Making Choices for Placement when Photographing in Siouxland, Sioux City

One of the toughest things to decide sometimes when I am photographing in Siouxland and elsewhere is how I want to frame up a subject and where I want to place that subject within the frame. Placing a subject within the frame of a photograph can evoke different emotions or feelings about that photo, even if it’s a simple outdoors image. Does a viewer believe they are right there with the photographer viewing the subject, or at a distance, purveying a scene from afar.

Perspective has a lot to do with presenting viewers images and the subjects contained within. And what is it the photographer wants the viewer to see, or experience with the image, if anything.  It’s all very subjective. But the photographer needs to show a person seeing an image what it is he/she sees, because it is their vision or perspective or object they want to share. And photography is all about visuals and sharing them with others.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A foggy day near the Missouri River Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

A foggy day near the Missouri River Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Spring Temps bring Fog in Siouxland, Sioux City

Fog along the Missouri River Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Recently Mother Nature has been giving Siouxland residents a roller coaster ride with temperatures going from extreme cold, to warm and extreme cold again. But visually it’s a break during the winter months, as well as a nice break to get outdoors without wearing 10 layers for warmth. I attended a presentation about wildlife photography recently and spent a few moments on the walking path nearby and enjoying the warmer temps and the fog created as it rose off the Missouri River. Not one anymore for being out in extreme cold, it was nice to spend a few minutes enjoying some fresh air and creating some images that don’t always occur. But Mother Nature has more in store yet this winter, and sometimes one needs to be patient to enjoy it.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A foggy day along the Missouri River Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Fog obscures the Missouri River Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Seeing what’s new in Siouxland, Maritime Museum at Arnolds Park

Sometimes on a limited time schedule, even a self-imposed one, I like to revisit places in Siouxland, such as the Maritime Museum in Arnolds Park. It has a rich history of the lake region with lots of memorabilia.

Previous photos and advertisement of the Queen cruise ship at the Maritime Museum in Arnolds Park, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And with some new exhibits underway in the area I got to see a couple new things happening. BREAKING NEWS!!! that online and local media would be flashing across their screens. This not so much. It was fun to see one new item as work was underway and that was a honeymoon tent a couple used in the 1930’s or ’40’s after getting married. It probably made a very memorable experience and bonded the newly-weds even more. If you enjoy the outdoors what is a better way to begin a new life?

Some new items are being added to the Maritime Museum such as a honeymoon tent actually used by a couple in Arnolds Park, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Also underway next door to the museum and seen through a window but a wholly different exhibit depicts some of the history of the Arnolds Park Amusement Park which celebrated 125th anniversary a couple of years ago.

A facility next door to the Maritime Museum will house historical memorabilia like a slide and another item from a former Fun House from the Arnolds Park Amusement Park in Arnolds Park, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And sometimes just looking around one gets lucky and can play a bit with available light to create something seen in one’s mind and then shared with others. Light is a beautiful thing and can make an image all the more interesting.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A shaft of light peers into the Maritime Museum in Arnolds Park, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Creating a Theme in Siouxland, Iowa Lakeside Labs

Sometimes when out photographing in Siouxland I will revisit a subject or see a new one and work to create a different image or selection of images. There are those days when the light helps you and others when you wished it helped you a little more. So it was visiting the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa, along East Lake Okoboji. At least I think it is the East Lake. After a couple of years of visiting I am still not certain. This time I concentrated on the stone of the buildings along with nature in its proximity. Winter season was still “in bloom” in the area there with the lakes completely frozen over with only water showing near the shoreline.

A research building at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The sky and sunshine was a bit muted with the light diffused and so looked at angles and patterns.

One of the research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

These buildings were constructed in the early 1900’s and has been a constant field study laboratory site and so many trees have sprung up around the buildings. I wonder if planted to partially shade them to help cool them in the summer, and partly by nature’s design rather than man’s.

A detail look at one of the research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

A detail of nne of the research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I always find it a good exercise to try and see new in the places I have been. Challenging myself after a few visits when the time of year is full of browns and not spring’s new growth and greenery that helps spruce up a place as the life cycle continues.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Winter Clinging on in Siouxland, Arnolds Park

Driving to the northern area of Siouxland and visiting Arnolds Park and West Lake Okoboji I thought it was going to be a pleasant day out with sunshine and warmer temps. But somehow those weather forecasters didn’t cast very far. Most times when I check the weather there, I found it is about 10 degrees cooler or warmer, depending on the time of year. I was really surprised to see the lake still iced over and no clear water in sight except near the shoreline.

The lakes are still frozen over around Arnolds Park, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Queen II, an excursion boat that takes visitors around the lake area was pretty well socked in. I was curious if the water always stayed clear like this or if someone makes the effort to keep the water from freezing right up the hull of the boat, which could probably cause problems during freeze and thaw situations. And it looks like it will be a while before the Queen will be making any excursions in the near future.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

The Queen II docked and surrounded by ice in East Lake in Arnolds Park Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Exploring Images in Siouxland

Slowly the weather is cooperating and letting people get about again, although it seems the cold weather in Siouxland just won’t finish. But occasionally the sun peeps out from behind clouds to remind us that spring is coming, albeit, very slowly. Recently on some outings I was looking for images and exploring what I liked about these. And again it was the light play and shadows.

Shadow play in Arnolds Park Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And while in some photos I shot fairly tight, others I chose a more loose image including more information within the frame, hinting at something beyond within the context of where and what I was photographing. In some communities there are homeless living and as warmer weather and sunshine returns it makes it easier for them to find a place to hang out. I haven’t visited Council Bluffs all that much but would guess there are some points in the downtown area where people congregate more than others.

Park benches for pedestrians and others in the historic downtown of Council Bluffs, Iowa Monday March 12, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And sometimes it is simply the play of light and shadow together creating an image or form and I found it visually amusing to include the straight line while the shadow bent to conform to the object it was seen on.

Shadow play in Modale, Iowa Monday March 12, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I am hoping for more opportunity to find this kind of interplay but the forecast for the foreseeable is more clouds, snow, rain, snow and clouds. Ah spring, when are you going to get sprung?

 

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

 

A wet Tulip Festival Celebration, Orange City

Of the number of years I have now lived in the Siouxland area I can not recall a more rainy day for the Tulip Festival in Orange City. Although I am certain others will easily recall that. One gentleman I talked with this year while attending the festival told me he remembers as a child playing an instrument in the marching band wearing his wooden shoes and trudging through a late snow. Mother Nature can be a bit capricious sometimes.

This time it drizzled and rained almost all of the time. Not heavy, but steady. And with expected storms to roll into the area in the late afternoon and evening, the normally two parade times were combined into one. I stayed around for most of it, but not all. Having never been to the parade in rainy weather I was a bit gamed to see what images I could come away with. The majority of them contained umbrellas. The darker than normal overcast skies helped create a mood but visitors seemed undaunted by the weather.

Sometimes people’s true feelings can show as this couple always enjoyed the festival but not the weather during the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The use of so many umbrellas gave me some natural framing devices, as well as the “shade” of the trees focusing a viewer’s eyes on what I want them to see in my images.

Umbrellas could be found everywhere during a wet Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Lastly, I enjoyed being able to some extent single out some of the young dancers of which the girls seemed thrilled to perform and the boys reluctant participants. But the food I had tasted the same, and with so many umbrellas people offered a space while I shot in different locations.A sunny day would not have given me the same results and I didn’t mind a little drizzle and certainly didn’t mind the cooler weather.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A World Journalism Institute student photographs participants at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Try as hard as they like, sometimes the young girls seem to enjoy dressing up and dancing in the streets than the young boys during the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Try as hard as they like, sometimes the young girls seem to enjoy dressing up and dancing in the streets than the young boys during the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A woman keeps dry under her umbrellas as two young boys trail her oblivious to the rain during the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Young street cleaners haul up water from tanks during the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Some participants appear ready to call it a day at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

World Journalism Institute students chat with one another after shooting photographs of participants at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Everyone brought an umbrella to a wet Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Some parade watches seek shelter under umbrellas and trees during a wet Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Umbrellas lined the street to watch the parade during a wet Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Saturday, May 20, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)