Archive for the ‘Lawton’ Category

Lawtonian Samantha Rose is a rising star.

[Sony A700 | CZ 135 - 1.8 | f2.2 | 1/8000 | ISO 400]

2010 MacArthur graduate, Samantha Rose is making a name for herself as a rising young singing talent.  She appeared in the Wine Garden at the Arts for All Festival in Lawton, OK., this weekend.  The enthusiastic crowd welcomed her warmly and appreciated her clear voice and distinct style.

Ali Harter performs in Lawton. (click picture for more)

Ali Harter

Red Dirt, Country Blues, Country Folk, Outlaw, or whatever you want to try to tag her with, Ali Harter must be tagged as unique, talented, pretty, and Okie through and through.  Last night was my first time ever to hear her music but it won’t be my last.  I bought her CD titled, “No Bees, No Honey”, released on March 13, 2010.  I ‘ve already listened to it three times and have my earphones on right now listening to a fourth time through.  Unique is the best word I have to describe her music; it is definitely her own.  She is only 25, yet her sound is so much more mature than that!  Visiting with her afterwards she told me her early childhood idol was Bonnie Raitt.  I’m a huge Bonnie Raitt fan myself, but not once during her live solo performance did I ever say to myself, “Self, you know what?  She kinda sounds like Bonnie Raitt!”  But,that could just be me.  But the connection  I do think exists between Ali Harter and Bonnie Raitt is each Read the rest of this entry »

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.

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.

The Vaska Theatre Sign Still Lights the Lawton Sky.

Built in 1948, the Vaska Theatre, located at 1902 NW Ferris Avenue, is the oldest movie theatre in Lawton, OK.  It may not be as modern or have the latest technology like the multi-screen theatres in town, but it still has a lot to offer.  You can see movies for $3.00, you get free refills on large popcorns and sodas, and their longevity, having opened in 1948,  means they are dependable.  To point out the latter, Lawton suffered the worst ice storm, in anyone’s memory, on Thursday, January 28, 2010.  It shut the whole town down, taking out power to about 30,000 people and doing indescribable damage to trees throughout the city.  Many people were without electricity for 7 days, or longer, and the schools were closed for 7 days, too.  Well, you can imagine my surprise when looking out a back window of my house, I saw the top of the Vaska tower aglow from the red neon lights.  It didn’t surprise me that they had eclectricity, because we had been blessed and spared that particular misfortune at our house, only a block away.  What caught me offguard was that they were open, at all.  I thought to myself, “How great that during a time of hardship, for many, the Vaska was sending the message loud and clear of stability and strength, steadfastness in the face of adversity, and reaching out to all who sought refuge from the storm.”  This photo was taken the next night to record the proud moment in the Vaska’s rich history.