Portraits & Road Junk

One more Merle Oberon. Three different photos, three different looks. I like looking at these to see if I can figure out how they were lit. This one is a little tougher than the other two because it's hard to see her eyes. Obviously there was an overhead light in front and to the left - maybe two looking at how bright her left arm is and the lack of shadow on the background. The lack of a background shadow could've been the result of a background light as well. Probably two lights on her face judging by the lack of shadows under the nose. While I prefer both of the previous photos I've posted to this one, this is a great photograph just the same. Most of these were taken with an 8x10 view camera with retouching on both the negative and on the print if called for. Truly an art form from start to finish.

No art on this one. Just one more item I've found over the years while out running or cycling. I started running in earnest in 1976 when I was boxing and my coach told me we should enter the 10.5 mile run the town was planning as part of the bi-centennial celebration they were having. I've been running, racewalking or cycling ever since. I've covered a lot of both town and country miles and I've seen all kinds of flotsam and jetsam while out on the roads. Liquor bottles and beer cans of course, pornographic books and tapes, cassette tapes with about fifty feet of the guts unspooled, road kill, tools, car parts, trucker bombs, and I even picked up a Richard Petty Matchbox car while on my bike trip out west a few years back. About the only thing I haven't come across is money. I've found the occasional nickel, dime or penny, but never any real money. Probably the greatest value I've gotten has been the health benefit and the time spent with my running buddies and saddle pals.

Looks like the ninety degree temps are gone for a while. That'll make the cycling a bit more enjoyable. However, I'm sure it'll be hot in Nebraska when we're out there, so I need to get out in the heat a bit to get acclimated. I should have the sidecar finished this upcoming week and, hopefully, have a good start on getting the bike itself finished. Be nice if the well guy showed up too.