Honoring the Dignity of Native American Culture

One of the most beautiful sights on our November South Dakota road trip was this statue:

Dignity of the Earth & Sky, honoring the Indigenous Peoples of South Dakota:

As we look forward to the New Year, let's try to have more Respect for All Peoples......2017 was a rough year.  Make 2018 Better!

Photographic Goals for 2018

First,  Happy Boxing Day!  Now that I work for a Canadian Based Company, I get Boxing Day Off Too!

Setting Realistic Goals for 2018.  Over committing doesn't work.  Last year I set fewer. more attainable goals and achieved them for the most part.  Let's Review my 2017 plans:

• 52 Rolls Project 2017 (always stick with something that works)
• Done; still wrapping up but I will finish the 52 posts. Dropping out next year to focus on the darkroom and printing

• More Darkroom Time (I'm committing to 1 print per month; 12 prints this year.  I think putting a real number on it will help to make it happen)
• I did make more than 12 prints, in spurts rather than one per month. This is my main focus for 2018.

• Moab Photo Symposium (This Year focussing on B&W)

• Photographing the August 21, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse in Western Nebraska:

So what's on Tap For Next Year?

• Focus on Darkroom Printing Time Especially prints of Moab Symposium events
• Attend THE FINAL Moab Photo Symposium in May 2018
• Continue Experiments with IR Film
• Practice with my newly converted digital full spectrum camera
• Continue the Charge towards Gallery Submissions (Check My 'Fine Art' Page Here).

Spending the rest of the week on Holiday/Vacation Hiatus.  Check New Year's Eve and New Year's Day for my next posts.

A Very Boulder Christmas.......

Merry Christmas........

Ready for Decorations

A Tree in the Park ready to be decorated......

Sioux Falls Light & Power

Vintage 1908 Light and Power Building, now a Cafe overlooking the Falls:

The Beehive Turbine House

The Beehive Turbine House supplied power to the local telephone company, and is identified as a historic site in the development of telephone service by the Telephone Pioneers of America:

Beehive Turbine Building with the ruins of the Beehive Grain Mill in the background. 

Sioux Falls Details.......

Yes it was cold enough for Ice o the Falls

The Falls at Sioux Falls

Not trying for the seemingly endless satin water here.  We were making a survey in hopes of better light later in the week.  But the Winter Sun remained unfavorable.  But we'll look around the Falls this week.....

There are famous photos of trains crossing the trestle in the background.  I heard many trains in the vicinity, but soon realized that these tracks are abandoned.  None came this way.

Next we'll look at some details around the Falls.........

It's that time of year again!

 And I'll be singing all weekend........

Arrival in Sioux Falls

Yes, we did make it to our Destination, Sioux Falls SD.  But the roadside kitsch didn't end there:

We spied this wonderful cow in front of the Land O Lakes Dairy.......

Across the Wide Missouri.......

Still on our way to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we crossed the famously wide (but shallow) Missouri River, also crossing paths with Lewis and Clark.  These bridges were notable:

An abandoned Rail Road Bridge at Chamberlain, SD.

And a famous architectural achievement in the form of the historic bridge nearby.

Heading North......

Heading North Outside of Valentine, we encountered a fun and unique use of round hay bales:

Although it was mid-November, This goblin was still hanging out along the road side.

More From Valentine, NE

Another interesting facade from an unnamed Fraternal Order:

Americana......Driving the back roads

Driving the back roads you see quite a few interesting things in small towns.  Such was the case on our recent road trip when we wandered through Valentine, Nebraska:

A Beautiful Facade on (of course) a Trust Company, showing the heritage of the town in cattle and (below, detail) the Rail Roads.

The Singing Season Has Begun......

Next Week Handel's Messiah.....

What is This?

Hint....It's something I love to eat......What do you think it is?

As seen along the roadside in Northern Colorado............

Posted Week 433 of the 52 Rolls Project.

Patagonia Remix

This year we are revisiting (and updating ) our first Calendar, which featured our trip to Patagonia in 2005.

Glacier Grey

See more of our Patagonia Pix HERE.  We've also decided to revamp our website and maintain it going forward.

Minute Man Missile Site Tour

As promised......a photo tour of the site.  You can follow along here and I will describe the numbered areas:

Stop1.  The site was still locked up when we arrive a few minutes before 9:00 AM:

You can call the self guided tour number from anywhere and I'm sure it will play:

605-301-3006

Stop 2.  The tour guide describes the Cold War and reason for deployment of the Minute Man Missiles.

Stop 3-4:  Also see above for a picture of the Missile.  There wasn't enough light to photograph the mock-up missile on site. By Treaty, abandoned sites have to be destroyed.  Sites such as this one, used as museums, have to be partially open to show the missile inside the glass.  This allows monitoring via satellite to prove that the site is not active.  We watch the Russians and they watch Us.  You will see a similar arrangement at the Titan Missile Museum in Tuscon, AZ.

Stop 5: Hardened Ultra High Frequency Antenna.  Allows the missile to be launched from a remote air system in case the Launch Control site has been damaged.

Stop 6: Soft Support Building (under ground) houses the diesel generator to maintain electrical power in case of a power outage.  Power for the missile site can from the regular power grid.

Stop 6A: Diesel Vents and personnel access for maintenance.

Stop 7:  Access hatch for missile maintenance.

Stop 8:  Surveillance Systems.  This antenna (white post in the center of the frame) scanned the vicinity and notified security of a breach.  Frequently wildlife set off the systems as the passed closed to the fence.

There was also video surveillance.  Anyone found on the site without authorization could be shot on sight.

This concludes our Tour of the Cold War.......

Advent is Here!

My Favorite Music Season.......Advent has Arrived:

Some Sobering Thoughts

As we approach the New Year......Let's Hope for the Best.  The world seems a bit crazy to me right now.  So on our most recent trip back to South Dakota (twice now this year)  we dropped by the Minute Man Missile Museum:

The cold overcast day was probably appropriate..........

Greeted at the door by a Famous Quote......

The Launch Command site was closed for some safety updates, so we'll catch that next summer.........Now a glimpse inside the museum.

Missile Squadrons in South Dakota

Missile sites active during the Cold War (some still in service).

 

Russian Missile Launch Keys.....

I skipped Bert the Turtle, The 'duck and cover' era was before my time.  I grew up with MAD, and never feared a nuclear war...because it worked (Mutually Assured Destruction).

But in the early days people assumed that there would be a nuclear war......I found the mushroom cloud cake to be a bit strange.....what were they celebrating??

The Minute Man Tour Site was open, and we'll tour it next:

 

A small preview

It's an excellent Museum.  One of the best features is the oral histories of the personnel that operated these sites.  A photo friend of our used to be a Launch Commander, that how we found out about the museum.  Docents are often also former launch personnel.