Daily Photos

< February 2024 >

February 1, 2024
On the inside looking out. What`s your favorite kind of lettuce (see January 16, 2024)? I`ve always wanted to work for a radio station. There are more cops than buses at the bus station. Opening in 2023? This is the longest-running construction project since the pyramids.

February 2, 2024
You haven`t felt scorn until you`ve been scorned by meerkats. This is a real bird: Von der Decken`s hornbill. Nothing in my experience prepared me for the armadillo. QUIZ: A burrowing owl lives in a __ __ __ __ __ __. And finally: a Brazilian agouti.

February 3, 2024
Don`t be puzzled: I`m at the Dunbar House. There`s a presentation about Dunbar`s musical activities. Paul on a wall (normal). Paul on a wall (in an old beveled mirror). Inspired by Dunbar, local students created self-portraits and wrote poems about how they wear the mask.

February 4, 2024
I arrived. They left. Fine, be that way. Ready for spring cleaning. It`s still winter . . . . . . but there are hints of spring. This honeybee begins its six-week life energetically.

February 5, 2024
Hesitant to go out in the cold, I took this instead. It turned out to be sunny and fairly warm outside. He just keeps rollin`, he keeps on rollin` along. JEROME KERN Fish, bird, human, chimera? As I walked outside, I made sure to stay in the sun.

February 6, 2024
When a dancer gets new ballet shoes, the first thing they do is break them. Shoes cost $150 and they may go through three a week. A costume from `Swan Lake,` which I will see soon. A white swan. AARP tryna make me feel old. There was no card.

February 7, 2024
More broken glass in my parking garage, but no blood this time (see December 5, 2023). This log is in the same place it was (see January 29, 2024), but the river has receded so it`s on dry ground. I witnessed a gull-shaped solar eclipse this afternoon. A more conventional gull. Sometimes the shot is from behind the statue (see November 16, 2023).

February 8, 2024
Around here, this is a crick (not a creek). This morning, I heard a cardinal singing its spring song. I`ll have to come back here with someone adventurous (see October 29, 2009, and July 20, 2017). If there`s glass in my parking garage, it shall be broken (see February 7 above). The day ended on a high note as a maniac driver got pulled over for running a red light. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

February 9, 2024
Paul Laurence Dunbar died on today`s date in 1906. For the 36th year, LaVerne Sci led a memorial service for Dunbar at Woodland Cemetery. Ralph Moon recited several of Dunbar`s poems. Artist and musician Reginald Harmon provided music. Beside Dunbar`s grave, we lifted every voice and sang.

February 10, 2024
Beavercreek HS pushes the boundaries of color guard. Bellbrook HS elevates the art form to new heights. Carroll HS looks upward toward a bright future. West Carrollton HS gestures with beauty and grace. Lakota East HS displays true affection.

February 11, 2024
Daffodils are thinking about it. Honeybees are so very small, but so very important. Mr. House Finch is looking for Mrs. House Finch. A romantic message hidden in the garden. These folks should take my class on outdoor portraits.

February 12, 2024
Don`t give your love to anyone who brings fake flowers. This type of vehicle is good for driving off-road. One less crow in the world. I will not weep. A new pump of some kind. Looks serious. This office building was completed just as people stopped coming to the office.

February 13, 2024
In the long run, the trees will win. Urban beautification. Ever had one of those days? 34 North Main Street (detail). In his left arm, he`s holding the word HOTEL (see February 1 above).

February 14, 2024
The home team found no love this Valentine`s Day. She got the basket and the foul. This was cruel: pizza boxes were placed on the court and she had to find them blindfolded. She didn`t. Good day for the Penguins. Bad day for the Raiders. (see December 4, 2022) I was about a quarter-mile away when I took this photo. Why are people satisfied to take pictures with phones?

February 15, 2024
`Once you have found her, never let her go.` I had a choice of three bags. Guess which one I took. Way to represent, Dayton Ballet! I had to go for the aerial shot. Post-Valentine`s Day broken hearts.

February 16, 2024
It`s supposed to snow, so Dayton went on the a-salt. I assume someone with be by soon with a red paintbrush (see October 27, 2023). Survey equipment makes sure the pitcher`s mound is 60.5 feet away from home plate (see January 5, 2024). High security construction zone. Another renovation job taking as long as the pyramids (see October 13, 2021).

February 17, 2024
`No way am I going outside today.` (I changed my mind.) Overall, it`s been a mild winter, so I can`t complain. After I took this, my camera froze because of the cold. Ah, the joys and challenges of mirrorless cameras. They can`t just fly. They have to fly and squawk. I`m not happy to see this sign on my street.

February 18, 2024
It was too cold for either of us to be out here. February freeze. February thaw. When the sun was out, it felt pretty good. Animal tracks go somewhere. Human footprints wander.

February 19, 2024
It`s time for renewal (see November 19, 2023). Do you get my point? Sometimes snowplows plow more than snow. This is why the dark side of the moon is always cold. If you`re a bird, there`s a lot of down time.

February 20, 2024
Double duck. Structural integrity. Horizontal within the vertical. King of the overpass. Last year`s leaves: thank you for your service.

February 21, 2024
Look up. Look down. Sacred and secular. This is the approximate time I took this photo. Downtown Dayton is full of interesting characters.

February 22, 2024
The sign warned me (see February 17 above). Me? I thought YOU paid the bill! Did I mention I`m walking to work in February? My working hypothesis: pickup truck drivers just can`t see the color red (see December 13, 2023). There`s no place like home!

February 23, 2024
There was a bird bath a few feet away. The mood of the Oregon District lately. So, this thing called life seems to be about doing what you enjoy (like this guy) and being kind to other people. Dayton spent $46,500 to install this public pooper. There`s still plenty of cake from Valentine`s Day.

February 24, 2024
I shot some of these teams before they had costumes (see January 27, 2024). What a difference color makes! I heard another photographer behind me say, `I wonder what he`s getting from the front row.` Well, I got this. High school guards are great, but when the adult teams perform, the energy goes up. High schoolers love them. As usual during a color guard competition, I saw things happen in front of me that were stunning and beautiful. Color guard is a team sport, but some shows have a prominent individual performer.

February 25, 2024
A perfect way to start the day: first thing this morning, I was reminded of the insignificance of my existence. The cement has dried (see February 22, 2024). These will make it easier to block off the streets on weekends (see April 30, 2021). Superhero or roofer? I hope the crocus doesn`t croak. Kids ignore the newly-installed playground equipment (see December 3, 2023) and climb a tree instead.

February 26, 2024
I was glad to get outside into the warm sunshine today. The schoolkids went on recess at the same time I did. Do you know someone who sparkles wherever they go? There will soon be ducklings paddling on the river. Willis `Bing` Davis dropped by the radio station (see November 5, 2021).

February 27, 2024
It`s always nice to come across a friendly face. While the street is closed (see February 23 above), might as well work on other things. I dropped my car off for service at 9am. At 12:30pm, it`s still where I left it. Is there a color of the year? Pink has my vote. If I owned this parking garage, I`d consider hiring some security guards (see February 7 above).

February 28, 2024
Garin Webb is still blowing jazz (see September 12, 2010) while Jim Leslie keeps the beat (July 22, 2022). Warren Wolf played `Lush Life` on vibraphone and it was heartbreaking even without lyrics. Christian Berg plays jazz. Christian Berg is cool (see July 22, 2022). Phillip Lee Burkhead is also cool (see July 22, 2022). And then something unprecedented happened.

February 29, 2024
Before (see January 21, 2024). After. There was a lot of banging in between. Every once in a while I take a significant picture. A permanent memorial for the Oregon District is being assembled (see August 7, 2020). Broken pieces of tile remind me of the lives that were fragmented.

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