A Peterbilt Prototype in Infrared

Antique truck, south central Georgia 

 

A field of cars stashed randomly alongside a highway in south central Georgia looked too good to be a junkyard, but not good enough to be a used car lot. The star of the show appeared to be a rusty 1920s era truck parked up close to the highway where everyone passing by would be sure to see it. I didn't see a "For Sale" sign, but surely that was the point of the display.

I couldn't find a logo or nameplate, but from the shape and length of the hood and the dishpan headlights one might wonder if this could have been an early prototype of the Peterbilt semi-tractor!

The photo of the truck was made while I was beginning work on a book about the lost barns of Rock City (a project which unfortunately has yet to be completed, although I have most of the photos).  As best I can tell from my notes, the location was U.S. Highway 19 in Taylor County and the date was October 29th, 1996. At that time I was planning to photograph the lost barns (barns which had been lost from Rock City's records) on black and white infrared film, so that's what I had in my camera. I used a Canon EOS A2 (great camera!) with a Canon EF 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 lens and scanned the negative with my Minolta DiMage 5400 scanner.

Photograph and text copyright 2022, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone

My book, Backroads and Byways of Georgia, is now out of print, although copies are apparently still available from Amazon, and possibly other sources. The second edition is now in the editing stage and is scheduled to be released on December 6th.

The Vine that Ate the South

Abandoned chicken house, U.S. Highway 19, Lumpkin County, Georgia

 

Most Southerners are familiar with kudzu. Imported from Japan and China in 1876 as an ornamental plant, it was widely promoted from the 1930s to the '50s for erosion control. In fact, my father, who was somewhat of a visionary and always interested in trying new things planted it on our farm in southern Indiana in the early '50s.

In the South, kudzu aggressively takes over any piece of ground that is left unattended, covering trees, buildings, and anything else in its path. It kills other vegetation, essentially by smothering it.

The kudzu did okay on our land and took over one field, but did not thrive to the extent it has in the South. Two of my brothers bought the farm from our Dad and attempted to exterminate the vine. I think they mostly succeeded, but not entirely. Which means that subsequent owners will have to fight the battle all over again.

The photograph is from my limited-edition book Georgia: A Backroads Portrait. It  was made just north of Dahlonega in 2006 with a Canon 5D Classic digital camera. The lens was the Canon EF 24-85mm f3.5-4.5.

Photograph and text copyright 2022, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone

My book, Backroads and Byways of Georgia, is now out of print, although copies are apparently still available from Amazon, and possibly other sources. The second edition is now in the editing stage and is scheduled to be released on December 6th.

 

 

 

Sponsor a Child

 

A young Indian girl sponsored through Compassion International

 

When the Christian humanitarian organization Compassion International sent Doug LeBlanc and me to India and South Korea in 1992, it was for the purpose of photographing and writing about children who were, or had been, sponsored through that organization. We met children who were still in the program, and also some young adults who were launched in life and able to move forward on their own thanks to the education they had received.

Two of the most extensive and well-known sponsoring ministries are Compassion International and World Vision. Helping a child escape poverty and worse through a sponsorship that provides food, clothing, and education is a very worthwhile thing to do, and Louise and I have been honored to do it for many years. We invite you to check out these ministries and consider sponsoring a child yourself. Click on the links to go to each organization's web site.

(Olympus OM camera, 85mm f2 Olympus Zuiko lens, Fujichrome 100D slide film.)

Photograph and text copyright 2022, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone

My book, Backroads and Byways of Georgia, is now out of print, although copies are apparently still available from Amazon, and possibly other sources. The second edition is now in the editing stage and is scheduled to be released on December 6th.

A Construction Site in Madras

A woman carries a tray of mortar on her head at a construction site in Madras.

The people of India are intelligent, industrious, and patient, getting things done in spite of many obstacles. Most smaller-scale building construction is a combination of old methods and newer, but mostly basic, technology. 

These workmen were building an addition to the church we attended while in Madras. Notice the concrete mixer and the water barrel on the right. In the center, a brightly clad woman carries a hod of mortar on her head to the men who are laying block higher up. A careful look will also show that the scaffolding is made of bamboo: strong, light, and plentiful. And definitely low-tech.

(Olympus OM camera, 85mm f2 Olympus Zuiko lens, and Fujichrome 100D slide film.)

Photograph and text copyright 2022, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone

My book, Backroads and Byways of Georgia, is now out of print, although copies are apparently still available from Amazon, and possibly other sources. The second edition is now in the editing stage and is scheduled to be released on December 6th.

 

Beauty through the Years: 57 Years of Loveliness

 

My verdant wife: Louise at 24. An accidental double-exposure.

Yesterday was our 57th anniversary. 57 years with one of the loveliest of women. 

        A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

        Its loveliness increases: it will never

        Pass into nothingness. -- Keats 

 

 

On her 20th birthday

 

At our farm, with a baby donkey. 2004

 

Louise at 67

 

 

Louise at 77

 

Photographs and text copyright 2022, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone

My book, Backroads and Byways of Georgia, is now out of print, although copies are apparently still available from Amazon, and possibly other sources. The second edition is now in the editing stage and is scheduled to be released on December 6th.

 

Early Morning Flowers at the Hindu Temple

A young Hindu woman chats with her friends as she

strings flowers into garlands for a temple ceremony.

 

Old-time newspaper photographers used to say that the key to great pictures is "f8 and be there!" But where is there? I don't know. You'll have to work that out for yourself. But I can tell you that if you're enjoying a leisurely breakfast at your hotel in Madras as the sun rises and the streets begin to come alive with people, you're not there. There is out on the street, taking advantage of that lovely light and the relaxed, early-morning mood of the people.

Some photographers prefer evening light, but I've often found my best pictures early in the morning. There's a different, softer quality to the light, a calm freshness in the air, and both people and nature seem more relaxed and approachable.

(Olympus OM2n camera, 35mm f2 Olympus Zuiko lens, Fujichrome 100D film.)

Photograph and text copyright 2022, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone

My book, Backroads and Byways of Georgia, is now out of print, although copies are apparently still available from Amazon, and possibly other sources. The second edition is now in the editing stage and is scheduled to be released on December 6th.

Madras Street Photography

Looking out through a courtyard gate in Madras

 

Much of life in Madras is lived out on the streets in a kaleidoscope of constantly swirling colors and movement.

I was sheltered from the view of passersby in this photo, but usually I'm out on the street in the midst of the action.   

An American with a camera in a third world street or marketplace is conspicuous and there's nothing I can do to change that.  Everyone knows I'm there, so I don't try to sneak shots. If I'm furtive, if I try to hide in the shadows and pick off shots with a long lens, if I appear indecisive or uncertain, I will be greeted with suspicion.  So I accept the fact that I'm not going to get fly-on-the-wall candids and go with the flow. I work in an open, straightforward, and businesslike way and concentrate on what I can get. Which can often be pretty good. People in other cultures are usually gracious, hospitable, and patient with strangers who observe the basic courtesies.

 

(Olympus OM camera, 85mm f2 Olympus Zuiko lens, and Fujichrome 100D slide film.)

 

Blog Note: Sorry to miss Monday's post. Last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were unusually difficult days.

Photograph and text copyright 2022, David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone

My book, Backroads and Byways of Georgia, is now out of print, although copies are apparently still available from Amazon, and possibly other sources. The second edition is now in the editing stage and is scheduled to be released on December 6th.