Friday ~ May 12, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on May 12, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , , .

Happy Friday!

I have four images for you today.  Yesterday I took a PTO day and played golf in an event at Thunder Hills Country Club.  The group above is me, Dr. Mike Ward, Randy Sirk, and my great friend Mike Stoll.  Mike Stoll hosted us at the event, which was 18 holes of golf and a steak dinner.

The company was great, the golf course was in pristine shape, and the weather was perfect.  The golf, Ugh, not so much!!  If I were to design my perfect weather day it would have been the day we had yesterday.  Just enough breeze to keep the bugs at bay.  Big billowy clouds, deep blue sky, no humidity, and a temperature of 69 degrees.  Perfect (at least for me!)


I love windmills and they even have this great windmill on the course.  I couldn’t pass up a chance to photograph it.

Mike Ward and I rode together and every once in a while I’d have to stop and make an image.  He commented about my photography and I told him, “Truth be told, I’d rather photograph a golf course than to play golf on it.”  Being a golf lover he had trouble understanding that.  🙂

Not counting my game the day was as perfect of a day as a person could want.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Thursday ~ May 11, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on May 11, 2017
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Happy Thursday!

Now this is something you don’t see every day.  A pelican sitting on a tree stump.  I was driving past the “Duck Pond” on my home last evening when I saw this guy sitting on top of a dead tree stump.  It was getting late, misting, and gray but I had to stop for the photo.  I shot this at ISO 3200, which is higher than I normally like to go but to get the shutter speed (thus sharpness) I wanted I was forced to go that high.

I appreciate the geese swimming by in the foreground.  🙂

Enjoy your day.

Wednesday ~ May 10, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on May 10, 2017
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Happy Wednesday!

A quick post with only one image today.  I captured this image of three friends I use to play a lot of golf with.  Bob, Dennis and Dan.  It was fun to see them again at the surprise party for Angela Osterkamp last Friday evening.

Unlike me they still play a lot of golf and I have to admit I miss the comrade and banter we use to enjoy.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Sunday ~ May 07, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on May 7, 2017
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Happy Sunday!

Only one image today.  I was out looking for the new baby owl that my friend Andreas has been photographing.  Couldn’t find him and as we were sitting by the canal this red-winged black bird landed and was really squawking at us.  So I took his picture.  🙂

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Saturday ~ May 06, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on May 6, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , , , .

Happy Saturday!

I have five images for you today.  I spent one of the most enjoyable days in recent memory yesterday.  It started when my good friend Mike picked me up and we drove out to the Thunder Hills Country Club for a round of golf with three other good friends.

I was a member of that club for over 20 years but as I devoted more time to my photography my enjoyment of the game began to wane and as a result I am now just a once in a while golfer.  Not a very good golfer either.

Anyway many years ago a young high school girl with bright red hair began working at the club as a waitress.  I remember those days well and she would always have a happy greeting and a  smile for all the patrons.

Her name is Angela Osterkamp and she has dedicated the last thirty years of her life to serving the members of Thunder Hills Country Club.  She has seen several managers and other staff come and go but Angela has remained dedicated to the club.  For most, she is the face of Thunder Hills Country Club. 

So last night the membership threw a huge surprise party for Angela to celebrate her thirty years of service.  It was a real treat for me in that I was asked to be the photographer of the event and I got a double treat in that I was able to reconnect with so many of the dear friends I had made while I was a member there.

The image above only shows about one-third of the reception area and the whole room was packed with admiring and grateful current and past members.  Angela was overcome with joy and I didn’t get one image of her without the ever-present tears.  That is one of the things that makes her so special is that she is emotionally involved with the club and its members.

The above image is of Angela and her Mother.  I was also moved to think that a large group of people would take the time and expense to show their true gratitude to someone who has given so much of herself.  Made me proud to be a small part of the Thunder Hills Club.

Anyway other than my terrible golf game it was a day for the memory book.  I think I did a lot of damage to the golf course but only to the rough as that is where I spent most of the day.  🙂

Enjoy this beautiful day and be careful.

Thursday ~ May 04, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on May 4, 2017
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Happy Thursday!

This is my dear friend Dave Johnson.  On Tuesday there was a surprise celebration for him at Maquoketa State Bank before the bank opened.  The occasion was to mark his 50 years in banking.  Dave is semi-retired and works at the bank two days a week but as he loves to say he’s 24/7 and always looking to help others with their financial needs.

So about 70 folks who work at the bank gathered in the main lobby waited for Dave to show up.  He was not there at his normal time because he didn’t have a meeting that morning so he decided to have an extra cup of coffee.  🙂

I met Dave my first week on the job over 17 years ago and it was an immediate friendship.  Dave truly is one of a kind and he has done so much good for the people of the communities the bank serves.

Congratulations my friend!

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Friday ~ May 28, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on April 28, 2017
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Happy Friday!

I have five images for you today and a sad story.  At least it’s a sad story from my viewpoint.

You have seen these images before if you have followed my blog for any time.

Autumn Tree

I have photographed this wonderful tree over a hundred times in the last seven years of this blog.

A tree at sunset

Most of the time, when I see an interesting sky, I will seek out the tree to make it the center point of the sky and make an image.

My Favorite Tree

That is what I intended to do last night.

When I came upon the spot where the wonderful tree has been for who knows how long and this is what I found! 😦

I know it’s just a tree but I was not prepared for it not being there.  A reminder that nothing lasts forever and enjoy what you can while you can.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Sunday ~ April 23, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on April 23, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , .

Happy Sunday!

Yesterday we celebrated Austin’s second birthday (which was on Friday.)  All the Grandparents were there and one Uncle.  We had a lot of fun and this was Austin’s favorite gift.

Enjoy your day and be careful.

Thursday ~ April 20, 2017

Posted by Dave Updegraff on April 20, 2017
Posted in: Daily Posts. Tagged: , , , .

Happy Thursday!

Only one image for today.  Busy work week and I haven’t had the opportunity to make any images.  I photographed this barged “parked” waiting for the lock & dam to open.  The barge captain will push their barge against selected areas of the shore above or below the dam depending on their direction travel to wait for the lock to clear and their turn.

They keep their engines running and pushing against the current to maintain their position.  Fascinating process to watch.

Enjoy your day and be careful.