Red Earth

Decorated In Red

26th Annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival

Myriad Gardens and Cox Center

Oklahoma City

I shot these pics on June 9th of this year for a series but had a hard time of deciding how I wanted to present them until now. The festival is steeped in Old Tradition but fully embraces the Current Times. One must certainly be respectful of the Spiritual aspect as well as the Customs. I will try and blend into my pics, using my editing program Picasa, my feelings and interpretation of the scenes that were viewed.

Nation by Nation

At the Grand Entry, dancers lead the People of their tribe into the large Cox Center where the dance competitions were held. Each individual was dressed in their native dress. OKC was in the center of Native American art and culture this weekend!

Unidentified Warrior

Red Earth Invitational Sculpture Exhibition

Native American artists exhibited their works in both inside and outside settings. All of the works shown were for sale. A range of sculptures from classical to abstract to large pieces will be seen.

Hope everyone enjoys the pics. All had some type of processing done on them to convey my interpretation of the scene, but the scene itself is true. Enjoy the visit to Red Earth!

RED EARTH

a series

1

Seeing Double

These first two shots aren't the greatest of shots but once the two pelicans flew over me and out over the ocean they headed towards two chinook helicopters and the pair of "birds" struck me as something I might not see again so I took a couple of photos.

I think we were standing in just the right spot on the beach for the pelicans. I had several that flew right in at me just so I could get their picture. LOL

Well oiled machinery...

Found these old car parts on a local beach, I think I've posted other pictures of this a couple of years back. This time I took some close in shots to try to capture some of the detail in these pieces.

Difficult to imagine that these were once part of brand new shiny vehicles with that new car smell... Slowly but surely nature is taking everything back atom by atom to it's original form.

More romance stuff

Yea, yea, yea, where's the TV remote? LOL

This was actually my youngest daughter's idea. This is her hand print next to Aaron's with their wedding rings stuck in the sand.

As much as I hate to admit it, it wasn't a bad photo idea. She has a pretty good photographic eye, the only problem is that she only takes pictures with her cell phone. Getting her to use a real camera is almost impossible. Kids! What are you gonna do?

The Seer

The Gypsy fortune teller seemed to be in deep concentration while holding her crystal ball at arms length. The reflection of the street scene crowded the window from where she sat inside. Her prediction of the future for the Plaza District called for much success with continuing good things happening in the near and on going times!

Tha-tha-tha Thats All Folks!

End of Plaza District Series

11

Beetlejuice

The hummingbird from yesterday was sharing the plant with these beetles. The beetles were everywhere around this plant! And before you ask, I don't have any idea what kind of plant it is, it's not in my Hawaiian plant book. LOL

Peas in a pod!

Been a great year for peas, best crop ever! Problem is I don't know what I did different this year than other years... LOL Guess I should pay more attention eh?

Now the beans on the other hand are making lots of growth and blossoms but then the blossoms just fall off and very few beans grow... Any ideas?

Hummmmming Bird

We spent an entire day at the San Diego zoo and I think Aaron and I spent more time trying to photograph this one hummingbird than we did anything else there. The little birdie just wouldn't cooperate.

I think I changed lenses three times trying to get a good photo but everytime I changed lenses the hummingbird flew away. I would give up and change back to my original lens and he would come back. I think he would do that on purpose, or maybe Aaron was shewing him away when I wasn't looking. LOL

Palm Trees

I thought I would just stay with Aaron's "night time shot" theme for the day. These are a couple of more shots from La Jolla Beach.

Copy Cat

      Like Ron posted we had awesome time in San Diego with the family. It was nice to relax and enjoy time with them. Ron even let me use his camera a couple of times. This photo was taken on our first attempt at taking sunset photos at La Jolle Beach. I had seen a similar photo like this as a preset image on my computer and had to give my own attempt.

     Since I was posting copy cat photos, I thought I would include my photo similar to one Ron posted the first night we were there.

Romance is alive and well

OK, so I'm not the most romantic person in the world but I do know a good photo when I see one.

I have no idea who these people are. I was setting up my shot and noticed them on the point and adjusted the frame to include them in it.

Sleeping Giants

Mount Rainier and Mount Adams are both part of the Cascade Mountain Range which extends from Northern California to Southern British Columbia. The Cascade Volcanoes are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the ring of volcanoes and associated mountains around the Pacific Ocean.

Got a few good view of both of these volcanic mountains while hiking up above the White Pass ski area last weekend.

In Flight Part II

OK, so I didn't really fly the jet. They didn't have a barf bag big enough for me to do that! LOL

These shots were taken on an aircraft carrier that has been turned into a floating museum/attraction in San Diego. This is aboard the USS Midway. They had several aircraft on the flight deck and the below deck work area and there were a couple that you could climb into and I just couldn't help myself.

For the more adventurous they did have a flight simulator that you could get into, again, no barf bags big enough for me, but the simulators are capable of full 360 degree rolls and other maneuvers that would make the roller coaster crowd very happy.

Sunrise Sunset

Just looking through pictures from my little trip and found that I had Sunrise and Sunset pictures of the same scene... Though neither photo is the greatest I thought it interesting that in both instances the camera was pointed the same direction to capture both Sunrise and Sunset.

In flight

Pelicans were plentiful in San Diego. I think they out numbered the sea gulls.

Dry places

Ok I'm back from a little trip away from my Rainforest home on the West Coast of Canada. Took a short holiday down below the 49th and East over the Cascades into the center of Washington State. Finding this much hot dry landscape was a feast for my eyes and I took a number of pictures. These three are probably the most interesting. Please note: No tripods were harmed in the making of these pictures... LOL

The end of the day

With a stomach full of sushi and miso soup we headed to the La Jolla Cove beach for a few photos and sight seeing. We arrived and got set up just as the sun had gone below the horizon so Aaron and I were hustling to get a few photos before it got dark.

La Jolla Cove is an interesting place with sea lions coming and going as they please along with an eclectic group of people. There was even a wedding there one night. The only draw back is that the parking is very limited so you have to get lucky to get a spot.

Show Time

A New Venue

The red framework of what was once the Plaza Theater banner now accommodates a new sign. The flashing neon of the old sign is but a memory.

     The Plaza Movie Theater opened in 1935 with the backing of Paramount Studios. The first air-conditioned movie theater in Oklahoma! The Plaza District was a destination. It still is today!

     A vital part of the Lyric Theater group, this 270 seat setting provides an intimate setting that is aimed at the adventurous theatergoer. Sometimes mature and edgy content are brought to the stage! It also provides a venue for rarely performed musicals, plays, and new works of our talented performers!

Going Broadway

The Broadway Musical that was being presented at the Civic Center, downtown in the heart of OKC was flashed on the sign. Professional year round Theater is now a part of Oklahoma. Nationally known Broadway Stars are frequent visitors! Four major shows a year are presented at the Civic Center with a full Orchestra! Four major productions are held at the more intimate Lyric at the Plaza! I have yet to obtain seats as Season ticket holders hold the tickets, but my name is in the pot!

Plaza District

10

Sidewalk News

No More Headlines

All the news is so bad these days this artist chose to turn the newspaper vending machines into something to put a smile on the passers- by. A much better use for my quarter's worth!

Dead Robots

I had two things in mind when I took in this quirky art scene; First was they looked like a pile of robots in need of a battery charge, Second was I wondered what important events had been headline news in the newspapers that once were sold from these old self pay boxes!

Plaza District

9

Photographer at Work

I think he's trying to make me look bad. LOL As an old man I would need help to get up from the sand if I got that low to take a photo. I may have to turn into a director instead of a photographer.

We made another trek to the beach last night to try our hand at taking sunset photos. Our timing was better this time and I think we ended up with several good shots. This is Aaron and my youngest daughter on the beach at La Jolla. I'm not sure if the model or the photographer was loosing their patience first.

Going Long

Hello from the Pacific Coast. Aaron and I went out to take some shots last night around La Jolla Cove. We were hoping for some sunset photos but we spent too much time in the sushi restaurant over eating so we got to the beach a little late for the good color.

I took a long shutter exposure on this shot (15 seconds at f8 with the Nikon 17-35mm) looking across the cove. We're going to try for the sunset photos again tonight as long as the clouds cooperate.

This photo is as shot except for the frame since I am using Cheryl's laptop and don't have access to my photo editing programs. I really miss my editing programs!

Converging Worlds

East meets West

The reflections at 1:24pm were at their best. This east facing window seemed to blend these Oriental ladies with their view of the street scene outside where I stood. The inside and the outside scenes became one!

Upcoming Event

My visit to the Bomb Shelter in the Plaza District was March 24, 2012.

The studio and gallery specializes in multi media  21st century Dada design. Wide format prints, silk screen, canvas and sculptural are included. The young artists are successfully keeping the Dada art movement alive at this studio. Futuristic, surealism, modernism, and graphic are all words that can be used to try and define these works. I believe you have to feel it to understand it!

What World and Century are We In

The robot and the space traveler seem to be standing on the same concrete and plane as I. The buildings behind the man are the buildings behind me. The buildings behind the robot blend with both worlds. Reflections at the Bomb Shelter are fun to point one's camera eye at!

Retro and Pointed

Plaza District

8

Hasta La Vista, Baby!

Cheryl and I are headed to the Pacific Ocean for a few days of R&R. Sunshine, palm trees and expensive drinks, any guesses as to where we're headed?

I will try to post a few photos while we're gone.

Skulls and Daisies

The large panes of glass made for almost mirror image reflections.

Skulls and Daisies

The eyes are the window of the soul!

Old English Proverb

The window display of the Warpaint Clothing Co. caught my eye and made me think that maybe the hollow eyes of the Buffalo has no soul left. It has been surrendered to the Great Spirit for safekeeping! The horse and cow soul lives there also!

Plaza District

7

Another oldie

This is a shot from 2010. I think it's time to get out and take some new photos!