Confederate Graves and Chapel

Confederate Graves and Chapel, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

This Confederate memorial (including cemetery, chapel, and park land) is in Higginsville, MO. My position in taking this shot was standing just to the left of Captain William Quantrill's grave, about which the Wikipedia article says:

"Quantrill was not the only Confederate guerrilla operating in Missouri, but he rapidly won the greatest renown. He and his men ambushed Union patrols and supply convoys, seized the mail, and occasionally struck towns on either side of the Kansas-Missouri border. Reflecting the internecine nature of the guerrilla conflict in Missouri, Quantrill directed much of his effort against Unionist civilians, attempting to drive them from of the territory where he operated. Under his direction, Confederate partisans also perfected military tactics such as coordinated and synchronized attacks, planned dispersal after an attack using pre-planned routes and relays of horses, and other technical methods, including the use of the long-barreled revolvers that later became the preferred firearm of western lawmen and outlaws alike. The James-Younger Gang, many of whose members had ridden with Quantrill, applied these same techniques after the war to the robbery of trains and banks."

"Quantrill claimed sanction under the Confederate Partisan Ranger Act, which authorized certain guerrilla activities, although he had been refused received a regular Confederate commission as a captain when he visited Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond, Virginia. Thus, like almost all of the Missouri bushwhackers, Quantrill operated outside of the Confederate chain of command. His most notable operation was the Lawrence Massacre, a revenge raid on Lawrence, Kansas in August 1863."

Thanks to Flypaper for texture layers.

The Side Gate at 2340

The Side Gate at 2340, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

We've still got a lot of snow on the ground in Kansas City, and in the streets, driveways, and alleyways.

Winter Alley

Winter Alley, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

I like alleys. There's something mysterious and a little dangerous about them. And I think they remind me of the human mind, in that (like the mind) they contain the stuff that goes on in private, as opposed to the socially acceptable ideas and thoughts that we put out in public, out there on the sidewalk. Some of our thoughts, ideas, and impulses are unsavory. Some of them kinda smell bad.

A lot of people think, or fear, that they are the only ones who have minds that think dreadful thoughts, but it's not true. We all have them. It's part of the human condition. As for dealing with the thoughts (or memories, or impulses) that we don't like, the biggest hurdle is to recognize that they really don't have to be a big deal. They can pass to and fro in our minds, like clouds in the sky, if we don't dwell on them or get into fights with them.

Wintry Shed

Wintry Shed, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

Of all my (many!) photographs of barns and sheds, I think this one might be the one I like the best. And if it were not for the midwestern winter, and snow, and cold, it never could have happened.

[With thanks to pareeerica, on Flickr, for one of the texture layers.]

Old House in Mayview

Old House in Mayview, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

There is something about the old, the abandoned and decrepit, that draws me in. I feel a great affection for houses and barns that are left alone, forgotten, and gently falling apart; among my emotions are sadness and regret, as well as a sense of curiosity (where did the people go? what difficulties or tragedy led them to leave their house all alone, and defenseless?). When I see a place like this one, I always want to get a photograph, perhaps as something of a gift to the old place, and an acknowledgement of the memories that seem to swirl about, in its presence.

I want to say to others: Look at this place! She's still beautiful!

[Texture layers by Flypaper.]

Winter Barn

Winter Barn, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

Still very cold in Kansas City, MO., and more snow coming down, right now. Yesterday I went to the State Habilitation Center in Marshall, MO (pretty nearly in the middle of the state). I took my smaller point-and-shoot camera, and stopped a few times to get some pictures. This barn caught my eye, on the way home.

[Texture layers by pareeerica and les brumes.]

Leaning Back A Bit

Leaning Back A Bit, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

Very cold out, around 5 degrees above zero, and still, still... snowing.

That makes it a good time to work on some photographs I took last summer. Trying new things. For this one, I threw in some distortion. And I used some texture layers created by the amazing artist known (on Flickr) as SkeletalMess.

This shed sits out beside an old house, south of Kansas City, MO. Hard to tell if the place is still occupied, or not. It is in a state of gentle decline.

Beautiful Arrival

Beautiful Arrival 2, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

A glimpse of summer, to accompany the arrival of 2010! Happy New Year to all readers and visitors.

I caught this photo of a female cardinal in my back yard last summer. I absolutely love the way the camera captured the ruffling of her feathers. Her arrival is simply glorious.

[With thanks to SkeletalMess for texture layers.]

Rose of Sharon, Wintertime

Rose of Sharon, Wintertime, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

From the backyard, on a very cold and snowy morning.

With thanks to Kate for planting this little bush, and for saving it once (after I thought it was a weed, and chopped it down). In the summertime, it has gorgeous purple flowers.

And thanks to the folks who created Flypaper texture images. I'm having a blast with them.

Junction City, Kansas Church

Junction City, Kansas Church, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

This is my adaptation of a photograph taken by John Vachon, probably around 1940. I found it in the Library of Congress archives, some parts of which are posted in a part of Flickr called "The Commons." The stated purposes of The Commons are: "To firstly show you hidden treasures in the world's public photography archives, and secondly to show how your input and knowledge can help make these collections even richer."

You can see the original version of this photograph here. Thanks to Flypaper Textures, too.

If any of you knows the name of this church, anything about its history, and/or whether it still exists, please leave a comment here, and also in The Commons.

Fly Away

Beach Bird In Flight, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

Christmas.

The "Holiday Season."

Steep narrow driveway, after a blizzard.

Fly away.

White Cranes

White Cranes, originally uploaded by Delany Dean.

The original of this one (it is signed "Kerry Photo Sydney") is in the Powerhouse Museum, and posted in Flickr's Commons, which is a large collection of old photographs. These old images have no known copyright restrictions, and they are posted in Flickr in part to establish a greater knowledge base about old images that would otherwise likely be forgotten, or poorly understood.

I did a little editing of this photograph, including a texture layer.