On my usual stroll along Cliff Drive today I decided to stop and snap some flowers. Summer's last gasp....
Above and below, Touch-me--nots.... the bloom turns into a seed pod that likes to "explode" if you touch it.
Above, berries on Bush Honeysuckle.... but I've never seen anything trying to eat them.
A bright blue sky helped make it a perfect day for the dedication of the Black Veterans Memorial at 12th and the Paseo Sunday afternoon. Above is the flag, raised for the first time today, honoring the war dead. This memorial is located above the Fitzsimons fountain honoring the first American officer killed in World War I.
It is directly north of the very familiar cannon on Paseo Boulevard.
Lights and benches line the approach to the flag.... above, below... many veterans on hand for the ceremony.
Above, George Biswell, veteran and long-time Parks Department employee.
The band was from Fort Leonard Wood.
Buffalo soldiers were gracious and allowed me to photograph them. Above and below.
Above, the Junior ROTC helped with handing out programs and crowd control.
Mayor Funkhouser, above, read a proclamation and John Fierro, below, Chair of the Parks Board gave a few remarks.
Ollie Gates, above, and Congressman Clever, below also spoke.
The men in green and white are The Enshriners a philanthropic organization that made the Memorial possible. Below probably the oldest veteran there, Lucius, 90 years young and the father-in-law of Chuck Moore who was the Master of Ceremonies.
The raising of the flag. 
Above, a member of the color guard and her family.... below, Congressman Cleaver, Councilwoman Deb Hermann and Mark McHenry head of the Parks Department which staged the event.
Rachel Remley Johnson is 24 today. Getting longer in the tooth by the minute. Her nickname growing up was "Cousin Who" because, in her pink nighty when she was two or so and with her hair sticking up, she looked just like Cindy Lou Who on the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. In school for a while she even wrote "Who Beast" in place of her real name.... teachers had a time correcting that. The above shot was taken with T-Max 3200 with just the light of a single lamp in her living room. I loved that film for its soft portrayal of detail. The color series below was taken in April of 1989 and is Kodachrome 25. I hate my lighting but still love the slide film... although it's no longer being produced.
When first starting out in portraiture back in the 80s I actually preferred slide film, or chrome, to negative film because there was no question about the color balance. Unfortunately that was not cost effective so I had to switch to negative color film.
Below a digital shot but using hot lights instead of flash.... we've come a long way just to get back to the way we used to be. ;)
One shot, above, from Cliff Drive.... I like symmetry... and the others, below, from my neighbor's yard. Nikon D5000 and 18-200 Zoom lens. Handheld but that's not wise.
