Thanks John!!

Morningside College in Sioux City, IA is my alma mater. I chose Mass Communication and Graphic Design as my majors. Photography was my minor. I loved the school. It was quaint and my professors all knew me, even the instructors who only shared a single class. A couple weeks ago I went back over homecoming weekend to help celebrate one wonderful instructor. John Bowitz was the head of the Art Department when I was a student. Fast forward a decade, plus a couple years. Now John is stepping away from his time teaching hundreds of students in this facility. Loads of artists have put charcoal to paper and brush to canvas under John's instruction and displayed their work in the gallery. Over the summer work highlighting John's career was placed on display. His past students, colleagues and friends gathered at a reception on Homecoming weekend.  

John, I wish that I could have really listened to your speech more thoroughly. My son wanted to explore the gallery and check out the art work too.

 

 

 

 

I did appreciate his reflection on the early days teaching art history.  While it was a subject lacking in his favor, he began to appreciate the subject as he became more immersed in the subject. I'm glad.   I always appreciated his willingness to take the time to chat with me or answer any questions that I may have.   I didn't get to take many classes with him other than Art History. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to be in that classroom the fall of my sophomore year.  I studied in Europe the following semester. How wonderful to actually see things that I already viewed on the pages of a textbook.

 

My drawing instructor, Terri McGaffin also shared her memories of John at the beginning of her career at Morningside. John had explained that teaching technical skill and accuracy is important. Allowing a student to explore ideas is equally, and perhaps more important.  A person may not remember everything learned during four years of college. A person does remember how to learn, explore concepts and overcome challenges.

Terri McGaffin and Shannon Seargeant worked over the prior year to contact as many former students as possible, inviting them to participate. We were all asked to submit a piece of artwork that could be placed in a three ring binder and presented to John as a gift. 

 

John, thanks for all that you have done and continue to do for art education. My first trip to a city was the Art Club's weekend in Chicago my freshman year. I still love the smell of art supplies. I plan to continue making art and trying to spread the love to others. I look forward to seeing the work that you put forth during retirement.

I know many of your former students wish that they could have attended your show as well. 

May you always have a blank piece of canvas or paper or wood or a couch at your disposal!! :D

Be Present in the Moment

I appreciate people who have the patience and drive to hunt wildlife and gather food. I haven't done it. I like to think that photography is similar in nature, minus the harvesting of game. Photographing lightening is sort of like fishing. There may be strikes happening all around you... But you have to pick a spot, aim your camera and cast your line.



I have the problem of wanting to rush around to a different spot... only to see strikes happening where I was just set up.

Other similarities include these tips: 1. You have to know your target/subject. 2. Be prepared. 3. Be patient. 4. Enjoy the moment even if you don't bag a trophy.

For more than ten years, I've been trying to photograph bald eagles. I haven't travelled to Yankton to see them along the river because I'm not familiar with their pattern there. I may have to try it this year. I know that near where I grew up in Union County, South Dakota, bald eagles typically visit toward the end of February and into March. Whenever the snow thaw begins, geese come into the area and eagles are right behind. That's where and when I tend to photograph them, in cottonwoods over the fields and local creeks.

When they are in the area, I try to drive over in the morning on my way to work and just before sunset after work. Last year was the first year that I noticed them in the Vermillion River valley. This was way more convienent for me, I could look for them as my son and I commuted to town. The problem was that I would only ever see them when I was not equipped with a DSLR camera and long lens. This setting was the most picturesque that I'd experinced. I'd see one perched above the water as I drove by. Sometimes I'd stop and turn the car around to watch for a bit.

Even though the eagles flew off months ago, I still scan the river as we drive by. It's been really pretty lately as the trees have been turning.

Am I right?



Except that something caught my eye:



Do you see it?



Patches of white tend to readily catch my eye, even if they are small... The thing is, I've never seen bald eagles in the area at this time of year. I will admit that I am not an expert.

I am glad that I was able to take a snapshot to share my sighting with you today, but I was really sad that I didn't have my big camera and an appropriate lens. I was not prepared.

But, it is another lesson for me. I need to be more patient and try my best to be more prepared. Most importantly, I need to enjoy the moment. This bird was in the prettiest setting that I could hope for, fall all around and I didn't have 'my camera'. I didn't bag a 'trophy shot'. But, the bird stayed still long enough to turn the car around, roll down the window and fire a shot just to prove that it was there. Then I was able to step out of my car and watch for a few moments. I maybe could have gotten my son out of the vehicle too. When he is older, I look forward to pointing things like this out to him too.

I don't know how long this bird will be around. It seems like where there is one, there is probably another one or two in the region. I hope to be better prepared next time.

In the mean time, I am thankful for the opportunity to experience a majestic scene. And I will try to live more in that moment.

"I'm Just a Country Cook"

I  have the privilege to work full time for South Dakota Public Broadcasting.  This career allows me the opportunity to meet a lot of really interesting people in this great state.  Yesterday we travelled to the northeast corner to visit a ranch woman who has lived her life in the Coteau Hills near Sisseton, Waubay and Ortley.

Verna Knapp still lives on the ranch that her husband's parents homesteaded.  She's been working here since 1945, when she married her husband.  Verna doesn't call herself a chef...  she says she's just a country cook.  Still, she's been gathering recipes for several decades and likely has advice that cooks and pastry chefs alike would salivate over.

 



Verna's sunken garden is located in the foundation of the homestead's claim shanty.  Flowers are shared with local senior centers and nursing homes.  Once a month Verna takes extra produce to a local farmer's market.

Several of the ranch's buildings are on the historic registry.  For now, the Knapp family is working to preserve this piece of history.  The barn in the background will be a century old in the coming year.  This building isn't open to public visitation now, will be around for future generations to enjoy.  Verna says that much of the work that she continues to do is for the benefit of the future.  Knapp enjoys planting a variety of trees to improve the habitat for wildlife.  She also points out that it's an activity less for the benefit of the gardner, but for those folks yet to come.

Verna came to our attention thanks to a cookbook that she published, My Recipe Roundup at the Knapp Ranch: A Collection.  She assembled the recipes that she had been collecting from her mother and a variety of other women that she'd known through her life.  Some of the recipes are county fair award winning treats.  Sprinkled throughout the pages of the cookbook are also stories inspired by local history, family anecdotes and tales shared among neighbors in Roberts County.

Cooking is a passion that Verna won't likely retire from.  She treated my coworker and I to venison sandwiches and potato salad.  Yum!!  I mean it!!  I don't often have the opportunity to eat venison.  My experience with it is that it has a gamey flavor.  This sandwich didn't have that flavor that I expected.  I went on the shoot expecting to purchase a cookbook.  That sandwich confirmed my desire to have game recipes on hand in case my husband did bring home a deer in the future. :-)

Verna emphasizes the importance of being able to cook with what you have on hand.  The venison was from a deer that her granddaughter harvested from her first hunting trip.  Verna expressed her appreciation of that lovely gift.

Pies are a favorite for a similar reason.  A home cook can produce a pie from any number of items that one may find in their pantry.  On this visit, canned gooseberries were available.  Verna demonstrated for some friends her pie making technique.

I had never sampled gooseberries before.  They are sour and sweet thanks to the sugar in the pie.  I enjoyed the tart aftertaste that I was left with. 

Cooking has sustained Verna and her family, both due to it's nutritional value and the commaradarie that comes with sharing a meal together at home.  This was a pleasant interview to organize and I'm happy that Verna shared a bit of her life with us on camera.  I don't know when this segment is scheduled to air.  Watch for it on Dakota Life on SDPB. www.sdpb.org/dakotalife

Study of Office Supplies

This week I find myself with some spare time on my hands as I wait for things to happen. Some people read, others play Angry Birds and still others play Sudoku. I do all of these things too, but sometimes I work to create images. I recently acquired a Canon EOS M camera. There is extra motivation to play with it and figure out some of the things that it can do. With a flashlight, small gorilla pod and camera... I'm all set to sit and take photos. But, what should I photgraph? I rummage through our desk and grab a few paperclips, thumbtacks, post it notes and paper. I'm set to create a small studio and fiddle away a few moments. No harm, I'm still where I need to be for work when events get going. I can fidget away without notice from others. Here are a few images that I made. They're nothing too amazing, but I think that they're fun.