Polarization in Siouxland, Sioux City

Clouds create a backdrop of city hall in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Thursday April 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I believe there has always been a debate between various factions of photographers, some in Siouxland as well, about whether one should use a polarizing filter on lenses when taking photos. I myself waffle back and forth. Those times I use it, I like the extreme saturation, and almost too dark images that are created. Other times I might go months without using it. And sometimes I don’t even think about it.

A sculpted art piece near the Art Center in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Thursday April 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A sculpted art piece near the Art Center in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Thursday April 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A sculpted art piece near the Art Center in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Thursday April 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Even when taking photographs in black and white a polarizing filter can add more contrast by affecting the light as it strikes the camera’s sensor. I have used one previously when shooting film, both for color and black and white. The above photos give a bit of an idea of its affect. The filter can give a scene an unreal look, but can also create more appeal especially when photographing fall foliage against a bright blue sky. The light quality in the fall is different, not quite so harsh, but a softer light as the earth does its rotation around the sun.

Love the filter or hate the filter, it’s just another tool that can add something to a photograph when the conditions are right and one wants to punch up the scene.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Clouds create a backdrop in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Thursday April 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Clouds create a backdrop in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Thursday April 20, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Choosing an Image in Siouxland, Omaha, NE

When out photographing in and around Siouxland I am conscious most times of making images I think will work best for the subject. And more often I photograph in color.

The students I teach photograph in color and it’s how they see. But I do make them think about taking photos in B&W and choosing what works well for the subject and image they want. And sometimes choosing becomes a no-brainer. Some images just stand out in one medium, and then get lost in the translation when choosing another.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A train bell on display at the Durham Museum in Omaha, NE Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A train bell on display at the Durham Museum in Omaha, NE Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Fall Slowly Makes it Way to Siouxland, Oak Grove Park, Hawarden

Even though officially by calendar that fall has arrived here in Siouxland and elsewhere, the colors of the season are slow in coming. Partially due to drought conditions with a lack of rain and a weird climate episode going on with a lot of smoke reaching the area from the western wildfires that are engulfing millions of acres of forest.

Colors are slowly appearing at Oak Grove Park in Sioux County near Hawarden, Iowa Friday, Sept. 25, 2020 (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A recent trip to a park north had some nice colors developing on the trees, but the smoky, hazy atmosphere somewhat downplayed that “fall look” which a blue sky might have enhanced. Like many folk, I enjoy fall for the cooler temps and seasonal color and other aspects of this time of year.

Colors are slowly appearing at Oak Grove Park in Sioux County near Hawarden, Iowa Friday, Sept. 25, 2020 (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Knowing full well what comes next which will be pleasant for a while, but not if winter drags on with temperatures constantly below 5 and 10 degrees with wind chills that makes it feel more like -0. No matter how much one enjoys getting out of doors, those days make me more likely to brew more coffee, grab a book and stay toasty as I count the days.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Colors are slowly appearing at Oak Grove Park in Sioux County near Hawarden, Iowa Friday, Sept. 25, 2020 (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Enjoying Nature in Siouxland, Color and B&W, Adams Homestead

Meadow area at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Wednesday, June 3, 2020 in North Sioux City, South Dakota. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

When I visit a place often in Siouxland, like the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, I wonder to myself how I can change up how I see which invariably are the same scenes, again and again. I like visiting the homestead, it’s just a nice place to take a walk. And depending on the time of year and the weather, the scenes never really look the same. Although others might argue differently.

Spring at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Monday, May 18, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Choosing to photograph one time in color, and another time in black and white helps me keep a fresh perspective as I take a walk. And then hope the weather cooperates in giving me a little something extra.

Spring at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Monday, May 18, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

It is always about the journey and not the destination, but that said, ending up with varying results from a walk about is nice as well. I might not hang all of these images on a wall, but it gives me pause as I wonder what next time I might try to create another image.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A summer’s day at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Wednesday, June 3, 2020 in North Sioux City, South Dakota. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Just looking in Siouxland, Sioux City

Light and shadows during a walk in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Thursday, March 12, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes simple is better. While out and about in Siouxland the obvious is almost always overlooked. Angles, shapes, light, dark, contrasts and colors. Can they all get along within a frame?

 

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Finding the Time and Place in Siouxland, Sioux City

The setting sun creates a colorful sky seen in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. 9photo by jerry L Mennenga©)

A recent two-day warm up has put a smile on a lot of folks’ faces in Siouxland recently. Inches thick ice on sidewalks and driveways has melted away and even blue sky and sweater apparel made an appearance. But some times those nice days don’t coincide with other work projects and while looking out a window towards evening the beginning of a beautiful sunset was in play. Knowing there would be no time to “get anywhere” with a nice view and interesting foreground elements, I walked into an alley near my home and made a few images. Sometimes it’s hard to just take a photograph when you know that a different place could make it a very splendid photograph. But life doesn’t always work that way, so I settled for enjoying a sunset, and wishing for more warm days to come and blue sky and some color to celebrate.

And then I realize that the month of February has not yet really begun and will try to curb my enthusiasm as I am certain more winter weather will this the area. At least the little rodent, Punxsutawney Phil did not see a shadow which predicts an early spring. One can only hope.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

The setting sun creates a colorful sky seen in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. 9photo by jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Enjoying a Little Color on a Drab Day in Siouxland, Storm Lake

Colorful chairs decorate and provide seating at a local ice cream shop in Storm Lake, Iowa Saturday Aug. 17, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes some images just beckon a person. And one never really knows until it’s seen, and driving around Siouxland I get that chance to encounter if somewhat ordinary but in the right frame of mind (pun intended) that ordinary can become something more.

Tiring of the Wood, Wine and Blues Fest in Storm Lake, Iowa Saturday Aug. 17, 2019, a couple large checker boards await patrons willing to give it a try. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Like bees or butterflies being drawn toward something because of its color I at least feel the need to check out a subject and see if it’s something I want to photograph. Maybe whimsical or not, the contrast of the object’s color stands in contrast to its surroundings and the rest is up to the viewer.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Outside the local historical museum a piece of art shows the simple like one or two centuries ago via a child’s tree limb swing of rope and a piece of rope, seen in Storm Lake, Iowa Saturday Aug. 17, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Color catches the eye of a passerby of this flea market shop in Storm Lake, Iowa Saturday Aug. 17, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Summertime in Siouxland, Le Mars

Sunshine peeking in and out of clouds help certain vehicles stand out during a car show in Le Mars, Iowa Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Crowds of people gathered at whatever spaces could be found between cars to chat at a car show in Le Mars, Iowa Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

It’s a safe bet that it’s summer when one can attend a few different car meet-ups. Only in decent weather will some car enthusiasts bring their beauties out into view and amazingly the crowds just appear.

Recently in Le Mars a pre-cursor event to the Ice Cream Days festival where a car club had a meet-up and interested parties could show off their pride and joys. And the public and visitors were not disappointed.

The cherry red color appears to draw visitors for a second look at a fixed up truck at a car show in Le Mars, Iowa Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Classic muscle cars and hopped up roadsters to gleaming trucks and other fare. At times it was difficult to squeeze through the the parked cars. I always worry about accidentally scratching one while passing it carrying a camera bag. Weird things happen sometimes especially when there are crowds of people. But it was a nice walk-about to see these gleaming beauties.

Can’t get started too young to appreciate a vintage car at a car show in Le Mars, Iowa Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And sometimes it’s in the details where little surprises happen. Who would guess 8-track was still around. And then one brave soul called it as he/she saw it about their own vehicle, probably in a category of its own.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Nostalgia reigns at a car show in Le Mars, Iowa Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

In case someone missed it, the owner’s own idea about what division his/her truck should be classified as at a car show in Le Mars, Iowa Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Finding Subjects in Siouxland, Beresford, SD

Shapes and color during an outing of the Lifelong Learning Photo Safari class in Beresford, SD Saturday, April 27, 2019. (Jerry L Mennenga©)

When teaching the Lifelong Learning photography classes I have at a local community college in Siouxland I encourage those attending to look and see and photograph what captures their interest and imagination. Everyone sees differently and that is a good thing. But I also encourage people to look at and photograph objects or places and scenes that may not always appeal to them, simply because they may surprise themselves.

During a recent class outing visiting Beresford, SD, the class and I walked about the small community’s downtown area. It had its classic early 19th century buildings and other interesting architecture. But after circling the area a couple of times and having previously visited it last fall, I came upon a wall this time that struck me because of the color involved and its relative starkness. On my first visit it was just an alley. But after the winter and before spring has begun in earnest its renewal, the starkness and color along with the benches created a scene I don’t remember seeing. Many times one just needs patience and a willingness to look at scenes a second time. And it could be a pleasant surprise.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Seeing Color in Siouxland, Arnolds Park

Some days during the summer it can be just a nice day to be out and seeing nature. On a recent visit to Arnolds Park I tried not to take in a broad view of places I have seen a few previous times, but looked for something photographically that appealed to me yet was something I had not really pursued. It seems easy to get caught in the same wagon train rut and ride along just trying to photograph something familiar but differently. And sometimes when relaxing and not really thinking about what it is exactly that you want to do differently, ideas appear. And the days seems all the brighter for it.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Looking for color in Arnolds Park, Iowa Tuesday, July 17, 2018. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Looking for color in Arnolds Park, Iowa Tuesday, July 17, 2018. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)