Robert Swanson's photos

Well, we finally saw all of the Big Boy's that are displayed in static. (Of course, we have shared photos of the operating locomotive 4014). This unit is located on a hill in Omaha, Nebraska, overlooking the river and interstate. Quite a climb to get up to the viewing area. The day we visited is was raining on and off, but there was just a sliver of blue sky to be seen. Image processed with GIMP. swansongrp.com/P/p/rail_narrative/x4023_static

Well, we finally saw all of the Big Boy's that are displayed in static. (Of course, we have shared photos of the operating locomotive 4014). This unit is located on a hill in Omaha, Nebraska, overlooking the river and interstate. Quite a climb to get up to the viewing area. The day we visited is was raining on and off, so this photo looked better in monochrome. Image processed with GIMP. swansongrp.com/P/p/rail_narrative/x4023_static

Taken in the 1970's, when I lived in Southern California. I was riding my bike north of Claremont in the foothills, when I saw this stone "house". (I think that the building housed water pump machinery for the citrus groves located a few feet away.) Taken with a Stereo Realist. This image was one of the sides of the stereo pair; printed using an enlarger. The print was later scanned. Processed with GIMP. A bit more on this type of architecture: The foothills below Mt. San Antonio (Old Baldy) were mostly orange groves then, but I expect that it is all filled in by houses these days. Naturally, the area below that high mountain receives huge numbers and sizes of boulders as they wash down during the rains. Farmers realized that these stones could be cemented together to make the wall of a house. There are many "antique" houses in the Claremont and Upland area with this style of walls.

Taken in 1967, while I was wandering around the older part of Boston. This was the original color slide (Agfachrome), professionally scanned. I had to work very hard on the tone, since the original was very dark. After exposing the shadows, there was some sharpening applied. (Oh yes, taken with my Leica IIIa, 127mm lens.) Processed with GIMP.

Taken in 1967, while I was wandering around the older part of Boston. This was originally a color slide, professionally scanned. Here I tried a nearly full crop and some attempt to tone the monochrome. Used some aggressive sharpening. Processed with GIMP.

Taken in 1967, while I was wandering around the older part of Boston. This was originally a color slide, professionally scanned. Here I tried a square crop and some attempt to tone the monochrome. Tried, but didn't like sharpening. Processed with GIMP.

This is an "antique" radio that was being displayed at the HamVention event. It is a product of Collins, a major manufacturer of radios in times past. Quite a collectible item, if you are into such equipment. Many antique radios like this are in current use. And yes, it was for sale. Image processed with GIMP.

Its hard to describe, so I grabbed a photo at the HamVention event that we recently attended. This took place at a fairgrounds near Dayton Ohio, so there were interior exhibit halls, as well as a massive "flea market" outside. The crowds in the exhibit halls were nearly impassible. This is just a hint as to the folks there, and their numbers. Image processed with GIMP.

Taken at our hotel in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This bench is carved from wood in the form of the state of Michigan. Upper Peninsula is the back, sides are the Lower Peninsula. (Note that the bench back is NOT a fish, it is indeed in the shape of the Upper Peninsula.) Image taken with phone and processed with Snapseed.

Taken at Hamvention, Dayton, Ohio. This is a big amateur radio get-together. They have a "flea" market in the open field near the exhibit halls. This fellow was selling TUBES! Yes, there are still tube radios being maintained and used for amateur radio. (And they were also selling tube testers, not shown.) For the Sunday Challenge the issue was context. So, the viewer might ask: where is this? why all these items? these seem for sale, but who buys them? When I first posted this, I tried to provide some context using words, but we get a little bit of visual context with the grass and vehicle in the background (flea market?). So, where do we go from here? Image taken with phone and processed with Snapseed.

Taken at our hotel in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This bench is carved from wood in the form of the state of Michigan. The style is adiranondak chair but the back is the Lower Peninsula. Image taken with phone and processed with Snapseed.

Taken at the AIr Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio. This observation plane is hanging from the ceiling of the vast hangar. Image processed with GIMP.

Taken at our hotel in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This matching coffee table is carved from wood in the form of the Upper Peninsula. Image taken with phone and processed with Snapseed.

Taken at Hamvention, Dayton, Ohio. This is a big amateur radio get-together. I noticed that this truck certainly has a LOT of antennas. Image taken with phone and processed with Snapseed.

During our visit to Gibraltar, we had a nice tour. At one point, we were looking straight down the rock towards the harbor. Very impressive wall! Image processed with GIMP.

Taken at the Mayan ruins we visited from the cruise ship. These "stele", stones carved with images and Mayan writing, were nearly destroyed by the climate. They have been restored and placed indoors. Image processed with GIMP.

Taken at the Mayan ruins we visited from the cruise ship. These stones are part of the "ball court" construction. Image processed with GIMP.

Taken at the Mayan ruins we visited from the cruise ship. These stones are part of the "ball court" construction. You can see that the jungle is continuing to destroy these man-made structures. Image processed with GIMP.