A Question About Minnesota State Fair

Greetings--
I attended Larryfest this weekend-- as much for photography as the music. The Friday evening concert was listless, but by the end of the Saturday concert all was forgiven. The main act was Dailey and Vincent a Bluegrass group who are absolutely at the top of their game. They are a bit too polished for my taste but tremendous energy. Although I've been taught that there are photos to be had wherever there are people doing anything, I surely didn't encounter them. It was a major disappointment.

I am thinking of going to the Minnesota State Fair to see what I can see and photograph. However, when I looked a MN State Fair site on Flickr and other web resources, it appears that this may be another dismal photo opportunity. What I saw were lots, and lots of Ferris Wheel pics,  zillions of photos of people eating fair food, and grandstand show images but nothing very interesting. Am I missing something?  Actually I suspect that I am. Any guidance and opinions will be appreciated.

Byron

Interesting and Fun Images

Larry Lindesmith sent these images a while ago which I am just getting around to posting. There are too many for the blog so I'll just do 2 or 3 to whet your appitite. Go to This URL to see them all.

Thanks for supporting this website, Larry!
Byron

Reminders and Langiappe

la·gniappe

   /lænˈyæp, ˈlænyæp/ Show Spelled[lan-yap, lan-yap] Show IPA

–noun

1. Chiefly Southern Louisiana and Southeast Texas . a small gift given by way of compliment or for good measure; a bonus.

2. a gratuity or tip.

3. an unexpected or indirect benefit.

I used to think that the word lagniappe was an affectation and something that was too precious by half when used by anyone not native to Cajun Louisiana, yet I couldn't think of anything more appropriate to describe this lovely image.

Jim Taylor uses this image for a greeting card. It is so nearly perfect that I am considering having it framed. Kudos Jim.

While we are talking about Jim Taylor, you might be impressed to know that he has already submitted his final result for the September Digital Challenge. Roger indicated that one of his candidates is a "nightmare" and I believe that it is the one that Jim restored to a fare-the-well! More kudos, Jim.

This is a reminder that the next WWIG meeting will be 3 weeks from today. You might want to be getting your submission for the Topic of the Month ready. Remember you have a choice between  something that his highly personal and/or deeply felt; as an alternative, if this is uncomfortable, an example of food photography.

I've starting to think about our October meeting and, if I don't change my mind, it will be quite a bit different than usual. During September I will be travelling to Israel, Paris, and Madrid (one trip) and also resuming my Seeing America One Back Road At a Time adventures-- I am driving to Croton-On-Hudson, NY for a workshop with Rick Sammon. I don't want to cancel the October meeting, but it won't be possible to devote a lot of time to preparation. What I've come up with should work for most, if not all, members. Further discussion to follow.

Byron

Restoration by Jim Terman

Jim Terman sent this example of his restoration of a photograph of his great-great grandparents which is very meaningful to him. I suspect that many of us have or have access to similar family photos that could benefit from restoration.

Here are Jim's comments:

I have inherited a fair number of tintypes, vintage prints, negatives from snapshots, and cartes de visite, some with identifications, many without. It is a real challenge to restore not only the images but also the information they impart. For the latter, careful comparisons with known images can help as well as information on borders and backs of studio images. I have been most fortunate to learn about and come to know three bright , intelligent, and (mirabile dictu) computer-savvy 91-year-old cousins who have enormously helpful. Other resources include the book Dressed For the Photographer, by Joan Severa, former costume and clothing historian at the Wisconsin State Historical Society, and Ms. Leslie Bellais, her successor, a willing e-mail consultant. I have heavily used the staff of the Johnson County (Indiana) Museum of History, since my family roots are there. Finally, I use Ancestry.com –which is where I met my senior cousins -- and for family tree and profile graphic display, Geni.com.


This is one of my prizes, obtained from my 90-year-old cousin Annabelle McAlpin Spencer of Cape Girardeau, MO, after repair. This photo shows my great-great grandparents, James William Terman (my accidental namesake), and Martha Cutsinger Terman, with their daughters (2/14 children) Bertha and Flora, Oct. 10, 1904, their 50th wedding anniversary. This is also meaningful, because Nancy and I are nearing our 50th, Sept. 2. They are on the lawn of their farm home in Johnson County, Indiana, 4 ½ miles east of Whiteland and 17 miles south of Indianapolis. Their home, sadly, burned in the 1920s, but the farm still exists, and their horse barn has been converted to an ample and beautiful home. A decade ago, I barely knew the name of these ancestors and despaired of ever seeing a photo of them. Annabelle (their granddaughter) has actually given me the original, a print permanently adhered to a back, badly faded so that the people and the home could barely be seen. I brought it to this stage in Photoshop Elements 1, including repairing a large crack, still partly visible in the house siding. The fuzzy, blotchy surface is typical of vintage prints as the emulsion is very thin over the paper fibers and represents one of the limits of print restoration.

Byron



Travel Video

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

I was cruising around the Internet-- The Imaging Division-- this evening when I came across this remarkable video-- another one of those "how the hell did they do it"  posts.  Enjoy your trip.

Tip: If you liked this video, click on the link (above) to Rick Meriki's 2 other videos on Vimeo. They are both wonderful. Learn reminded me that learning how to do new things and acquiring knowledge are just about the best things that one can do-- not to mention my last best hope for avoiding decrepitude as I continue inexorably in life's journey.

Byron

WWIG Gallery at The La Crosse Public Library

This WWIG exhibit at the library is once again an inspiration. John Zoerb did a wonderful job of selecting the prints to hang and certainly accomplished our goal of showing the breadth and variety of photographic vision within our group as well as the depth of talent. Jennifer Bucheit and Sue Retzlaff helped hang the prints which is no small task. Thanks to John, Jennifer and Sue and to everyone who submitted prints.

Please remember that the exhibit will only be on display until August 31st. Last year several members did not realize that the exhibit extends for only a month and regretting missing seeing it.
Byron

The Digital Challenge for the September WWIG Meeting

Roger Grant has selected 2 images for the September Digital Challenge. In his e-mail he commented: "Attached are two scanned old photos from my wife's mother's family. One is a nightmare, the other less so. Perhaps people could choose the one they want to spend time with."

Last month the challenge was to retouch portraits. This time it is an exercise in restoration. In doing so you should follow your own inner compass. For what it is worth, my own personal bias is that, like in retouching, when restoring less is generally more. For several reasons I don't aspire for perfection and, in fact, want to make obvious that the image is an old one, thus emphasizing its historical context.

So what should you use as a source for this Digital Challenge? You can right click and save these images to your hard drive but they are very small (373 and 365 kbytes) and this approach is not recommended. You can contact me or Roger and ask for the original scans which are quite large (44 and 16.4 mbytes) which will be good if you plan to make say a 22x17inch print but otherwise unnecessary. Finally, you can use the images that are attached to the e-mail I will be sending. These  have been reduced in size to a level that is appropriate for web or digital display (3.29 and 3.21 mbytes)-- this is the approach I favor.  Choose what works for you.

The images attached to the e-mail Roger sent were not this sickly copper color but more of a sickly yellow color. I don't know which is the color of the print from which these were derived. Part of your job, of course, is to choose a color for the final restoration that is pleasing.

Remember this is an opportunity to learn-- admittedly through self-instruction-- and, as always, it should be an enjoyable experience.
Byron

Jennifer's Excellent Adventure in Santa Fe

These are a sample of the images Jennifer sent. For more about  the workshop she attended in Santa Fe see the prior post. Wow!
Byron

Jennifer Bucheit Departing

It is with sadness that I have to announce that Jennifer Bucheit and her family will be moving to Madison. Here is an edited version of a very thoughtful e-mail that she sent:

"...my family will be relocating to the Madison area; we'll be living in Middleton. My husband Chris took a job at UW working in the Information Technology dept. as their only graphic designer. We are both excited and sad; sad to be leaving the special friends... that we have made here in La Crosse.


I thought there would be an Aug. meeting where I could say good-bye to everyone in person, but I see the next meeting isn't until Sept.. My hope is to make it back to La Crosse periodically. I know week nights will be challenging during the school year, but over the summer months I would love to still attend WWIG meetings when possible. I hope you'll let me remain a WWIG "member-at-large." I will try to post more frequently on the blog and keep you up to date with my photography. I'm not exactly sure what my plans are photography wise. Tentatively I'm planning on continuing my on-line graduate studies and then transferring to UW next fall—we'll see. Let's please keep in contact through email and the blog.


Also, wanted to let you know I attended Santa Fe's Power of Light with Tony Corbell and learned a tremendous amount about studio lighting and natural lighting.   I'll attach a couple of images from the week. [I will  post the images Jennifer sent in the next message, ed.]
Warmest Regards,
Jennifer


P.S. If you know anyone that is looking for a beautifully restored 1938 colonial in La Crosse, please have them contact us :-)"

I have used one of Jennifer's complex  and intriguing images for the WWIG blog header as a reminder of her always thought provoking and technically advanced images that Jennifer brought to our meetings. Let us all do what we can to facilitate Jennifer's continuing participation in our group, via e-mail if not in person.

Two Members of WWIG Featured in Group Photo Show at Winona Art Center

Roger Grant and Ron Reimer will be exhibiting their travel photography in a group show at the Winona Art Center in Winona, Minnesota. You are cordially invited to attend the opening, which will be held on Wednesday, August 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. The WAC is located on the corner of Fifth and Franklin Streets. (It looks like an old church, because it was.) If you can't make the opening, the show runs til the end of September, and there will be a  talk, given by the photographers about their travels and about travel photography, on September 14, 7-9 pm. Check the WAC website for more info.