Fishing Pier at Lake Quanah Parker

|Sony A700 | CZ 16-80 | 16mm | f8 | 1/320 sec | ISO 640 | 3 images tonemapped|

The winter sun rises south of due east creating low angles of light and many opportunities for dramatic lighting.  I was hoping for such an opportunity when I headed out to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge this morning.  I had a strong hunch that the sun rise at ESE 118.1°, would create interesting shadows and texture on the fishing pier at Lake Quanah Parker.  However, I have to admit my surprise at finding so much beach exposed, considering the rains we have had in December.  At normal lake height, there is very little, if any, beach.  As much as I was surprised, I was also excited because of the additional opportunities 20 yards, or so, of beach would present.  I parked just outside the entrance to the Quanah Parker Conservation Center and hiked to the pier.  I arrived well ahead of the sunrise and was able to get set up in plenty of time so I could just wait for the light and the fun to begin.

"Blue, Blue Christmas"

[Sony A700 | CZ 16-18 | 16mm | f8 | 2 sec | ISO 640 | 3 images, tonemapped]

I like looking at Christmas lights.  I like looking at Christmas lights, a lot!  That’s why driving to Medicine Park to see the lights on Christmas night 2011, made sense and felt “right”.  It had been a good day, because it was, after all, Christmas Day!  A lot has to be overlooked on this day, just because; just because.  And that’s why standing in a light rain on a winter night taking pictures of Christmas lights is an okay thing to do.  And I wasn’t the only one, either.  It was surprising the number of people who showed up just as I did to capture a few quick shots for scrapbooks and memories.  Most were only brief moments, quick dashes, and hurried poses.  And then, there I was, smiling and remembering times gone by while waiting patiently, camera on tripod, for a less hurried appreciation.  Oh, Cristmas lights, Oh Christmas lights, how brightly you do shine!

Herbie

Cold night, fire, and friendship!

On a cold December night in Southwest Oklahoma, the warmth radiating from a blazing chiminea, a freshly brewed cup of Starbuck’s “Cristmas Blend” coffee, music from a “Classic Rock” FM radio station, and the warm hands and tender heart of a special friend goes a long way toward healing whatever ails you!  Trust me on this one!
Herbie

Dorothy, Miss Blues,  Ellis,  enjoys what she’s hearing.

[Sony A700 | CZ 135/1.8 | f1.8 @ 1/500 | ISO 6400 | handheld]

Only a week ago, wildfires threatened the survival of Medicine Park.  Past perils and hardships have not destroyed the determined spirit of Medicine Park residents.  This past 4th of July weekend they carried on with their 103rd Birthday Celebration.  All firework displays were canceled due to the extreme drought and 100+ temperatures across all of Southwest Oklahoma, but that didn’t stop the celebration in Medicine Park.  Live bands were performing throughout the weekend.  I checked the schedule of performances to see who would be there Sunday night.  Scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM, was “The Brothers Dupree”, and then at 9:00 PM, was someone called “Miss Blues”.  I had never heard of them so I Googled the name and “missblues.com” showed up.  After scanning quickly through the site, I knew I’d have to drive out to hear Miss Blues.

It was worth the drive and a lot more!  Unbelievably good and incredibly entertaining is the best way I can describe it.  Miss Blues is 76 years old and has been singing the blues for 68 years.  The band she fronted this evening was comprised of some of the best musicians I have heard in one group.  They were amazing.  The group of assembled to hear Miss Blues was small but what it lacked in size, it made up in appreciation.  It didn’t take long for everyone realized this was a rare treat for Southwest Oklahoma.  In fact, Mike Cappucio, a member of The Brothers Dupree, stayed for the performance and may have appreciated these performers more than anyone.  They were only scheduled to play a couple of hours, but I left at 12:45 AM, and Miss Blues was still going strong.

WHAT A SHOW!  WOW, WOW, WOW!

(more pictures to follow shortly)

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”.

[Sony A700 | CZ 135/1.8 | 1/6400 @ f3.5 | ISO 640]

Col. Hannibal Smith, played by George Peppard in the TV series “The A-Team”, would often say, “I love it when a plan comes together!”  I can’t claim that yesterday evening was planned, but everything sure came together making for a very nice experience.

It all began when I walked through the door of the “Winery of the Wichitas”, a unique small business, located off Hwy. 49, atop a hill overlooking Medicine Park and just a mile, or so, from the eastern entrance to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.  It’s a winery, and as such they offer up glasses of the wines they craft; it’s an art gallery where local artists can show their work; it’s a restaurant called “Buffalo Bistro” and Mark and Randy Reeves play smooth jazz on Saturday night from 7:00 to 10:00.  Now, you must admit, that’s a combination that holds promise.

I go there often for the food, art, and music, in that order.  It’s not a place where “everyone knows my name”, but enough do to make it homey.  The  “Buffalo Bistro’s” menu is small but unique.  It was designed by executive chef, Anna Banda, who earned her credentials at Coach House.  Everything I have eaten, has been excellent, and the portions plentiful; most times, I leave food on my plate.  On this evening, the inside dining area was full, so I followed the path across the floor and through the door leading to the large split-level deck outside.  I was delighted to see the table with the brightly colored ceramic tile top empty; it’s my favorite even though it wobbles at least a half inch (I swear I’m going to fix that someday).  Located on the upper deck, in an out of the way corner, and only a table for two, it suits me perfectly.

The first thing I noticed, after taking a seat, was how pleasant an evening it was.  The temperature was just right, and there was only a mild breeze:  just enough to keep the insects away, but not enough to even lift a napkin laying unweighted on the tabletop.  The lights of Medicine Park were visible in the valley below, and to the east, the magnificent home of Muriel and Michael Fahrion is silhouetted against the sky.  Muriel is an American illustrator and created the original design for the doll, “Strawberry Shortcake” and her cat “Custard”, in 1977.  Following very successful careers, she and her husband, Michael, entered semi-retirement, designing this beautiful home that sits atop a tall hill facing the west and overlooking the Medicine Creek Valley.  Today, they are busy with their graphic arts and web design business, “Big Rock Works”, and many Medicine Park community projects.  In the distance behind their home were these magnificent thunderheads.  At the moment I first sat down, the light was not quite right, but I knew it would get better in a short time, if only the thunderheads didn’t move away too quickly.

Ah, another sign things were going my way tonight!  The light I was wanting s0on arrived and the thunderheads had not yet departed.  My camera, resting on the table, was an easy reach.  My tripod, still in my truck, was not.  However, seemingly with everything coming together, I was willing to stretch possibilities a little.  The Fahrion’s house is a good half mile away, as the crow flies, and steadiness is critical.  I cradled the camera in my hands allowing my fingers to play among the dials and buttons, making the adjustments I hoped would capture my vision.  When ready, I rested the lens barrel on top of the steel railing surrounding the deck and breathed deeply, consciously relaxing, letting all tension ease away.  Setting the focus, exhaling slowly, willing the  button to descend ever so slowly, anticipating the gentle rhythm of the mirror rising and falling, I was nowhere if not right there, right then.  Release, all cares evaporate into the gentle breeze, I am happy!  All to soon, the light changed and with it the magic of the moment. My thoughts returned along with the awareness of present surroundings and I began to scan the faces of my fellow diners on the deck.

It didn’t take long to spot Doug Kemper, a scientist and engineer.  Doug is nationally known for designing several zoo aquariums.  He lived in Lawton for some time during his youth and has returned to design, obtain funding, and oversee the construction of the “Medicine Park Museum of Natural Science”.  He’s traveled all over the world, even to Antarctica, so he has wonderful stories to tell in seemingly endless supply.  He seemed to be preparing to leave, but I caught his attention and asked if he’d like to join me for a time.  I was delighted when he accepted.

You should never be in a hurry when you visit “The Winery”; it’s just not a “rush through” place.  It was only after Doug joined my table that I placed the order for my meal:  “Everything Salad” and “Molten Lava Chocolate Cake” for dessert.  The salad fit well with my nutritional goals, while the Lava Chocolate Cake did not.  Oh well, we must have balance!  Right?  Over the next two hours, or so, while I enjoyed the deliciousness of my meal, we talked, laughed, and told stories.  The topics ran the gamut of everything from progress on Natural Science Museum and Doug’s plans for a sky lift connecting the museum to the center of Medicine park, to birds and wild flowers on the Refuge, his expedition to Antarctica, and Al Gore’s myth of Global Warming, to include the fact that the glaciers on Kilimanjaro are receding, not due to melting, but due to sublimation; A huge difference, by the way!  The only thing that shortened our evening was Tammy, a wonderful waitress, asking, “Do you guys plan on leaving from the deck or would you like to come through the Winery?  We’re locked up and going home.”

I just love it when everything comes together!

"Rising Together"

[Sony A700 | CZ 135 – 1.8  | f3.5 | 160 | ISO 400]

This photo was taken Thursday morning through the window from my room in the Courtyard Marriott, directly across the street from the Oklahoma City Arena.  I was in town for a Franklin/Covey, “Four Dimensions of Excellence” follow-up work session.  I can only imagine how difficult it must be to get a room when Thunder is playing in town, especially tonight when they take on the Mavericks in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.