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Grumpy Old Guy

Grumpy Old Guy's Journal
Grumpy Old Guy's Journal
September 9, 2024

Our neighborhood osprey.

This magnificent creature was perched across the street from our home today. He was taking a break from hunting in the nearby creek.

September 9, 2024

Neighborhood osprey

This magnificent creature was perched across the street from our home today. He was taking a break from hunting in the nearby creek.

August 27, 2024

Possible subjects for the next photo contest

EDIT: THIS WOULD BE FOR THE OCTOBER CONTEST. SEPTEMBER WILL BE A SEASONAL CONTEST.


I've been kicking around some ideas for the next photo contest. I did some googling for suggestions. Let me know if any of these sound good.

Foreground-Background
Frames
Photos that remind you of a song
Funny animal pics
Photography tricks
Anything goes
Diagonal
Aperture and depth of field
Golden Hour
Night shots
Old Vehicles
Antiques and Vintage Items
Before and After improvement (photo skills)
Best park you ever visited
We love our pets
On the ground
Food
Things that make you happy
Nearby places you love
Rivers & streams
Bridges
A horse is a horse, of course
Cell phone shots
Outhouses and old buildings
Symmetry
Reflections
Windows and doors


August 26, 2024

***AUGUST PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS!***

The winners are posted in GD.

Congratulations to CaliforniaPeggy, Diamond_Dog, and yours truly Grumpy Old Guy.

Please read all the way through to the end of the post for a personal note from me.

Thanks to all who participated.

https://democraticunderground.com/100219383976

August 26, 2024

***AUGUST PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST WINNERS!***

It’s my pleasure to announce the winners of the August, 2024 Democratic Underground Photography Contest. This was another great competition. We didn’t get as many entries as we usually do, but the entries we did get were all really terrific. The battle for first place was close, and the lead changed several times in three days. The theme, as chosen by Mousetoescamper, was “You’ve Got Sole. Enter your photo of any kind of footwear, including that used by animals. On the feet or on the shelf, if it’s footwear it’ll fit."

First place goes to me, Grumpy Old Guy, (I know, it’s awkward), for my sepia tone photo of a pair of baby shoes that are one hundred years old. I am adding a personal note about these shoes at the bottom of this post, and I hope you read through to the end.

One Hundred Years Old


Second place goes to my dear friend CaliforniaPeggy, for her fascinating shot of wooden molds used for making and repairing shoes. Honestly, I thought Peggy was going to win this one again, and I’m honored to have been able to compete with her.

Where Shoes Are Born…


Third place goes to Diamond_Dog for their photo of a wall of flip-flops. Honestly, how could anyone look at this photo and not instantly smile? For a brief moment I thought I was back on Maui checking out the footwear at the local ABC store across from the beach.

Flip Flop Heaven


All of the finalists this month deserve praise, but I feel special mention should go to to HAB911 for his shot of the Bob Hope USO tour at the DMZ in 1970. It didn’t get a lot of votes, but I think we should all thank him for his service to our country during those tumultuous days.

The DMZ Christmas Show 1970, Dancing Shoes @16 degrees Fahrenheit


And now, if you’ll indulge me for a few more moments, I would like to tell you the story behind these baby shoes. They belonged to my mother-in-law, who was born in 1924. She was a German Jew, who survived the Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen and Mauthausen concentration camps. Her own parents were murdered at Auschwitz, probably shortly after they arrived. These bronze baby shoes, some photographs, and a few other items were saved for her by her governess, who was able to find her after the war and return them. All their other possessions were lost to history.



August 22, 2024

***AUGUST PHOTO CONTEST FINALS ARE UP IN GD!***

Here is the link to the contest finals in GD. Please check them out and let me know if you see any mistakes.

Thanks,

Grumpy

https://democraticunderground.com/100219370078

August 22, 2024

***AUGUST PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST FINALS!***

These are the finals for the August photo contest. The theme this month, chosen by last month’s winner Mousetoescamper, is “You’ve Got Sole.” Enter your photo of any kind of footwear, including that used by animals. On the feet or on the shelf, if it’s footwear it’ll fit.

Please vote and leave comments. We love to hear what you think. This thread will run for seventy-two hours. It is posted here in GD by permission of the administrators.

Thanks for voting.

Flip Flop Heaven


Where Shoes Are Born…


His First House Shoe


Still Waiting To Ride Again


Life Is Better With Tap Shoes


Croc in the Thames River


One Hundred Years Old


Gilligan


Sentimental Saves



The DMZ Christmas Show 1970, Dancing Shoes @16 degrees Fahrenheit














August 19, 2024

***AUGUST PHOTO CONTEST; PRELIMINARIES ARE UP IN GD!***

The prelims are up in GD. There are only two preliminary threads this month, since we only had eighteen entries. Let me knowif you see any mistakes.

Good luck everyone!

Grumpy

First thread:https://democraticunderground.com/100219351236

Second thread: https://democraticunderground.com/100219351259

August 19, 2024

***AUGUST PHOTO CONTEST: SECOND PRELIMINARY THREAD!***

This is the second preliminary thread for the August, 2024 photography contest.

The theme this month, as chosen by last month’s winner MouseToesCamper, is “You’ve Got Sole.” Enter your photo of any kind of footwear, including that used by animals. On the feet or on the shelf, if it’s footwear it’ll fit.

There are only two preliminary threads this month. Here is a link to the first preliminary thread: https://democraticunderground.com/100219351236

We love to read your comments, so please don’t be shy. Let us know what you think.

These preliminary threads will run for 72 hours. They are posted in GD with the permission of the Administrators.

Croc in the Thames River


One Hundred Years Old


Gilligan


Baby Needs A New Pair Of Shoes


At a Park In France



Footless, handsless, faceless, headless -- the Invisible Cyclist


Sentimental Saves


Retired . . . just like its owner.


The DMZ Christmas Show 1970, Dancing Shoes @16 degrees Fahrenheit



August 19, 2024

***AUGUST PHOTO CONTEST: FIRST PRELIMINARY THREAD!***

This is the first preliminary thread for the August, 2024 photography contest.

The theme this month, as chosen by last month’s winner MouseToesCamper, is “You’ve Got Sole.” Enter your photo of any kind of footwear, including that used by animals. On the feet or on the shelf, if it’s footwear it’ll fit.

There are only two preliminary threads this month. Here is a link to the second preliminary thread: https://democraticunderground.com/100219351259

We love to read your comments, so please don’t be shy. Let us know what you think.

These preliminary threads will run for 72 hours. They are posted in GD with the permission of the Administrators.

Flip Flop Heaven


Where Shoes Are Born . . .


Toe Beans in the dog bed.


Snowshoeing: Antarctica


His first house shoe.


Still Waiting To Ride Again


Life Is Better With Tap Shoes


Unmatched Laces


Garden shoes by the door







Profile Information

Member since: Mon Jan 25, 2021, 02:27 AM
Number of posts: 3,434

About Grumpy Old Guy

Thank you Democratic Underground for keeping me sane for the last four years. I think I was probably the longest lurker here. I started following DU during the Dubya administration. I was first attracted to the "Top Ten Conservative Idiots of the Week." I've been following along ever since. I always felt guilty for not participating, but refrained from doing so because I already spend way too much time online. However, after recent events, I just can't sit back any longer. I had to log on and thank you folks for all that you do. I'm a retired TV newscast director with forty years experience and more than eighteen thousand broadcasts under my belt, most of them live. I now travel the country (when I can) shooting landscape, astro and wildlife photography. You can see some of my photos at Ross-Kestin.Pixels.com or on Instagram at @oldguywithacamera. Thanks again! Ross K. Grumpy Old Guy
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