New Bridge

 I grew up in Iowa Falls, Iowa and paid a visit today - there's a new bridge going up.

Iowa City Walkway

Green River

A Green River from the Princess Cafe in Iowa Falls, Iowa...a favorite of mine through the years, and years, and years...ok enough already with the years...

Reflections

Spillway At The Iowa Falls, Iowa Dam

Light My Fire

Light My Fire

I get excited when I see 1 maybe 2 cardinals at my bird feeder in Waterloo.  At my friends, Tom and Linda, in Burlington, there were literally dozens of cardinals.  It seemed that every where I looked there were cardinals - bluejays, woodpeckers, snow birds, cats, cows, and an eagle even flew by...

Female Cardinal

End of Game Photo(s)

1.9 Seconds - In or Bounce?

Swish - End of Game 1.6 Seconds

I am in Burlington, Iowa this week staying with friends as I wait for my spouse to return from California (by train).  We went to a high school basketball game tonight where I kept busy taking photos... (hold that thought)...

I arrived in Burlington earlier this afternoon and stopped by the Mississippi to see if there were any eagles - and there were, swooping and fishing and I did get some excellent photos.  So, why you might ask is my picture of the day of a basketball game?  Look at the first photo - look at the second.  Mediapolis won at the buzzer.

Majestic

His Majesty In Flight

Ok - this one might come close to Wow...

Going In For The Fish

Going In

Everything I've read about taking photographs of moving birds (Eagles) tells me that if you get 1 out of a couple of hundred you're doing good.

That being said... I shot about 300 photographs today - haven't gone through them all yet, but it appears that I perhaps have 4 or 5 that might be "ok" - nothing that screams "Wow!"

Hamburg Inn 2

Hamburg Inn 2, Iowa City, Iowa

The oldest family owned restaurant in Iowa City.  They're famous for their bean voting and some of their guests including former Presidents Reagan and Clinton.

If you've never been there here's a LINK to read more about it...

Barn At Golden Hour

Barn Precisely At Sundown

As we driving back from Des Moines the Sun was setting so I quickly got off of the interstate and took this photo - note the golden glow on the barn, grass and plants.

Barn 1 Minute Later

Not one minute later the golden glow had subsided... 

Recovered from 2008 Flood

We have been driving by Saint Patrick's Catholic Church for years. It was pretty much devastated by the 2008 floods. This past weekend we had the chance to take our Grandson James to an Eagle Court of Honor so we finally got to see the inside of the building — it was gorgeous.

Swinging Bridge Iowa Falls, Iowa

I am sometimes amazed that I lived to be older than 13 - when I was a "yute" [youth] I dove off this bridge in the summer and swam in the river. It gives me the heeby-jeebees to think about it now - what was under the water? I could have broken my neck and drowned... there goes the jeebees again...

(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Panther Pride

Water Tower announces panther pride.

The front of of the UNI Dome

You can see it for miles...

Old man winter frequently gets the best of the dome - but it has hung in there!!

(Click on a photo to view a larger image).

Hope Martin Park

Monument reflected in the rising water at Hope Martin Park in Waterloo, Iowa
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Shoreline Mississippi

I do not believe that you can go any farther south in Iowa than the shoreline of the Mississippi at Fort Madison. This is a photo of that point.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Too Many Choices

It was an excellent weekend for taking photographs and I can't decide which one to use - there are too many choices - so, I'll just have to share a couple...


We picked up my Mother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law who were returning from a Trip to California. Just had to take a train picture while we were waiting.


The HWY 34 Bridge going into Illinois. Looks like a big "H".


While I was shooting Eagle Photos this guy popped his head up as to say, "Whatsup?"


This is next to the old Fort Madison and as we were driving by I noticed the Eagles sitting on the ice. Now, what was I to do? I just HAD to stop and shoot some pictures. Although the temperature was 37 degrees there was a stiff wind coming off the river and it felt like 112 below zero. I didn't stay long...
(Click on a photo to view a larger image).

Thanks to My Friends Tom and Linn

For those of you following my blog you know I've been trying to get a photo of an Eagle. Every time I would see one in Waterloo/Cedar Falls I either didn't have a camera, or it wasn't an Eagle at all. We're visiting our friends Tom and Linn in Burlington and Tom took me out Eagle hunting and I snapped the above picture. I was thrilled. I asked Tom to pull over so we could wait and perhaps I could shoot some more pictures - but, "No," he said, "We're going to the Lock and damn." Well - damn... take a look at the picture below - a tree full of Eagles.


A Colony...


I have my Eagle picture - thanks Tom and Linn!!!
PS I'll be back for more pictures. Excuse my early post to January 10, 2010, but I just couldn't wait. Tomorrow morning will bring another bird...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

It's That Time of Year

I guess we've had it good - Dec 3rd and so far no snow - temperatures close to 60 on Wednesday and now snow on Thursday - the unpredictability of weather. I need to find my scrapers, snow brush and see if I can get the snow blower started. Now white will be the color to photograph....
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Railroad Bridge

This is a railroad bridge which runs across the Cedar River in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It's one of my favorite places to take pictures.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).