Epic Status Photoblog

Finally, late as usual, I have the last installment of the 3 part series of Halloween on Court Avenue in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.  Since I was a “photographer” I could carry some lighting equipment with me, and not get so many weird looks.  It works out great because I can achieve much better lighting than with standard on camera strobe flashes.

A facial costume of sorts, if you will.

 

She means business, let me tell ya.  Couldn’t even crack a smile out of her.

 

 

 

 

They had some girls line up on top of the pool table for me.  They probably mistakenly identified me as Arturo Fernandez again.  I didn’t ask, I just started snapping away and requesting more tinsel… more wind… oh and while you’re at it call the Zoo, some wild animals would look spectacular right over there.

 

 

 

 

 

I didn’t want to ask.

 

 

As in “Seriously, this is my costume.”

 

By the end of the night, apparently I started having trouble figuring out who was in costume and who wasn’t.  While walking back to the car I snapped off this shot while we passed these two gentlemen.  I thought they were in costume as a Farmer and a Lawyer.  In my own embarrassing defense, the street wasn’t well lit… and what men dress up to go to Court Ave?  Maybe it was a wedding, a Halloween wedding.  I don’t know, but nevertheless I sincerely apologize for the mix up.

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits, Night, People

This is the second installment of a three part series from Halloween 2007 downtown, where I’m continuously mistaken for Des Moines Juice photographer Arturo Fernandez.

 

 

 

Nuked ‘em with flash.  Oops.  I can take horrible photos if I want to, I work for myself, remember.

 

 

 

This guy has been waiting for this picture for a few months, sorry man.  I have a feeling someone’s myspace icon will be changing soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Des Moines IA MMA girls

 

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits, Holidays, Night, Parties, People

This Halloween we did something different for a change.  Richards Dad and step mom previously hosted awesome annual Halloween parties, but decided that it’s too much work to continue.  We were forced to find something else to do, so we hit up downtown Des Moines.  This is the first of three posts from this night.

 

Just getting started at Johnny’s downtown

 

My beer maiden.

 

Richard had to see the butt doctor, lucky for him they had one on staff.

 

The humor that this suite invites is limitless.

 

 

I really enjoyed the idea of this taken out of the context of Halloween.  Imagine  just stumbling upon this photo somewhere.  It’s just something so strange you have to stop and think about what’s going on or where it is.  In case you haven’t picked up on it, I’m “into that stuff.”

 

 

It was one of those back and forth downtown nights.  We wandered between a few court avenue bars, trying to satisfy most everyone (or the loudest spoken) in our entourage.

 

Pee Wee spotted, hide your children.  Get that damn cellaphone out of my way.

 

Liars Club, Court Ave Downtown Des Moines on Halloween.

 

Excellent costumes and attention to detail.  They could have used a drink though.

 

 

 

 

Yes, a ballerina tu-tu tranny with penis in hand.  I’ve seen everything now.

 

 

 

I was managing to survive with getting tapped on the shoulder every other second with some desperate chick begging me to take a picture of her in costume.  But this is different.  These girls weren’t even in some poor attempt of a costume.  Nothing, zip, nada.  To pour salt on the wound, the begging “me me me, my turn, my turn” chick on the left wouldn’t stop staring at my remote flash.  I’m sure you’re brilliant in your own ways, but the lens is down here sweetie.

 

 

 

Much more still to come…

Bars, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits, Holidays, Night, People

We went camping at Rock Creek State Park near Kellogg and Newton.

 

 

Ken busted out the slack line to test everyone’s balance.

 

 

 

 

Abe found a pair of “Antlers.”

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting findings along the nature trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After patiently waiting for them to align at the right moments, these random kids made decent subjects.

 

 

I needed a foreground object to place against the sky colors.  Unfortunately it was chow time and the sun was setting fast.  Ben and Abe became victims of chow face syndrom.

Greatest Hits, Nature, Outdoor, People, Travel

So it started like this: Minding my own business enjoying my duty free Sunday, I receive a frantic phone call.  It was Richard.  He asks how fast can I get down to the banks of the Des Moines River in West Des Moines.  Realizing my plans for the day didn’t even include a trip outdoors, I was stumped.  Then Richard says “Well dude, me Dion and Kelly are 4-wheeling along the river.  It’s awesome, bring your camera.”  Ok, Ok, I’m there.  No one happens to mention that I can’t get there by car.  I have to ride over a levy, across a highway, and through a mile or two of trails on the back of a 4 wheeler with two bags of gear.  Luckily it was well worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Action, Des Moines, Greatest Hits, Outdoor

We went camping somewhere other than the Saylorville area this time.  Island Park in Adel Iowa was a great alternative and just as close to Des Moines.  Not to mention it’s right beside Adel, providing easy access to necessities.

 

Bonnie and Josh’s combined children show their superhero strength.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard got the rest of us in trouble with our significant others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In case anyone wonders, my camera takes some good pictures.  Luckily there’s no human intervention needed, it does it’s job then lets me know when it’s done.  Now if I can only teach it to cook for me.  But then again, my pans cook some really tasty food anyway.

 

 

We met this assumably remotely rural lad while he walked through our camp to get to the Raccoon river.  He stood at our camp for a little while, telling us stories about his pa, ma, and other family members.  After we couldn’t stand to hear any more we had to tell him to “run along now.”  Nice kid, if not tear jerkingly boring.  They must not have any neighbors or schools in his area.  The kid sure can hold a fishing pole for a 8-hour shift, let me tell ya.

 

 

Island Park Adel, Electric Sites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gals played the game telephone with the kids.  Amusing.

Attractions, Greatest Hits, Nature, Night, Outdoor, Parties, People

Still in Chicago, we ventured down to the Navy Pier area.  Of the hundreds of “must see” attractions in Chicago, Navy Pier is up there in the top 5 most popular.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our seagull friend visited for a while, we shared some popcorn with him.  I realize it’s no cold mushy worm, but that’s all we had for him.  It turned out he loved the stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greatest Hits, Outdoor, Travel

I met Gabe of www.dsmskateboarding.com at Skate South where they gather once a week or so. 

This being my first time shooting any indoor low light sports, I didn’t do horrible but I didn’t do as well as I wanted to either.  The poor and sparse lighting (rollerskating rinks usually only use their mood and disco lighting) didn’t help me capture action very well.  I had to use compact strobe flashes to illuminate and freeze the action.  I should have used more variety in lighting setups for better results.  It was definitely more challenging than any shooting I’ve done before, a learning experience no doubt.

 

 

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Gabe of DSM Skateboarding on the rainbow box

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Action, Des Moines, Greatest Hits, People

I arrived at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, IA (30 mins from downtown Des Moines) just in time to see the balloons heating up in preparation to fly.

 

More hot air balloons than you can shake a stick at, literally.  Over 80 balloon pilots participated in this years event.

 

 

They have to try to catch a flag on this pole.  Balloon pilots can only steer by adjusting altitude to catch different directional air streams.  Even then it’s usually not possible to move more than a couple directions.  Learn more.

 

 

 

 

I was shocked by the massive number of people that drove to Indianola on a Wednesday night to see the balloon classics.  Although I can’t blame them, it’s something you have to see in person.

 

 

Night Glow, or “Nite Glow Extravaganza” according to National Balloon Classic lingo.  All participating pilots attempt to simultaneously release gas into their balloons, making them glow in the twilight.

 

 

Tree birdhouse hot air balloon

 

 

Towards the end of the Night Glow (Nite Glow Extravaganza) the staff opens the gates, allowing spectators to visit with the balloon pilots and get a much closer look at these huge contraptions.

 

 

 

Attractions, Greatest Hits, Night, Outdoor, People

We stopped in Elk Horn, IA to check out their authentic windmill.  Elk Horn is the largest rural Danish community outside of Denmark.  In two years the small town raised $100,000 and recruited 300 volunteers to locate, purchase, move and rebuild a windmill.  This is what they found, shipped from Denmark in 1975.  Shipping across the ocean alone costed $8,000 USD.

 

 

 

 

Attractions, Buildings, Greatest Hits, Outdoor, Travel

I’m always a sucker for these downtown Des Moines skyline shots.

 

 

Buildings, Des Moines, Downtown, Greatest Hits, Night, Outdoor

This is the third and last post of this urban exploration series at Titan Distribution just outside of downtown Des Moines, IA.

 

Abandoned Warehouses

 

 

 

 

? This building was extra deteriorated.? There were warning signs stating that some of the machinery uses acid in the manufacturing process.? I have a feeling this is no coincidence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

? You can see the stairs on the ground to the right that were cut from the 2nd floor to keep people from going up there.

 

 

Buildings, Des Moines, Greatest Hits, Urban Exploration

This is the 2nd? in a series of? posts from urban exploration at this abandoned tire factory complex.? Now we start getting into the interesting stuff.

 

? Copy cat!

 

Scavengers have already stolen all the copper wiring to sell as scrap.

 

? Transformers, more than meets the eye.

 

 

? Opened water boiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

? The stairways to the top floor were cut with a welding torch.? The only way up is to climb the wall.

 

 

 

 

? Roof access through the doorway.

 

 

 

 

 

? Cops are here now!? Time to go assholes.

 

? Quality computer equipment

 

? Phone board, with paper towel holder mounted.

 

Poop room is this way

 

Welcome to Heartbreak Ridge.

 

 

Break room

 

Kitchen

 

 

Sexy collage to encourage usage of safety glasses.

Buildings, Des Moines, Graffiti, Greatest Hits, Urban Exploration

This is the first post in a series of a couple taken from the old abandoned Titan Tire location near the Des Moines River.? Titan primarily makes off-road, agricultural, and construction tires. ? Like other locations that have been abandoned by Titan, this one has been sitting for years.? Several sources have spoken of a chemical spill that occured here and has deterred prospective buyers.? One source claims that this site is finally changing hands and may find a use in the near future.?

 

The bottom two feet of all surrounding trees and brush have been cleared.? Apparently this is an attempt to destroy places to hide from the police.? Some of the buildings seemed to have similar features to help police enforce the complex when called upon.

 

? Very old? equipment for banding cartons and crates the old fashioned way.

 

 

 

 

The first few buildings we looked at were the most heavily covered in grafitti.

 

 

 

 

 

? Epic?? Must be a popular word these days.

 

? This made my day.? Graffiti of Master Shake and Meatwad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force on Adult Swim.

 

 

OMG, it’s OMK!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every skeleton needs a bow in it’s hair!

 

 

Graffiti on graffiti?? “I eat babys.”? What’s your thing?

Buildings, Des Moines, Graffiti, Greatest Hits, Urban Exploration

On our way to the Southeast side of Des Moines

 

Titan Tire, patrolled by dogs.? Good thing I brought Scooby snacks and fried legs of lamb.

 

The abandoned Armstrong Tire facility of Des Moines, IA.? Apparently? this small plant was bought out by Titan then immediately shut down in 1994.? Titan Tire seems to have a history of shutting down competition.? In their eagerness to monopolize,? Quincy, Illinois based Titan? Wheel incurred a $130,000 fine? for breaking anti-trust laws.?

 

This facility apparently made tractor tires.? The large round brown item in the center of the photo is a mold for one of these, complete with branding to be indented in the melted rubber.

 

Very interesting machines.

 

Tire manufacturing

 

I had to risk bird feces to get this shot.? Directly overhead lives a group of birds inside the insulation between the rafters.? There was still a few more things I wanted to shoot, but we were kicked out by some generic security outfit that patrols Titan owned? properties.

Des Moines, Greatest Hits, Urban Exploration

Grimes Funtastic Days was much more impressive than I was expecting considering the size of this suburb of a suburb.? Sam’s Amusements of Okemah, Oklahoma provided the rides and labor.? They also did Urbandales’ 4th of July fest, and I’m sure they had other cities booked not far away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attractions, Greatest Hits, Night, Outdoor, People

After shooting Gator, the sky became even weirder than the previous couple hours.? The sky was soon consumed by these crazy vibrant colors as the sun was setting.? I scrambled to find something decent yet as close as possible to put in the foreground of a picture, before the colors fade away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greatest Hits, Night, Unusual