An outing of out Siouxland, Henry Doorley Zoo Omaha, NE

A recent outing for a Summer Photo Safari class I teach through Western Iowa Tech’s Lifelong Learning program took us to the Henry Doorley Zoo in Omaha, NE. It also happened to be the opening day for the NCAA College World Series held in Omaha and one of the hotter days at that point in summer that it was an interesting day of shooting.

People enjoy zoos. As hard as it is sometimes to see the animals caged and pacing or simply ignoring the humans staring at them, people are still drawn to go and see the animals that only see in pictures in a book or magazine.

A young girl poses for a picture inside a viewing area as a Lowland Gorilla sits outside in the shade during a hot day at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, NE Saturday June 16, 2018. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And sometimes people receive lasting impressions as they are able to interact with some of the animals and it makes an impact.

A visitor gets a personal experience as she feeds a giraffe at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, NE Saturday June 16, 2018. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Children the antics of one of the Lowland gorillas at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, NE Saturday June 16, 2018. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

But the heat that day definitely made an impression and people took advantage of mist stations along the way to stay cool and have some fun at the same time.

A family cools off under a misting station on a hot and humid day at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, NE Saturday June 16, 2018. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

By and far though I found the best way of staying cool was to visit the indoor exhibits which were as fascinating as the outdoor ones.

A visitor takes photos of fish swimming overhead in the Aquarium at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, NE Saturday June 16, 2018. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

But I think it’s not only the guests visiting the zoo that enjoy it as do the individuals who work with the animals and care for them and bond with them on a daily basis much like many of us do with our own pets. Sometimes visiting and seeing something exotic doesn’t necessarily have to take one to the other side of the world, but it is a nice first step in that direction.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A parrot gets cozy with its trainer at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, NE Saturday June 16, 2018. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Framing a view in Siouxland, Grand Meadow Heritage and Storm Lake

Sometimes trying to capture images in Siouxland I struggle to see what is before me and really strive to make an image that reflects what I see. Some images jump out at you and others you have to work a bit. When it comes to framing, does one need to be literal all the time and really “frame” your subject matter, or can one be a little less rigid in how the framing is done and does it still work. Some images work regardless of the artifice used in making them stand out on their own. Others not so much. But the more one attempts I believe the better one begins to see the possibilities.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Photo Safari class at the Grand Meadow Heritage Center near Washta, Iowa Saturday Oct. 21, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

A short walk on a short pier into the lake at Storm Lake, Iowa Wednesday Sept. 6, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Exploring Siouxland not for the Faint of Heart, Smithland

When I find places I like to use for my Lifelong Learning Photo Safari class I teach at Western Iowa Tech I like to explore the places in Siouxland prior to bringing students there. And exploring places to photograph to me is have the fun. I generally try to find places that as a class we can walk around and explore for a couple hours. On a last outing recently in Vermillion, SD, one of my students mentioned that we had walked quite a bit this particular day. I did say that the class description does mention having comfortable shoes to wear in signing up for the class. He laughed.

When photographing and getting to know a place I find it difficult to see things if I am just driving about. Now I do that when cruising back roads in the country, but in a lot of small communities I find a place to walk and then explore. I don’t exercise as much as I used to when my knees were a little better, but walking out, unless it’s a tornado or blizzard, is doable in any type of weather. And again, what’s a better way to spend a day.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Spring Photo Safari class members on the hunt for images in Smithland, Iowa Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A marble memorial built by a local doctor in the late 1800’s in the Little Sioux Cemetery outside Smithland, Iowa Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

This grave marker is for a person who died in February of 1877 at the Little Sioux Cemetery outside of Smithland, Iowa Saturday, April 29, 2017. It’s hard to imagine what the surrounding hillsides looked like then. If the area was still prairie or woodland and how many residents lived in Smithland at the time of its founding by O.B. Smith in the early 1850’s. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Spring Photo Safari class members climbing steps at the Folwer Preserve near Smithland, Iowa Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Walking around looking for photographs on a Photo Safari outing in Vermillion, SD Saturday, May 13, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Walking around the campus of the University of South Dakota on a recent Photo Safari outing in Vermillion, SD Saturday, May 13, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Weighing Options in Siouxland, Woodbury County

I try to impress on those folk taking my photo classes through Western Iowa Tech Community College that when taking photographs it’s always a decision. A decision of what to leave in the photo and what to exclude. Painters start with a blank canvas as many others have stated, and add to the canvas what they want the viewer to see. Photographers start with a frame and need to exclude information to compose a better photograph to help inform the viewer what exactly it is they as the photographer want the viewer to see. An oft bantered phrase, “Less is More” is at times appropriate. Don’t include too much information in your photo if you want a viewer to see details.

On a drive back home from an outing with a class I came across this barn in Siouxland in rural Woodbury County. I just liked its appearance. But then I thought maybe I should isolate some various aspects of the bar to force the viewer to see what I was looking at that day. A viewer may or may not agree with me about what and how I photographed something, but c’est la vie.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Hints of color on a barn off of County Road D-54 near Danbury, Iowa Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The door of a barn off of County Road D-54 near Danbury, Iowa Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The door of a barn off of County Road D-54 near Danbury, Iowa Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Finding Gold in Siouxland, Le Mars

I always like little finds that are just pleasant. Places that I visit time and again can pleasantly surprise you with a “new addition” that wasn’t previously there. I have walked around Le Mars, Iowa alley ways and downtown area numerous times. And yet I can still be surprised, such as finding a yellow door accompanied by a blue wall. I was with a class and when we came upon this everyone took a collective breath. It isn’t ideal with a cable and another electrical pipe running across the wall, but still, it did “brighten” our day, pun intended.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A colorful entryway in an alley in Le Mars, Iowa Saturday Oct. 22, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Christmas celebration in Siouxland, Adams Homestead

The annual Christmas celebrations for various communities and places are kicking in and it’s difficult to get to them all, or then one hears about one you hope to get to next year. Late November the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve celebrated its annual Christmas event. The ground’s buildings are open and decorated. In the church people are caroling, and children can create decorations to take home and hang on their tree in the schoolhouse on the grounds. I took my Lifelong Learning Photo Safari class from the local community college there for an outing. Knowing there was something for every photographer in the group. Buildings, nature, people, artifacts. Something that might appeal to some aspect of what they like to photograph. Even though I try to encourage them to broaden their experience and sometimes pushing them to go outside their comfort zone for the experience. One never knows what might light a fire of interest if there is no exploration.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Homestead House is decorated for Christmas at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Homestead House is decorated for Christmas at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Homestead House is decorated for Christmas at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota, Saturday, November 14, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Seeing in Siouxland, Sioux City

I teach a few photo courses through the Lifelong Learning program at the local community college in Sioux City. A couple of the classes I teach takes us out of the classroom and into the environment as I challenge the students to learn to see and possibly see differently while still being able to technically create the photograph they see with their camera. In the fall one of these expeditions occurs at night. Which is much different than shooting during daylight hours. One must be aware of kit lens’ limitations, especially variable zooms, the use of higher ISO’s and then making sure when shooting that the shutter speed doesn’t drop too much thus creating blurry photos from movement, unless one plans to do that. I also encourage them to try seeing and shooting in B&W. At night, depending on what one shoots and where, the grayscale tonality can give a photo a totally different feeling.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Photo Safari class in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, October 31, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, October 31, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, October 31, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, October 31, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, October 31, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, October 31, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, October 31, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Photo Safari class in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, October 31, 2015. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)