If one grew up in a family and was not an only child, there were those days when siblings were expected to share. And sometimes I am guessing the same is true in the animal kingdom, even in Siouxland. This past February on a cold day I hiked into an area along the Big Sioux River near Stone State Park. Eagles were congregating there and hanging out until it was time to move along.
And on one particular day, it seemed two related juvenile bald eagles liked sitting on the same branch and in the same place.
Human siblings will exhibit the same behavior, each wanting to occupy space that another might already occupy, or want depending on the circumstances. I find the behavior fascinating while also chilly waiting to see how everything played out. And remember thinking one of them flew to another branch probably only to continue the battle of wills another time and another day.
Often when I am photographing birds and other critters in Siouxland, I strive to get tight shots when permissible. For one thing, with small birds, they tend to get lost in the foliage of nearby bushes or tree limbs. And when taking their images I think about the movie quote from the Billy Wilder film “Sunset Boulevard” that has most likely bantered about for ages since its original usage.
As noted on the website “shmoop” dot com:
” This misquoted line is spoken by Norma Desmond, played by Gloria Swanson, in the film Sunset Boulevard, directed by Billy Wilder (1950).
At the end of Sunset Boulevard, delusional crackpot (i.e., actress) Norma Desmond stalks toward a camera, thinking it’s a movie camera, saying, “All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.” In reality, it’s a news camera and everyone is there because she’s about to be arrested for murder. What a misunderstanding.
Many people misquote the line as “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.” It’s a minor mistake that doesn’t change the meaning of the quote. But hey, that’s what we do. We take a close-up look at quotes and find all the flaws. Check yourself before you misquote yourself. “
But in a way, it is true. There are good angles from which to take a person’s or object’s photograph or portrait, and then there is probably a better angle.
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.
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.
Only after photographing animals outdoors in nature do I sometimes realize symmetry of some of the photographs. In some cases nature happens in twos. I am assuming the pairing of birds is one or the other mate staying nearby while they are out feeding either looking for something or at a backyard feeder.
Currently reading a book titled “Slow Birding”, one of the book’s chapters deals with House Wrens and whether or not mates are faithful and how this affects reproduction and the gene pool of the species. And it is amazing to see at what length researchers go to achieve a result without a pre-determined outcome on their part.
And it makes sense that humans reflect nature and visa versa from some sort of instinctive intuition for self-preservation, although I often have my doubts about humans because of the terrible things some individuals do to others. But that is a choice, a poor choice by most standards, but a choice nonetheless.
So time spent observing and appreciating nature is more enjoyable that reading about the cruelty the human race just can’t seem to get beyond.
Sometimes it is possible to find species sharing a little space without much fuss. At least in the animal kingdom. Over winter I went to Stone State Park and spent some time along the Big Sioux River which runs just on the outskirts of the park. And it was amazing to find various creatures within “spitting” distance of one another, minding their own business and focused on whatever task was at hand.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised anymore in finding new places to explore that are relatively close by in Siouxland. Reading some information posted by an avid birder I know a mention of a Sioux City Prairie was made and I didn’t realize it was located on the outskirts of Sioux City. Part of the Nature Conservancy, it is a prairie area that I look forward to revisiting come spring and fall. Currently it is in the brown season like most other places around Siouxland. No more white and still too cold for the green to begin showing.
It will be a nice walk about when the weather is warmer and the vegetation makes its reappearance. There really aren’t that many trails it appears to walk, but the view from the hilltop is nice and a grove of trees and some bushes might present the chance for finding various birds loitering about. I did find an empty nest and a red tailed hawk flying around the day I checked out the preserve and so am hopeful I will get lucky again as spring returns to Siouxland and other parts with a different looking landscape to photograph.
Sometimes when I am out photographing in various places around Siouxland, I look for images but its no real purpose or expectations of what I might find that will interest me. I do like going out and seeing what is there. In an urban setting my mindset will be focused a bit more on architectural elements as they happen more in a city than the rural countryside which I also like to peruse.
Other than the idea of light and shade, and photographing in black and white, the images I take may not be connected, thematically or otherwise. It’s kind of the joy of seeing and appreciating what is there and being able to pivot in what is photographed. Earlier on one particular day it was overcast, and foggy. I was hoping that might continue throughout the day and nearer sunset, but it didn’t. So my thoughts of wet reflections with a moody feel didn’t happen. But the strong sunshine and soon to be setting sun created some great shadow opportunities. And it was possible to exploit that in so far as having buildings and other objects help create some visual interest. But again, one man’s/woman’s ceiling is another’s floor.
Nature has a way of seemingly replicating life, even in Siouxland, although that might be a projection of sorts. Recently on an outing this winter I watched as young juvenile American bald eagles jostled with one another to find a perch in a tree top. Sometimes accommodating one another and sometimes not. But in the end they always seemed to make it work.
And there were many treetops to accommodate all of the eagles, juvenile and adult. But it seems everyone vied for the same treetop until they couldn’t. I couldn’t even guess if the drama was play acting or actual as the young ones felt their way in pecking order of the world, testing their own mettle and that of kin or neighbors. I was only glad I could watch and not participate.
Sports fans everywhere, including Siouxland, love to get up close and personal with their favorite players at sporting events if it’s possible. Taking in the sights, the action and enjoying what they are seeing. More enjoyment if the hometown or favorite team wins.
Fans just can’t help themselves. Attending any high school football or basketball game the parents and other fans are cheering their hearts out. Professional sporting events are the same, no matter the level. An indoor arena football team calls Sioux City home and have been playing a number of years. The action is fast and looks brutal at times as the players hit and and get hit by opposing teams and the barriers surrounding the field. Many times winning catches are made as they tumble over the safety wall. Much to the delight of the fans. I wonder when practicing if the offensive players actually practice going “safely” over the barriers. Maybe that it a trade secret. But it happens. And when it does, the cheers become even louder.
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.
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.
I live in the Siouxland area that encompasses a wide swatch of land in northwest Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota. The people that inhabit this area are generous folk and your basic honest, Midwestern people you like to have as neighbors. I explore the area and share observations, mostly photographic, sometimes through video, and and short text. All images and video are copyrighted material of the author.
Jerry Mennenga, Sioux City, Iowa
jerrylmennenga@yahoo.com
lostinsiouxland 