Daily Photos

< August 2025 >

August 1, 2025
The parking ticket was satisfying (see July 31, 2025). Other photographers were nearby taking pictures of a bald eagle in a tree. I headed to the prairie instead. On the radio later in the day I played a Vivaldi flute concerto nicknamed The Goldfinch. Life is brief and beauty is fleeting. In its adult form, a pipevine swallowtail lives for about two weeks. There were noisy children nearby, but I avoided them.

August 2, 2025
There was a lot of Art in the City today. Once a year I take a ballet lesson (see August 5, 2023). I sat in the shade while he risked his neck in the sun. The FIRST time you pick up an instrument it`s fun. I had plans to photograph Art in the City events all over downtown until 6pm, but I ran out of steam by 4:30.

August 3, 2025
In order to get the best angle, I found myself among the large crowd of Michigan fans. This was an exhibition game with lots of substitutions. It was hot and sunny and I left after 30 minutes. Look at the hand on her shoulder. The grabbing, pushing and knocking down makes it hard to enjoy the game. This play went nowhere, and Dayton was a spectator as Michigan dominated.

August 4, 2025
Recently I experimented with using Automatic mode on my camera since I was planning to loan it to somebody. That person will use the camera in Automatic mode and I wanted to see how it worked. Now my camera is on its way to Michigan and I`m here using a different camera that`s more than 20 years old. This is the first camera I bought in 2004 and it`s very low quality compared to what I normally use now. If the technical quality of the pictures is lacking, I can always make up for it with obscurity.

August 5, 2025
It`s another day with an obsolete camera from 2004. I can`t believe I once took good photos with this camera. With a 2004 camera in my hand, my pictures lately seem to echo my photographic style from back then. There was a breakfast cereal explosion on the sidewalk. I don`t understand why some people do what they do, but at least I can take pictures of it (see July 8, 2025).

August 6, 2025
Sometimes I start taking photos of someone and can immediately tell it`s going to be rough, but not this time. She said, `I love the camera, and the camera loves me.` I photographed another redhead with the same first name on August 16, 2014. She climbed a tree without me asking her to (see the other redhead on September 5, 2021). I wanted to meet in the morning, she wanted evening. We wouldn`t have gotten this shot in the morning.

August 7, 2025
I learned a lesson about butterfly behavior on June 30, 2004, and I used it again today: Step into the Light. In the garden this morning, there was only me, bees, butterflies, birds, chipmunks and flowers. I was happy. Unnaturally close to a skipper (see June 20, 2025). I had the wrong lens for this shot, but I made it work. I do a lot of bug chasing.

August 8, 2025
Lift your steins, it`s time for Germanfest Picnic! The German festival features French can-can dancers (see August 13, 2021, and August 12, 2022). It`s her job to be outrageous. Some musicians just put on lederhosen and play oom-pah-pah, but this guy really is German. I told him not to spill his socks. You know, cuz I`m funny.

August 9, 2025
We`re all one year older (see August 10, 2024). In August he`s German. In July, he`s Irish (see July 25, 2014, July 30, 2016, and July 28, 2017). Not a German shepherd. He did a pretty good Louis Armstrong impression. This Camaro had a 1968 tail and a 1969/70 front end. What it lacked in authenticity, it made up for in shine.

August 10, 2025
I`m uncomfortably hot, and I`m not wearing a dark suit (see August 15, 2021). Volkwagen is a German company, but its cars are manufactured in 27 countries around the world. Once a year, I go to Mass. Yes, a polka band plays at Mass during Germanfest. The beer tent was closed during Mass, so I hid in the shade. Hover flies busily slurped up last night`s spills.

August 11, 2025
Tonight`s dinner? My photos are often multifaceted. In case you forgot where I live. I live to the right, but I walked to the left since there were TWO panhandlers on that side working in shifts. I`m using an old camera from 2004, and taking the same kind of pictures I took in 2004.

August 12, 2025
Missed it by that much. MAXWELL SMART Still a few spots to fill in (see July 18, 2025). My building is leaking. I should get my real camera back today and I can put the baby camera back in the closet. This camera does fine with things that don`t move.

August 13, 2025
Instinct told me to stay clear of this bug. I am the paparazzo of the garden, chasing after insects and birds that don`t want to have their picture taken. It was early, so I assume this bumblebee spent the whole night clinging to this flower. This bug was a long way off, but that`s why I spend big money on big lenses. Being a honeybee is hard work.

August 14, 2025
Mojoflo is back (see August 31, 2018). Mojoflo is back (see July 19, 2019). Mojoflo is back (see June 3, 2022). I was at a different show last night and Amber Knicole walked out and blew the roof off the Victoria Theatre. There were three things I might have done tonight, but rain or shine I wanted to see Mojoflo at the Levitt.

August 15, 2025
Indulge your passions. Stand out from the others. Bring beauty to the world. Shine brightly. Go where you please.

August 16, 2025
It was a day where picture-taking was my lowest priority. Kinda makes up for days like April 5, 2025. Four lads on a roof. It`s the latest thing. Evening in the Oregon District. He`s so vane. I think cats can recognize cat lovers. That`s why this one ran away from me.

August 17, 2025
It was another roaring hot and humid day. I saw paintings by my former colleague Curtis Barnes. Admission was free so there was nowhere to park. Other people`s photo shoots. I had a plan for photos today, and this weren`t it.

August 18, 2025
Every year, I take pictures of musical instruments (see August 23, 2024). I`m thinking of John Philip Sousa right now. It`s not a ukulele, it`s a fluke. Band instruments have a certain core repertoire. The things we leave behind say a lot about us.

August 19, 2025
The weather people said it would rain so I drove to work. It`s not raining. The bubbling brook you`ve heard told about. I made a lame attempt at nature photos this evening after work. I`m more of a morning guy. Bees work in the morning and the evening. A new street lamp was installed across the street. That`s good, but it`s ten times brighter than others.

August 20, 2025
It`s always interesting to see how many drivers ignore the bright lights and screaming siren of the ambulance. These were in the same spot as the bare feet from June 11, 2025. A slow and patient hunter. Just don`t get too close. A fast and aggressive hunter. Watch out for the talons. I had to stand dangerously on rocks to get this shot.

August 21, 2025
I visited UD today and got a visitor`s parking pass to avoid any confrontations (see March 7, 2006). Classes don`t start until next week, but color guard practices today. Thanks for the check Germanfest (see August 8 - 10 above), but white is not a color. Some backyard blooms. Summer`s lease hath all too short a date. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

August 22, 2025
This little bug was on my screen door when I left for work, and it was in the same spot when I got home. Sometimes `autofocus` is a misnomer. I walked to work in the morning, walked to the library at lunch, and then I walked home. Who needs a car? At a loss for words. Did you see the blood moon?

August 23, 2025
In rugby, the best way to advance the ball is to pass it, but sometimes one player makes a breakout run. This is a touchdown, or whatever they call it in rugby. I don`t understand the game, but the pictures are good. The only pictures worth keeping were from the second half, when the dominant team was headed my direction. A little kid near me said, `My mom can`t play because she had knee surgery.` Another one said, `My mom broke her finger, so she can`t play, but she can watch.`

August 24, 2025
This was an enormous spider web across an archway. Fortunately I noticed before I walked through it. My only companion in the garden this morning. Old age comes quickly for a monarch. This tiny dragonfly was about the size of a match. I did in fact walk into a spider web as I shot this.

August 25, 2025
The genius parker is back (see August 1 above). I stopped to take this photo and missed the bus. After missing the bus, I had time to admire some art. No, it`s not a violin. This is the bigger sibling, a viola. You`re being watched.

August 26, 2025
Wilbur Wright with a backwards cap and gold teeth. Nice, but does it float? I didn`t expect to crawl on the ground during my lunch break, but I do what`s necessary to get the shot. The real world is better than anything you can watch on a screen. Zooming along.

August 27, 2025
Note to self: no more evening games. I put my back to the sun, of course (see September 19, 2021). Other people had to look straight into the sun. I was backpedaling here to avoid getting run over. The home team rose high, but fell short.

August 28, 2025
What does a sunflower do when there`s no sun? Another UD student photographer on the street (see September 20, 2023). The beer must flow, so traffic has to wait for the truck. I can see you in there. Our achievements are made possible by those who came before us.

August 29, 2025
We`ve been having some problems at my workplace. I`m looking forward to September 20. One man`s trash is another man`s collector`s item. Other people`s photo shoots. The barricades now have new banners with the euphemism Weekend Pedestrian Corridor. I have other words for what happens in the Oregon District.

August 30, 2025
I`m only too happy to share my crosswalk with you. I think it`s finished (see August 12 above). Saturday was sun day. Two hearts beat as one. U2 And Then There Were Three (see February 6, 2015).

August 31, 2025
Juxtaposition calls itself a `performance organization whose focus is on providing young adults with a space to continue to learn and grow in their passion for the marching arts.` Juxta consistently ranks among the top winter guards at the WGI World Championships (see April 4, 2025). Today I had the opportunity to photograph a summer clinic presented by Juxtaposition. A large number of hardworking and talented young people spent their day improving their technique. Success in April means practice in August.

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