. Although costs today might prohibit such an undertaking. It is nice that local and visiting persons can wander about and enjoy the architectural design and learn more about history of the area which is depicted through a number of murals displayed on the walls. The building also contains hallways also befitting such a structure where one can only guess that some state business in conducted out of sight before retiring to the chamber for the formal process.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Motifs and symbolic imagery abounds in Nebraska’s State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Symbolic designs and motifs on the floor of Nebraska’s State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Even during a legislative break there are folk walking the hallways of power at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, NE Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

History Around Siouxland, Nebraska History Museum, Lincoln, NE

The Nebraska History Museum sits a few blocks outside of the the Haymarket District in Lincoln, NE Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I find it nice that most communities around Siouxland have at least one or more museums that help visitors understand something about that particular area’s past. In Lincoln, NE, the state’s capitol, there are a few, and the state’s History Museum is a nice amalgamation of many pieces that creates a whole and tidbits of the state’s past.

The Nebraska History Museum houses a wide variety of historical exhibits, Lincoln, NE Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

The Nebraska History Museum houses a wide variety of historical exhibits, Lincoln, NE Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

The Nebraska History Museum houses a wide variety of historical exhibits, Lincoln, NE Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A look at small areas of history that combined, tell a story of a state that covers a large area and diverse in its land mass. Mostly prairie with some land not suitable for farming in the western portion of the state but important in the development of the nation. And it’s in the telling of many “small” stories that helps paint the picture of the development of this area.

The Nebraska History Museum houses a wide variety of historical exhibits, Lincoln, NE Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

As it’s been stated, one never knows where you are going if you don’t know where you have come from. While it’s true of all states and the changes that have occurred over a couple centuries, the Nebraska History Museum is helping to tell the story of its past to better inform its future.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

The Nebraska History Museum houses a wide variety of exhibits such as the Federal Emergency Relief Action which later became Works Progress Administration both of which put millions of people to work during the Depression Era, Lincoln, NE Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)