Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy have a unique sound.

Erin came to visit Mike and me over the Memorial Day Weekend.  Every Memorial Day Weekend, Medicine Park reverberates with the sound of Red Dirt Music during the “Mayor’s Red Dirt Ball”.  After examining the list of bands performing over the weekend, my bet was that the best music would be heard Sunday evening.  Two groups were were scheduled to perform, Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy, 7:00–9:00 PM, and Brandon Jenkins, 9:30–11:30 PM.

We pulled into the old Medicine Park High School baseball field about 7:20 PM, and had no difficulty finding a parking spot.  From there, we only needed to walk the 300 yards, or so, down a blacktopped street and across the old bridge spanning Medicine Creek to be at Medicine Park’s “Main Stage”.  As we walked, we listened to the sound of music carried on the refreshing evening breeze. It was nice and I couldn’t help but think about how nice it was having Erin home, if only for a few days.

“Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy” was already on stage and playing when we arrived.  They are a band of six members from Wichita, KS.  Their brand of Red Dirt is rather unique and is sometimes classified as Americana, Folksy, Dixieland, Bluegrass, etc.  However, one thing is for certain…it is high energy!  When they add in the trombone and the trumpet, there’s definitely New Orleans French Quarter Jazz overtones.  Then on the very next song they may drop the trombone, add a banjo, and a washboard and cut loose on a bluegrass frenzy.  All in all, it’s entertaining, even if not what your usual Red Dirt.

(I need to insert a parenthesis, with explanation, into the content at this point.  This evening I am packing only a CZ 135/1.8 lens, a prime lens and not a zoom; my feet act as a zoom, in the old fashion way.  This isn’t the only prime lens I own, but it’s certainly the best, and as a rule, the optics in primes are better than zooms.  Even though I’ve had this lens for quite some time, I’ve not been able to push it to perform its best; it’s a better lens than I am a photographer.  So to find its “sweet spot” and to increase my understanding of its unique personality, I am forcing myself to carry only it and use it exclusively.  So, to create more distance between me and the stage so I could include all six members, would have a move that would have damaged the perspective more than getting a “better crop” of these four.  I include individual images of the other members in my Gallery.)

We listened for some time until our empty stomachs were making noises along with the band.  Erin had never been to the Winery of the Wichitas, and since it is located on a hill overlooking Medicine Park, I knew we could sit on the deck and hear the music really well, too.  With that in mind, we returned to the truck and drove the small distance to the Winery.  Imagine my disappointment when, “We’re closed, out kitchen closed at eight!”.  It was 8:30 PM, at the time.  Our next option was to drive back into the valley and walk to the “Old Plantation”, which was less than 60 yards from where we were standing listening to “Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy”.

Truth be known, the “Old Plantation” is probably my favorite restaurant, anyway.  It has such history in the area and the food is excellent.  I can hardly eat there and not order their rib-eye steak.  It’s delicious and cooked the same, everytime.

We only had about a ten minute wait before we were shown to our table.  I wasn’t happy with our table, but what can you expect on a crowded evening.  Erin ordered the “chicken fried” chicken with garlic mashed potatoes.  As usual, I ordered the 10-oz rib-eye steak, medium rare, fried okra with instructions to fry it a little longer so it’s extra crispy (their fried okra is already fried the crispest you will find anywhere, but I still like mine even crispier).  While we waited for the food we talked and munched on the homemade rolls and honey butter spread our waitress had already delivered to our table.  Once the main entrees’ arrived, we discovered everything prepared to perfection.  It was, “Oh so good!”  After enjoying a hearty and delicious meal, we were on our way out when I spied a friend, Doug Kemper, dining alone at the bar.  Doug is a very interesting person and if I had spied him earlier, I would have certainly invited him to join us.  Erin would have enjoyed the conversation.  Doug is a herpetologist and designer of aquariums.  He designed the aquariums in Seattle, San Antonio, and Tulsa.  He is also quite an adventurer and has been to Africa, South America, and even Antarctica.  Anyway, we walked over to say, “Hi”, and I introduced Erin.  He was delighted to see us. He and Erin bantered back and forth about North Texas Softball for a few minutes.  We didn’t want to take him away from his dinner any longer so we bid him, “Adios”, and headed back to the bandstand to hear more Red Dirt artists perform.

We reached the stage just in time to catch the first song by the group I thought would be the highlight of the Mayor’s Ball, none other than Brandon Jenkins, himself.  After the music began, it didn’t take long to confirm I was right.  Brandon Jenkins is 100% Red Dirt the way we like it in Oklahoma.  He is a Red Dirt legend among people who really know and appreciate the sound.  The crowd had grown considerably and proved we weren’t the only ones who thought that way.  Cameras and cell phones were busy taking pictures, texting, and uploading.  Dancers were finding their way into the space between the front row of lawn-chairs and stage.  All ages of people were represented and everyone seemed to be enjoying the sound filling the Medicine Creek valley.  The weather couldn’t have been nicer with an Oklahoma breeze and a sky full of stars above and a stage full of stars on earth.  We stayed and enjoyed the show as long as we could.  Next time, I must bring chairs.  Aching knees on both of us urged us to call it a night and head for home.

It was a “Good Time” and will be remembered with “Good Memories”.

Cameron University: Showing Its Pride!

The skies over Southwest Oklahoma had been heavily clouded and pouring forth rain in abundance for the past three days.  Because of predictions of more rain on Saturday, I had already planned my day ar0und computer tasks such as adding needed descriptions to some categories and albums on my online gallery, and working on the images in my database before it got out of hand.  However, throughout most of the day the wind was dead calm and I couldn’t keep myself from the disappointment of not being out shooting wildflowers.  I kept thinking how great a day it was for doing just that.

It’s now almost 7:30 PM, and I’m watching TV, when I see the bright rays of the descending sun breaking under the cloud cover shining on the fence in my backyard.  I immediately think of the Cameron University sign at the corner of 38th Street and Gore Boulevard.  It had caught my attention Thursday night as I was returning home from a Wichita Wildlight Photographic Society (WWPS) meeting.  I remember thinking that it would have great HDR potential late in the evening, especially with thunder clouds in the background.  This was the moment!  I knew it would be fleeting and I had to hurry.  I needed to change clothes, but luckily, I the necessary camera gear was already in my camera bag.  I rushed to get out the door and on the way to Cameron.   Another bit of fortune is that I live less than two miles away.

By the time I reached the corner of 38th and Gore, the sun was casting it’s golden rays beautifully on the corner where the Cameron sign is beautifully displayed.  However, there was a bank of clouds below the sun resting on the horizon and I knew it would on be a few minutes before the sun sank behind them.  And here I was waiting on the green left turn arrow!  I had just missed it and would now have to wait for all the lights to cycle back to me.  I prayed, “GOD, I only need five or six minutes.  Please, just give me a chance!”  Finally, the green arrow flashed and lurched forward into the intersection turning onto 38th.  I turned into the huge parking lot that used to bear the traffic from those attending Cameron football games but is now used for high school football fans whose teams use the stadium now and for high school marching band contests.  Fortunately I was able to park directly behind my objective.  My camera was already prepared for the shots I needed.  I made sure of that while I waited for the green arrow at the traffic light.  I grabbed my tripod, shutter release, and camera and made for the corner of the intersection.

My mind was racing like crazy as I mentally made sure I was covering all bases and not overlooking something minor that would have disastrous results on my efforts.  First I sat up as a close to a pole as I could get without it getting into the picture and took a wide angle of the entire brick structure.  I couldn’t help but notice how bright the colors of the plants were following the two days of rain and now in the bright light of the sun they were brilliant.  I was excited to see the clouds in the background mixed with patches of blue sky.  I knew they would look great.  I was moving quickly, as always in the back of mind was the knowledge the sun was sinking behind those clouds at my back.  I also had to make sure my own shadow did not get into the picture.  Following the first series of exposures, I repositioned closer to the sign but still with my lens at its widest setting, 16mm and f22.  I was like a machine going through the motions after someone flicked the “On” switch.  Even so, I was only able to maneuver into five different positions before the sun was obscured by the clouds and light was gone.  Whew!  I paused, sighed deeply several times, gathered myself, camera, and tripod and walked back to my truck with deep satisfaction.

Andi sings smooth jazz!

A real treat for me was my first exposure to “The Right Mix Band” during Arts for All Festival last weekend.  I really enjoy smooth jazz as well as other types of jazz, but I have to buy it on CD, online, or use internet radio, because we don’t have a radio station in Southwest Oklahoma dedicated to that genre.  I have to tell you I was not disappointed in what I heard.  For one and a half hours I sat on the grass, swayed with the beat, and took pix with my 135/1.8, to my hearts content.  It was so sweet!  The band consists of Andi and Carlos Messina, Austin Box, Joe Cook, Jerhamy Bennett, and the drummer whose name I didn’t catch.  I’m definitely going to keep my eyes and ears open for another opportunity to catch another performance.  I strongly encourage you to do the same!

Artist Paints at "Arts for All Festival"

Shepler Park in Lawton was adorned in artwork of all styles this past weekend as the 36th annual “Arts for All Festival” took place.  A local photographer’s group, Wichita Wildlight Photographic Society, of which I am a member, is one of the six member groups of Arts for All, Inc.  This year there were 75 art exhibitors displaying art ranging from photography to Native American flutes.  There were artists displaying their work in mosaics, paint, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, and metal art, all with a Southwest Oklahoma regional flair.  I really enjoy browsing through the many different kinds of art and am inspired by the many different forms of creativity.  I like bright colors and earth tones, too.  I like things that draw from nature and reflect a strong connection with the earth.  Having spent my entire life in Southwest Oklahoma, I feel a strong connection with the earth, sky, and wind.  The changing seasons are important to the equilibrium that exists in nature and this is often reflected in our art.

Concrete arches rise from a wheat field in Cotton County.

I still don’t know what this is, or was, or whatever!  I can no more estimate the number of times I’ve passed by this structure as I can estimate the number of times I’ve traveled Hwy. 5 between Temple and Walters, OK.  Growing up in Temple, and Walters being only 10 highway miles away, slightly over 7 miles by the railroad tracks that run between the two Southwest Oklahoma towns, I passed by this structure often.  It caught my attention every time I passed during daylight hours.  I’ve always found it mysterious.

Over the years I’ve asked many people the history of this place with most only responding they thought it had something to do with the railroad.  One story, presented with confidence by a man who grew up in Walters and said his parents told him that this was the ruins of a vegetable cannery built around the turn of the 20th Century.  I feel he’s probably right, but I still don’t know what part this structure would have played in a vegetable cannery.  If someone has any other information, or has any suggestions on the use of this arched structure, I’m interested in hearing them.

Reesie Stalks Her Prey!

Throughout most of my life I have learned and practiced my photography skills in solitude.  However, this year I decided I would join our local photography club, “Wichita Wildlight Photographic Society“.  We meet once a month and enjoy being in a room with people who are there because they have some degree of passion for photography.  It’s a real mixture of people, representative of any group of 50 people you might form from the Walmart crowd.  Anyway, back in October, about 20, or so, of us loaded onto a bus at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center for an excursion into the Special Use area.  The Special Use area is closed to the public and contains well over half of the Refuge itself.  I had never been in this section of the WMWR, so I was excited to go even though 3:00 PM is not the best light to for photographs.It was difficult to decide what equipment to take along on this Southwest Oklahoma safari.  I watched the weather reports closely, trying to get some feeling for what the conditions might be that day.  I finally decided, regardless of sunshine or overcase skies, I would enjoy the sights, but photograph the people instead of the wildlife.  Having to the public use areas of the WMWR more times than I can guess, I figured we’d never get close enough to the real wildlife for even my longest telephoto, a 400 mm Sigma APO, even using my 1.4 teleconverter.  My best chance, I decided was to pack light taking only my Sony 70-200 G.  As it turned out, my thinking was exactly correct, for me!

When 3:00 PM arrived and we were loading on the bus, the sky was 100% overcast with heavy dark grey clouds.  I boosted the ISO on my A700 up to 400, from the usual 160 or 200.   I grabbed my monopod from the pickup, an extra battery, and my Gepe card case containing 4, 2GB CF cards, and headed for the bus.  I intended, from the outset, to try my hand at high dynamic range photographs of my fellow club members.  The overcast skies, and my ISO, would force some slow shutter speeds so I knew I would not be able to take multiple exposures bracketing like usually do.  I would need to make one image and then use my RAW converter, of choice, to create two more images, one -2 EV, and one +2 EV.  The afternoon proved to be exciting, challenging, and rewarding as I was able to come up with some results I like.

Another Gyros

The 29^th Annual International Festival has come and gone leaving behind flattened grass, car tracks, and happy food vendors.  The International Festival, for many years, was held within the confines of the Library Plaza south of the Lawton Muncicipal Library on 4^th Street and “B” Avenue.  Yes, this was a very tight fit and parking was anywhere you could find a place throughout the downtown area.  There were two stages, one on the east and one on the west with almost everything else fit in between.  I say almost everything else, because not everything could fit nicely into this space so there was some overflow.  However, everything was set up on either a concrete, brick, or asphalt surface and all the parking was on asphalt, too.  With the move to Elmer Thomas Park in 2008, many things changed besides just the location.

It was late in the afternoon on Saturday, September 26, 2009, when I decided I would attend the International Festival.  I haven’t attended since it moved to Elmer Thomas Park so I didn’t know what to expect.  I did not want to carry a loaded camera bag around due to the arthritis in both knees and actue hip pain to boot, so I made the decision to take only one lens.   After some personal debate I chose to go with my Carl Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 prime lens.  I know what you’re thinking; using this lens will require me to do more walking than if I had chosen a zoom, and you are correct.  However, I love this lens and I need to use it more than I do to become better skilled in its use.  In my mind, I wanted to approach this Festival with a myopic perspective rather than an all encompassing view.  This lens would serve me well for this purpose.  So, having made this important decision, it was now time to actually go to the Festival.

The first thing that caught my attention was the heavier than expected traffic on Ferris Avenue!  I my own mind, I was envisioning a small crowd.  I was hoping for a small crowd but traffic was increasing and so was my aprehension the closer I got to Elmer Thomas Park.  I was completely unprepared for the sight as I passed McMahon Auditorium and neared the 6th Street Entrance.  There was really going to be a lot of people.  But I really couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I saw all the cars parking on what used to be the sole property of hundreds of prairie dogs.  I knew Lawton was wanting to take over much of the park that for years had been the homes of arguably Lawton’s  most lovable entertainers for tourist and locals alike.  But I was not prepared for this!  I couldn’t help but be saddened at the loss, not just for the prairie dogs, but all those wildflowers that brought so much beauty.  This they call progress and growth?

I actually drove down a stretch of the cinder hiking trail I had walked on so many times before and parked not far from the wire basket marking the Sixth Hole of the new Disk Golf course only completed last year.  After regathering my senses and checking my camera gear to make sure all the initial settings were as I wanted, I left the safety of my little red truck and began the trek over rolling hills and terrain on arthritis aching knees toward the Lake Helen (north) Stage.