DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
This is the unmistakable deep and cloudless blue of a mid-summer afternoon
in west suburban Chicagoland. Near 90º with somewhat more humidity than
I would prefer. But exactly the kind of day we all long for come mid-February
around here...
Wildflowers of every description and color have come and gone in the
meadows and fields for weeks already, and now the Queen Anne's Lace
begins to dominate the landscape. Intricate. Delicately beautiful. Each one
a masterpiece. Surely, like snowflakes... upon close inspection, no two
can be exactly alike!
Folks... now is the time to get out and savor the summer heat... the color...
the sunshine... the spectacular sunset and twilight skies... because in a
only few short months... this is all just another pleasant memory!
Take your time, summer... there's no rush.
– – – – – – – – – –
Big blue sky... little white flowers... larger and more detailed on white. DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
In my design/photographic journey... I am constantly creating images... and imagery. Two different things.
I love the look of the warm late afternoon sunlight on these tree trunks... the way it absolutely pops the texture of the bark. And the seasonal bare branches against a brilliant blue November sky. But straight out of camera, it didn't feel at all like what I saw in front of me. I suppose that has more to do with my ability to capture 'in-camera' than anything else. But I though there might be something in there... I just had to find it.
So, into Photoshop and all kinds of minor to major pushing and shoving and over-doing and blending modes and a lot of 'what if...' and at the end of that session... I just saved and closed the file. Enough of that. =)
Some days have passed, and I looked at this with fresh eyes... and the first thing I thought was, 'Wow... that feels like late afternoon sun on a crisp late autumn day... screen printed!'
Great photo? Hardly. 'Pure photography'? Of course not. An experiment? Absolutely. Appeals to all? Nothing does. Part of the learning curve? No doubt. Worthwhile? Everything is! Just sayin'...
– – – – – – – – – –
Photo? Art? Whatever it is... it's bigger on black.
Texture by leschick...
www.flickr.com/photos/leschick/2839832650/in/set-72157603... DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
Moving from one home to another is always a curios mix of
saving and tossing and giving away and packing and rethinking
it all over again. We've just moved into a 'new-to-us' townhouse,
and as we unpack, are wondering in some cases...
'Why'd we keep this?' =)
Before we moved, we sold a big, heavy solid maple dining room
table. You know... the kind with the one inch thick natural maple top
and the white legs. It was the look we wanted for a lot of years. But
no more. So... rather than move it... gone! However, two of the older,
more well worn matching chairs did not sell, so we moved them
with us. I should have put them at the curb (along with a LOT of
other stuff) because someone would have stopped by and helped
themselves to them. But I didn't. And now they are here in the new
place... looking very out of place.
However they do work well as a study in line and light... sunshine
and shadow as the late afternoon light comes streaming into the
dining room area! Good thing I brought them along after all, I guess.
Soon however... I suspect they will find another home where they
will serve someone else as well as they have us.
Ahhh... moving stories. =)
– – – – – – – – – –
Warm wood tones... bigger on black.
A little texture by leschick...
www.flickr.com/photos/leschick/2839832650/in/set-72157603... katebARTnik on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
Old train at the Trolley Museum in Elgin, IL DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
A series of ominous storm fronts raced through the Chicago area yesterday afternoon and evening. 60+mph winds, massive, towering thunderheads, all kinds of sickly blue and gray and green tints to the sky! And of course, torrential downpours! You know... the kind of fast moving storm front that causes weather alerts on across the bottom of the TV screen, threatening hail, lightning, wind damage... 'end of the world' type conditions...
And I must say, this time it all lived up to the hype. Massive, boiling cloud bank. Strong, driving winds. Trees uprooted and tree limbs down. Scattered hail. Sideways, stinging rain! And then... blackout.
We were without electricity for maybe 4 hours or so, mostly in between storm fronts. So what to do? Sit outside and take in the sights and sounds and smells of the now past storm, and still very unstable weather by the light of a few candles and a citronella lamp. The calm after the storm. Still. Peaceful. Nice.
– – – – – – – – – –
As big as life... on black. DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
Taken as I was walking yesterday morning along a path in
the Jon Duerr Forest Preserve in South Elgin, IL. The bright
green grove of trees at the far end of the yellow-gold meadow
were a colorful backdrop to the details of this clump of
meadow grass.
Walking purposefully for exercise and meandering while
shooting nature photography are two very worthwhile pursuits.
And even though yesterday I attempted to do some of both...
in my experience, I most often find that one usually suffers
at the expense of the other. So most times when I'm out for
an hour to walk for exercise... I tend to leave the camera
at home. Conversely, when it's photography I'm more
interested in, I'm content to slow down and take it all in.
And as I think about it... each elevates the heart rate nicely,
and keeps it elevated for as long as I'm out there... so that's
a classic 'win-win'... right? =) Yeah... I think so too.
– – – – – – – – – –
Meadow color and detail... larger on black.
Lightly applied texture thanks to leschick...
www.flickr.com/photos/leschick/ DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
The Fox River Trolley Museum (between Route 31 and the
Fox River, in South Elgin, IL)... is many things to many people.
History. Nostalgia. Memories. Relics. Bygone era. Vintage.
Rolling stock that has seen better days. And a ride on an
honest-to-goodness trolley!
I get all that. And I appreciate all that. But also for me... it's a
completely fascinating collection of rust and grit and surface
texture and faded tone and nuts and bolts and shapes and
vintage logos and typography and scratches and dents and
heavy wear and form and function and... oh... everything
a texture guy loves! And the camera loves it too!
Open Saturdays and Sundays... and some holidays.
The rest of the time... it's all mine! =)
– – – – – – – – – –
Trolley grit and grime... larger on black.
Just a wee bit more texture/toning by leschick...
www.flickr.com/photos/leschick/ DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
Madison is a week or so shy of 14 months old. And has already developed a fondness for french fries and ketchup and Dairy Queen... among other less than ideal foods. Is it her grandfather's fault? Who... me? =) Well... not entirely.
This evening Maddie went along with her mom, and her grandmother and I to a local fast food joint... Beef Villa... here in South Elgin, IL. Yes, there were indeed french fries and ketchup at the table. Madison managed to happily snag a few of them. This was taken before she was wearing more ketchup than she was eating.
The evening ended with a trip to Dairy Queen. Shhh... don't tell Madison that DQ is not 'real' ice cream. She doesn't need to know that just yet.
I figure it's all good since her mom was right there and in on all the fun too... right?
– – – – – – – – – –
Little Miss Madison... much cuter when viewed bigger on black! DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
I took a break a little earlier today from deep into my new website design, grabbed the D200 and headed off to the open field at the end of the street. It's another gorgeous, blue-sky spring day here in the Chicago area... one of many like it already this season!
But as striking and deep blue as the sky is... and brilliant green as all the new foliage is... it's this dandelion, enjoying its last useful days in the sun that held my attention. Its seeds were being scattered by a favorable breeze... and the cycle of life continues on.
And the camera records the seasonal drama... =)
– – – – – – – – – –
Dandelion's last gasp... bigger on black. DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
Aphid? Really? Yup. I actually didn't see it until I had it large
up on screen either... my little green friend who is along for the
ride in this image.
Spring came early here in the Chicago area... and I'm thrilled
about that! It's been green and bright and then increasingly
colorful for weeks already, and it's not yet May! Wonderful!
This is one of the trees in the front yard. Since we moved into
this place last October and hadn't experienced spring here
yet, it was a bit of a surprise to me when I saw the pink buds
begin to form a little more than a week ago. What kind of tree
is it? Well... I don't know. Whatever it is... right now, it is
completely lovely!
– – – – – – – – – –
Lovely spring detail... larger on black. DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
My granddaughter Madison in a motion blur is nothing new to my 365. But I came across this image today while looking for something else... and it brought back fond memories of 'my little bumblebee' and her first Halloween.
She wasn't yet walking, and actually preferred scootching and rolling to much crawling. However she decided to get around... it was completely fascinating to watch her as she discovered the world around her. On this day, she was enjoying the feel of the carpet at the doorway of my office, and wondering what that big hard white thing was that she kept bumping into... =)
Much has changed with Madison over the last (almost 6) months, but exactly like she was on this Halloween day... she still never slows down, and is still captivated by everything that goes on around her!
Matt and Lauren... you did good!
– – – – – – – – – –
Maddie in motion... larger on white. DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
Continuing on in the theme of creating an alternate feel to the mid-winter dull and bland... may I present my little red friend. =)
I was on my way to shoot details with my 105 macro... when I saw a flash of bright red against a sea of bare and gray. And then another... and another... 6 all told! But this is the one that was in just the right spot. I took a quick shot because I loved the tangle of bare branches and the lovely hit of scarlet against the muted tones behind it.
And then I went on to seek out my detail shots. And found them. But in the end... as I was reviewing the day's images... this was the one that caught my attention.
I love it when photo opportunities... whatever they might be... develop right before your eyes!
– – – – – – – – – –
Bright red against dull and brown... much more detail larger on black.
Texture (mostly used to tone) by leschick...
www.flickr.com/photos/leschick/2839832650/in/set-72157603... DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
Snowy December. Snowy January. And now we continue with a snowy February... so far.
The last couple of winters in the Chicago area have been snow-covered from very early December more or less right on through the following few months. And this winter is shaping up (so far) to be just like the previous two. Winter wonderland!
I can't say that I'm really even complaining... it IS early February... and it IS Chicago. I guess it's just that spring green... and warmer weather... and flip flops... and the smell of freshly-mowed grass... and the Jeep top down... all seem SO very far off yet.
I could be ready for some of all that sooner... rather than later. =)
– – – – – – – – – –
Big white snowflakes... bigger on black.
(Lightly applied) texture by leschick...
www.flickr.com/photos/leschick/2839832650/in/set-72157603... DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
New Years Eve, 2009.
Another year – and another 'winter wonderland' snowy December – comes to a close. Time to look back and remember. And to be thankful. And a time to look ahead in anticipation. And to be hopeful.
Here's wishing everyone a healthy and productive (and photogenic) New Year!
– – – – – – – – – –
End-of-the-year icicles... bigger on black. DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
Hard to believe that I'm already looking back wistfully to how things used to look around here only a few short weeks ago.
The neighborhood was ablaze with color... and yet it seemed like the peak color was still ahead of us. I don't know... maybe it's because this year especially, it seemed that autumn color came in waves and not so much all at once. It always appeared to me like full color was just a few days away.
And then over the course of a few rainy, windy days... it was all but over. And now as most everything outside is bare and brown and tucked in for the season... I am left sorting through photos I took back when I was still thinking 'peak was coming'. And now as I see them again... I realize that 'peak' was indeed all around me! Go figure...
– – – – – – – – – –
Fall color and detail... larger on black. DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
A little over two weeks ago, we moved into a 'new-to-us' townhouse... which has been completely renovated. Well... almost. =)
The basement is 'this close' to being finished into a bright and cozy family room. And when I say 'this close'... well... after the carpet is put down, there is pretty much only a bit of trim work left to do. But... to see the basement right now... you'd never guess that... =)
Big props and thanks to the FENX boys for all the wonderful work! Go ahead... Google them...
– – – – – – – – – –
All that gritty detail... best viewed larger on white.
Textures by leschick...
www.flickr.com/photos/leschick/2839832650/in/set-72157603... DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
Interesting weather day today. Woke up to dull and gray and gloomy. Drizzle. Wind. And chill. It wasn't looking like much of a photo day.
But somewhere in the early afternoon, the sun began to peak through the thinning clouds. Nice! And then maybe an hour and a half later, there wasn't a cloud in sight! Warm sun! And a brilliant blue canvas highlighting random splashes of yellow, orange, crimson and yes... still a fair amount of green... bordering on sensory overload!
The last couple of windy days have really stripped more than a few trees down to bare branches... already. But on this particular tree, just down the block from me, there were half a dozen stubborn holdouts (including these two)... that just seemed to be waiting for one last chance at glory by finding their way into my 365. That kind of tenacity... I have to reward! =)
– – – – – – – – – –
Bright blue and orange... bigger on black. DAJanzen on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
I know... it's been a while again. But in the last week and a half, we've moved into a new place, along the Fox River in the far western (Chicago) suburb of South Elgin. And we've been... busy!
Everything is new to us. The townhouse. The neighborhood. The roads. The commute. The 'feel'. Everything. And it is quite nice! I'm slowly getting used to things , but it's like I'm seeing everything with brand new eyes. I consider that a bonus!
This is right outside my front door... looking west into the low afternoon sun. The neighborhood – and all along the river – is awash in gorgeous fall color... and yet at the same time, there are also trees that are pretty much still completely green. Maybe this means we'll have a few waves of color... I hope so. In the meantime, I am so ready to pick up the camera and head 'out there' again... in between unpacking and settling in.
I have missed this. Thanks to everyone who stopped by in my absence... I have some catching up to do!
– – – – – – – – – –
Autumn afternoon... brightly on black. carmelyne on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
carmelyne on Flickr: Posted a Photo 
|
