River Falls Days, Sunday - Fireworks

This is one of the shots of the fireworks sunday night that finished up River Falls Days. Not the most impressive display, reminded me of about the same as the town i grew up in of 800 people, expected "something" better. They were also behind the trees a lot more than i expected. Maybe i got spoiled by the ones LaCrosse had, from the bluff and over the river. Used to go out on the roof over my garage and watch the ones from the bluff as it was only a half a mile away, but elevated and a nice view from there. I also didn't have to deal with everything that tested my patience tonight, from the people in the car that kept thinking it was funny to flash their headlights on bright right at  most people several times during the display, to the cop who was waving me through traffic then decided to yell at me for doing what he said (hint to him, learn that when you point at a car and are waving in the direction to go, that means that car should go, not stop.), to the tailgaters who seemed drunk and almost hit me, to the humidity that started to condense on my lens as it got darker (which is why the shots of the fireworks look 'fuzzy'), to the HUGE bat that decided to get the bugs around me (not even kidding, at least a four foot wingspan, at least. Flew around me, hit me with it's wings, scared the living daylights out of me). Sigh...

So anyway, this was my first try at shooting fireworks, and with all those complications, and the strange decision to try it with fisheye, some turned out decent i think. This is one of my favorites.

River Falls Days - Thursday - Burrito eating contest

Thursday there was a burrito eating contest, sponsored by Mariachi Loco (awesome restaurant by the way, i don't eat there enough), and there were many burritos consumed. There was a tie breaker, ended up running out of them, and the winner (the guy in the white shirt and red pants) had around 20 if i remember. He also kept them down, unlike one guy who didn't, and was the biggest bragger of the bunch (the puker, not the guy who won). Glad that was out of view though, and smell, don't particularly like that much.

(edit: Oops, i originally put it as friday, but it was thursday, not sure where my brain was at the time)

River Falls Days, Friday - Accident

Not the best way to start the weekend i'm betting. After i got a bite to eat at Bo's and Mine, sad to see they had a shorter menu for the weekend with only a couple of selections, i noticed a fire truck and lots of lights going off. At first i thought it might be part of the parade starting, so i went up to it. This is as close as i wanted to get, i didn't want to be a gawker (i'd probably make a horrible paparazzi or freelance news person, i hate interrupting people in stress) but i thought i should get a photo at least. Didn't look too serious, but there was an ambulance, a fire truck, and two police cars. The grey car had significant damage to the back, and it's hood was up for some reason. I have no idea how any can go fast on main, even on a light day cars go slower than 20mph or so, which is probably good as people tend to dart out in traffic without looking. The traffic was even slower today, as there were so many people and cars, i'd say lucky if it went over 15mph, but i guess if someone isn't paying attention, they can do major damage. I hope no one was hurt, but it probably did ruin the day or weekend at the least for the people involved. 

Side note, i was surprised i didn't get yelled at when i approached with my camera, i've heard lots of stories lately about photographers being stopped for taking pictures of various things. I haven't been stopped yet, but i have noticed police cars driving slowly by me and looking when i'm out and about taking photos.

River Falls Days, Thursday - Street Sale

This is a quick post as i only got back a little while ago from a long, long day of walking around town and shooting (with my camera, not a gun) what was happening. For those not in the loop, River Falls is about a week behind with Fourth of July celebrations, most common reason given is that since it's such a college town, no one is here for the actual holiday. I can see that, as the town get's pretty empty in summer. Not as bad as the resort towns around, where they are deserted in every time except summer. Thankfully not too hot today, although it was in the 80s, and sunny, but has been much worse.

This is part of the street sale that is going on around town during the weekend. This store was Mr. Movies, which recently moved to a smaller store. Since Netflix became better, and now streams movies online on demand to either computer, tv that is made to receive it, or Playstation 3 (what i use mostly or computer when i'm just looking to be on it while i watch), i haven't really even thought of going into a rental store. Where i lived previously, i could walk half a block to a video store, and it was before Netflix, but here it's not as convenient for me. I feel bad for the video store owners, but it's hard to fight the convenience.

Just a note, i took a LOT of pictures just today (Thursday) and there are three more days, so while i'm not sure what i am getting to actually, i will have things posting that are from days before, and of course my flickr will be having much more than i will post here.

It's not the heat... yeah, it's the heat.

It's very hot today, or maybe i just feel it is more since my air conditioning isn't quite working. I did notice this very young grackle (at least i believe it is one, harder to tell when they are wet) taking a bath in a basin i have out. When he saw me, he would jump out, and get ready to fly away if i made a move toward him, but then would jump right back in and splash around a bit. I have a proper bird bath, but at some point it tipped over and now has a larger crack in it that lets water run out. It's not broken apart, but the crack is enough that it leaks. So i leave this basin out, and see birds and squirrels occasionally drinking from it, but this is one of the rare times i've seen bathing.

Music in the Park part 2

Just a close up of the band playing in the Music in the Park thing. Also want to point out that here in town, there isn't a parade or anything really for the 3rd and 4th. From what i've heard it's because it's such a college town, and everyone goes back home for these days, so we have what most other towns do a week later, during River Falls Days. So these pictures don't really seem like what most people post on the fourth.

Music in the Park

I was getting groceries yesterday (friday) and on the way back i noticed this, Music in the Park, so i stopped and got a couple shots. Not sure who was playing, or for how long, but the people seemed to be enjoying it. There was a couple even dancing up near the stage. This is the park with the odd sculpture, which i'm actually standing next to, it's on my right, and buildings on each side. There is a bridge on the far side that leads to the White Pathway, and a bigger more park-like park. If that makes sense. I'm not sure if both sides are part of the same park, but it feels different as the river runs right there.

White Pathway view of water

This is Lake George, along the White Pathway, which i walked the other day. It was very hot, around 90F and the sun was strong, but thankfully there is a lot of shade. The thing you can't really see in the picture is the amount of algae that is in the lake. It's pretty much still water due to the damn that is at the power station, and most likely farm run off that is basically fertilizer for it. (There was a good series in the Star Tribune about how their lakes are facing similar problems.)

Don't give up

Good advice. This is part of a poem on the White Pathway in the park by the power plant. It's pretty faded, very hard to read in some spots, but as i was walking i looked down and saw this. I have no idea what the whole poem is, but this struck me. You've probably noticed not as many posts for a while there. Besides not really seeing anything to photograph in town, and not feeling too inspired or positive about things. Trying to break out of that, doing better some days than others though.

Unrelated to this, i think i have werewolves outside, or a stray dog. Being near a full moon, it really freaked me out sitting here in my kitchen, and hearing this really freaky howling outside. More than likely a dog, as since the humane society was closed, strays or loose dogs tend to go for longer, but i've also seen foxes and a bear at one point, so who knows if it's not a wild animal. I'm not feeling brave enough to go out in the dark and see, i turned on outside lights, but couldn't see. Still, pretty freaky.

Unity in the Community 2010 - The End

Here is the end of the Unity in the Community photos, and i end with a random picture i forgot i took at the drag show, and was happy with the result. I wish there were more events like this, it was fun and fun to photograph too. There were more photos taken, and they are on my flickr if you'd like to see, just too many to put up here. Not sure what is going to follow these, guess i'll have to find something new to photograph.

Unity in the Community 2010 - Drag Show, Final Song

Here is the final song of the drag show, they played We Are Family and invited people to come up to the stage and join them in a dance. A lot of people joined them, as you can see here as people were going up, even more ended up joining, but i was getting tired and hungry, so i'm not sure how many and how long it went.

Unity in the Community 2010 - Drag Show, Lady Gaga

Here is one of the more outlandish performances, they performed to one of the songs by Lady Gaga, but i forget which one. The two crawling eventually moved off the stage and the one in the jacket sang in a microphone.

Unity in the Community 2010 - Drag Show, audience interaction

Here is one of the performers interacting with the audience, walking through and over and being flirty and funny. Again, not sure what more to say here, so just enjoy the pictures.

Unity in the Community 2010 - Drag Show

Here are the first two performers from the drag show part of Unity in the Community. which was the last event of the Unity in the Community. This was really fun, and very packed. I'm forgetting if i took a picture of the crowd, but it filled all the seats in the Falcon's Nest, and there were people standing. It was very hard though to figure out exposure and white balance, as you may notice from the pictures.