Black and White Architecture in Siouxland, Sioux City

Late afternoon sunlight in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Monday, Feb. 25, Sioux City Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

On a recent outing in Siouxland the daylight hours ended with some strong sunlight after a very drab, grey and overcast start to the day. When shooting in black and white I am reminded of turn of the century photographs taken by various photographers, using light and shade to create images. Normally large cities produce better images of this type simply because of the buildings there. Even better when the buildings themselves have survived from early 20th century.

Late afternoon sunlight in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Monday, Feb. 25, Sioux City Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Late afternoon sunlight in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Monday, Feb. 25, Sioux City Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Many of the smaller communities I have visited in the past in and around Siouxland have some older buildings, since the state of Iowa became one in the mid 1800’s. Earlier communities all had some kind of structure that served as a courthouse, hotel, bank or maybe some kind of industrial facility. Now, many of these former buildings are seeing life as law firms (people with money to refurbish them), apartments or other non industrial kinds of businesses.

Photographing older brick buildings in black and white still gives them an austere look and demeanor that color can not achieve. The tonality created has a certain look that red brick or other kind of faded exterior color shade just doesn’t work. But used judiciously black and white achieves a desired affect that I think is timeless and and harkens back to an earlier time period.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Late afternoon sunlight in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Monday, Feb. 25, Sioux City Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Growing Tree Shadows in Siouxland, Sioux City

A tree shadow grows out of a brick wall in late afternoon sunlight in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Monday, Feb. 25, Sioux City Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes a person is limited only by their narrow imagination. And not from lack of such. I find exploring Siouxland on foot provides more opportunities in seeing. Although when driving back roads I do prefer four tires as it allows one to travel farther without becoming too tired. I have passed by many shadows as I walk about and may not always “see” the forest but for the trees. But not this time.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Light and Shade (Shadow) in Siouxland, Sioux City

Late afternoon sunlight creates shadow designs in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Monday, Feb. 25, Sioux City Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Winter maybe ending in Siouxland sometime this year, maybe in May, I sometimes find it hard to get motivated to get and photograph. And as much as I like photographing critters, there are times I want to pursue other interests. Finding opportunities of creating light and shadow photographs is a sometimes hit and miss adventure. It seems larger and somewhat older cities gives a person more chances of pursuing such interests.

Taller buildings, more of them, the light and shadow opportunities seem abundant. In smaller cities or towns with buildings spread out or nonexistent creates the challenge.

Late afternoon sunlight creates shadow designs in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Monday, Feb. 25, Sioux City Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

So a person needs to explore a bit and see what can be found. The day started out wet, overcast and a bit gloomy. Had it continued that way I had hoped to shoot early evening with reflected light in pools of water creating a smorgasbord of color. But it didn’t The sun appeared, streets dried up or hadn’t been sufficiently wet to begin with and it was necessary to take a different tack.

Sometimes objectives are not always possible to follow through on and a person must be open to seeing what is possible. So the “photo safari” wasn’t a total wash and even provided one opportunity for reflection, but that didn’t materialize either as as originally thought might happen. As the farmers used to say, and maybe some still do, “Make hay while the sun shines.”

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A building reflects in a puddle from late afternoon sunlight in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Monday, Feb. 25, Sioux City Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Too early for spring flowers for a waiting container seen late afternoon in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Monday, Feb. 25, Sioux City Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Day’s Not Done in Siouxland, Sioux City

Work continues late afternoon as a deliveryman trucks off some supplies for a local business late in the day in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Monday, Feb. 25, Sioux City Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Somedays the work isn’t done in Siouxland until it’s done. When I previously worked for various publications I never worked a constant or particular shift, but worked when it was needed. The hours might change week to week or month to month. That kind of change never bothered me as different types of photography assignments would happen during different times of the day or month or year. So it kept life interesting and one learned to just get the work done. I never had any regrets for the photography work I did for the publications as it was an opportunity to see life that some folk never saw up close and personal. It was not always glamorous and sometimes down right ugly depending on what one might be photographing. But it was never mundane.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Light and Shade in Siouxland, Laurtizen Gardens, Omaha, NE

Light and shadows at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday, March 8, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

When visiting places while out and about in Siouxland or nearby locales, I try to stay conscious of imagery and look for those scenes that I think might look sweet in black and white as well as in color. Although maybe not the same scene. And not matter where I might venture, there is always an opportunity awaiting if one stays aware or open to seeing such.

Light and shadows at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday, March 8, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Light and shadows at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday, March 8, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Windows always provide the best opportunities on sunny days. I really prefer clean and little cluttered scenes, but sometimes one doesn’t have a choice. Then you must be choosey and see if something you see in color will translate well enough into black and white. Mysterious is also good. But everyone has their own way seeing.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Light and shadows at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE Monday, March 8, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)