Black and White – Page 14

schoolhouse rock

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

Schoolhouse on the Ohio back roads.

This early one room schoolhouse was found one Saturday morning as I desperately searched for a break in the clouds. I really wanted to capture a farmscape. However, I’m very happy I found the school instead. We have a lot of these schools here in Ohio. Usually they’ve been converted into a small home, are being used as a storage building, or are just falling down. This is the first example that I have seen withe the belfry still in place. It might be crooked, but it’s still there.

No windows, it must have been dark and oppressive inside. Still, I am certain that many thousands of children received a solid, no frills, education while attending here.

Have a great Saturday.

the pretty side of winter

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

In my last post, I complained about the amount of snow we had gotten. In this post, I will brag about how beautiful the snow we had gotten looks. You see, this is part of snow's mystique. I hate shoveling it and I hate driving in it, but I love looking at it. I am a man after all and this is generally how we feel about snow. See, I just used the word "feel", so I must not be that bad. I am in touch with my feelings and I am only just a little uncomfortable.

As you can see, snow is rather pretty. Especially this type of heavy wet snow. It piles up on top of everything. My friend Pati is from The Dakota Territories and pines for the snow when we don't get it. I think I saw her making snow angels in the parking lot at work when I arrived. That woman is not right in the head. That, in turn, is part of the reason we are friends.

Wednesday evening, on my way home from work, I came across these scenes at Leffels Creek, in my home town of Springfield, Ohio. I thought you might like to see them. Escpecially friends from sub-tropical Australia. You might have monsoon rains, but for good or bad, we have snow.

its still winter

long cold walk

its still winter

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

Here in Ohio, the month of March is a little strange. Today we got ten inches of heavy wet snow dumped on us, but it is supposed to melt quickly and be sunny and in the mid fifties by the weekend. the good news is that by April we will settle into a regular routine of trading rainy days for sunny days and that by the end of May, summer will be here to stay. In just a few weeks, I'll be looking for the crocus to pop their blooms above the ground for the first time.

the sunny side of the silo

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

Winter Grain Silo

The weekend before last, the sun peeked through the clouds for a few hours and then return to its winter hibernation. I loaded the car with gear and headed out for a drive and managed a couple good shots,

However, see that offending dark spot way up at the top? Dust on the mirror. Evidently, I was in too big of a hurry. This happens to the best of us. Slow down, check your equipment!

the morning herd

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

Morning Heard

I came across this herd as I rode around Saturday morning, hoping that the sun would come out. Alas, the clouds and overcast skies held sway until mid afternoon, too late for any good landscape photos.

I watched the cows eating and wandering the field as the farmer drove his truck around and unloaded bails of hay. To my surprise, t he cows pretty much ignored the farmer’s offering, instead continuing to east the winter grass. What do I know about being a cow? I thought they would run for the hay. I know nothing about being a cow.

speaking with John Dunn

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

John Dunn is one of the volunteer blacksmiths on the farm. He is remarkable. As much as you will be impressed with his massive and strong hands, his shock of white hair and his wonderfully expressive eyes, it is his stories and sense of humor that will stay with you for a long long time after you are finished talking with him.

When I pull up to the farm on the weekend and I see him in the blacksmith's shop, I know I will need to spend some time hanging out with him.

the waist

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

In the waist of the B25, just behind the bomb bay is a position for two gunners. The space is incredibly small and it is hard to imagine the suffering that went on in the confined area. Hours were spent in very cold temperatures and in huge bulky suits.

It was indeed a very remarkable generation of young men that lived, fought and died in these tough conditions. I think about them every time I visit a museum and see the planes on display. This was the first time that I had the opportunity to climb up inside of the planes and the feeling was very palpable. The thoughts flowed from within my mind as I got to experience the space that they worked within.

some of my favorite silos

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

I have some favorite silos. Don't you have favorite silos? Maybe it's a mid-west thing. These two are in my to ten. Not because they are old and interesting. The location isn't particularly interesting. I like these silos because of their color.

So, if I love their color, I suppose that I should show you how they look in color:

Those blues and rust colors are what catch my eye. Maybe I am some sort of farm nerd.

TIm

Riveting

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

Today, I had the unique opportunity to spend some unrestricted time in a shop that is rebuilding a B-17G bomber from the Second World War. I was fascinated to see the skilled craftsmen at work restoring the giant plane. While there, I also got to crawl around inside an operational B-25 bomber. You can be sure that as I work through the hundreds of images, I will post the best of the lot for all of you to see.

Meanwhile, I have a lot of post processing to do.