Spreader

Stopped on our way back from Des Moines yesterday and took some photographs. We've been driving by a place for years which has some old farm equipment and yesterday it just seemed the right time to stop.
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Nile Kinnick

We had a reception at HyVee's Iowa Pride Museum. The photo is of a bronze statue of Nile Kinnick. He was a student at the University of Iowa and won the 1939 Heisman Trophy. He died during a training flight while serving as a U, S, Navy pilot in World War II. Kinnick was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, and the University of Iowa renamed its football stadium "Kinnick Stadium" in his honor in 1972.
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Des Moines Skywalk System

I am in Des Moines, Iowa attending the Iowa League of Credit Unions annual convention. This is a photo of a leg of the skywalk system. Certainly appreciate not having to walk outside.
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In the Bushes

Who (or what) is that is the bushes? and, what is he doing?
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Changing Color

Changing colors...from green...

To Orange...

Almost harvest time.

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Ripe On The Vine

Ready to be picked.
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Beetle Battle

We paid another visit to the Cedar Valley Arboretum yesterday. I find it amazing the activity that is happening on a different plane than most of us are aware. The beetles pictured above, which appear large in this photo, are in fact very small. While I was watching through my camera lens the beetles were positioning themselves for battle - or I guess it could have be a mating ritual - (I'll avoid comments here...) It was fascinating to watch.
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Stuffed Townspeople

As my wife and I were driving home to Waterloo from Iowa Falls we took a detour through downtown Ackley, Iowa. We noticed a "couple" of "stuffed" people standing and sitting on a couple of benches and just thought it was Halloween stuff - a bit early - but, what else could it be? As we continued, however, there seemed to be a "stuffed" townsfolk in front of nearly all of the businesses. Now, with a camera in the car, what was I going to do? NOTE: The guy on the cell phone is not stuffed... (unless he just gone done eating I suppose).


The Maytag Repairman waits for his next call...
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To view all of the stuffed people follow the ink: http://www.rallenhill.com/photo_gallery/Stuffed/

2009 National Cattle Congress

2009 National Cattle Congress, Waterloo, Iowa


The loser in a jousting contest...


I don't recall the lads and lassies of the King Arthur era having wireless microphones.
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Lunch

When I enlarged the photo this crow is chowing down on a dead bat...yuck...
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Busy As A Bee

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The End is Near

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Iowa Country

A haze falls over the valley at Sunset near Mount Vernon, Iowa.
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Serene

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Two Heads

I've heard it said that 2 heads are better than 1 - what do you think?


OK - so I'm desperate for a photo to post this morning so I was playing around with the camera in my MacBook. Does that count?

Feeding the Fish

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Lilly Pad

We discovered an Arboretum in Waterloo yesterday and spent an hour taking photos. This is one of my favorites.

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Sunrise 9-9-09

I was at the Gym this morning and this was the sun rising over West High School in Waterloo, Iowa.
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Moon Set

The moon was still visible as the sun was coming up. Moments later the cloud on the right covered the moon...
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Pink Rose

An award winning rose at the Minnesota State Fair.
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Part the Crowds

We discovered that a good way to make your way through 30,000 people is to walk behind a garbage truck. The crowds part - making way for the truck. We were right behind and made good progress - until the truck turned and we didn't...

Fishing

A Cicada Up Close

A rare Cicada sighting. I do love the sounds they make...

Nature's Painting

Nature's painting - untouched by Photoshop.

Farm Building

Farm Building next to a pond...

Cattails

I wonder why they call them cattails?

Grave Stone

We visited an old family cemetary and I noticed this odd mold growing on an old stone.
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Whispy Grass

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Another Red Flower

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A Bride

I went to take a photograph of a fountain in downtown Waterloo and my shoot was invaded by a wedding party. Here is (I assume) the bride(at least she was the only one in a long white dress and seemded to be getting all of the attnention). She was prettier than the fountain...

The fountain...

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Past Its Prime

A homestead along Interstate 35 North of Des Moines. Past its prime and in serious need of paint.

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Fountain At Night

ISO 1000, 1.3 second exposure at f/4.0 using my 70-300mm lens.
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State Fair Flower

One of my favorite things to do at the State Fair - take pictures of the award winning flowers.
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So Much Food...So Little Time

The Iowa State Fair...A Great State Fair...

Yellow Flower

Excuse the early post for Sunday and the use of a prior picture - we're in Ankeny staying with my daughter getting ready to go to the Iowa State Fair tomorrow - so no time to post. Plenty of pictures next week!!

The Sun Came Out

The rain quit and the sun came out - it hit the neighbors flag just right...
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Wet, Wet, Wet

The picture says it all...wet...
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Lilly

A Lilly in the flower garden in front of the credit union.
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Hello

An exhibit at the Phelps Youth Pavillion, Waterloo, Iowa.

Tree or What's Left

Trinity Tree in 2005


2009


2009 At Night

2009 taken with a 100-400mm Canon Lens

I've been photographing this tree behind Trinity Episcopal Parish for years.

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The Backside of a Wasp

I swear - my new lens can one so close I believe you could count the hairs on a wasps butt!! Try it... clock on the photo for a larger image and see how many hairs you can count.