Sunday, September 12, 2010

Black Veterans' Memorial Dedication Ceremony

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.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Cousin Who Is 24 (XXIV)


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.... the typical "Who" look if she thought you were nuts. I got that look a lot.

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. ;)

Above.... taken this year..... she's now married and ready to litter up a bunch of who's.....

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Flora Septembera

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.




Sunday, September 5, 2010

Goose, Climbers And A Back-packing Dog

Took a bike ride along Cliff Drive today.... perfect weather and the Drive is closed to traffic on weekends so you don't have to worry about the teen speeding around corners in his new Corvair. Lone goose at North Terrace Lake probably on lay-over. Below climbers were out in force on the bluffs.... great weather.
Above and below ... practicing tethered free climbing.... one has to be in shape to do this stuff...




Suddenly there was a back-packed dog....


Climbers belayed each other .... remember it's not the fall that gets you it's the abrupt stop.







Looks like fun.... but I have an aversion to heights......