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Appreciating Scale

10th September 2022

We’re Mere Specks on Earth

I grew up in the New York metropolitan area and didn’t get to travel to the more remote areas of our country until later in life. To me, the skyscrapers of New York City were about the tallest or largest scenery to which I was accustomed. That changed after college when I visited my first national park – Yosemite. Since then, I’ve made been lucky enough to visit many more.

One thing that I encountered early on and continues to amaze me to this day is the extensive amount of our country’s tracts of land. Look as far as your eye can see and there’s plenty more beyond. From a distance, gaze at a geologic feature or land mass and you may not comprehend its size until you draw closer. In short, it’s the scale of these features that are astonishing.

As individuals, our size is insignificant compared to the earth’s magnificent landforms.

Below are a few photographs that try to illustrate scale.




A couple hiking at Death Valley’s Mesquite Dunes look miniscule.
You can barely see the dozens of visitors congregating around Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.

Here’s a visitor enjoying the shade of Delicate Arch.
This is the same photograph at full size. You can see how the size of Delicate Arch towers over the visitor.

These craggy mountains in the northeast portion of Yellowstone National Park are home to mountain goat families.
We’ve enlarged the photo on the left so you can pick out the animal on the ledge high off of the surrounding terrain.


This young girl is having fun exploring the rocks in Monument Valley.

In the full size photo you can see her standing in front of a huge monument.


This young girl sits at the entrance to the Tunnel Tree in Yosemite.

My fisheye lens captures the entirety of the Tunnel Tree which rises 225 feet above the ground.


The scale of many of nature’s wonders is so humbling to me and affords me the chance to record them on film (so to speak).

Written by:
 
Arnie Lee
 
 

Celebrity Sightings

21st August 2022

Faces You May Recognize

In my earlier days I seldom travelled without a camera. Nowadays my cellphone camera is always nearby.

So back to the “older times”. While attending trade shows, expos, concerts, sports games and other events I’ve had the opportunity to photograph “famous” people sometimes with a press pass and sometimes as a bystander.

My collection of faces have grown over the years.


 


Jackson Browne, Van Andel Arena 2021 – Grand Rapids, MI

Tony Bennett, Meijer Gardens 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI

Johnny Mathis, Soaring Eagle Casino 2012 – Mt Pleasant, MI


Al Downing, pitcher Yankee Stadium 1966 – New York, NY

Aretha Franklin, DeVos Performance Hall 2017 – Grand Rapids, MI

Art Buchwald, American Booksellers Association Conference – Washington DC


President Barack Obama, Campaigning 2008 – Grand Rapids, MI

Barbra Streisand, United Center 2006 – Chicago, IL

Barry Keane, drummer Gordon Lightfoot band 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI


BB King, DeVos Performance Hall 2007 – Grand Rapids, MI

Ben Taylor, James Taylor band DeVos Performance Hall 2011 – Grand Rapids, MI

Billy Davis Jr, Fifth Dimension Univ Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI


Bobby Baun, Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square 1966 – Garden New York

Brian Watson, Detroit Red Wings practice 1965 – St Clair Shores, MI

Burt Bachrach, Ballys Casino 2004 – Las Vegas, NV


Carter Lancaster, lead guitar Gordon Lightfoot Band 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI

Christie McVie, member Fleetwood Mac Van Andel Area 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI

Chris Wragge, news anchor 2008 – New York, NY


Senator Debbie Stabenow, parade campaigning 2011 – Grand Rapids, MI

Dionne Warwick, Little River Casino 2013 – Manistee, MI

Donald Fagen, member Steely Dan at Interlochen Performance Arts Center 2014 – Interlochen, MI


Elston Howard, catcher at Yankee Stadium 1966 – New York, NY

Erica Hill, news commentator 2010 – New York, NY

Eric Clapton, Van Andel Arena 2006 – Grand Rapids, MI


Fifth Dimension, Univ Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI

Florence Henderson, American Booksellers Association Conference 2011 – New York, NY

Florence LaRue, member Fifth Dimension at Univ Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI


Four Tops, NRHS Concert 1966 – New Rochelle, NY

Frankie Valli, Aladdin Casino 2004 – Las Vegas, NV

Garrison Keilor, American Booksellers Association Conference 2008 – New York, NY


George Armstrong, center Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY

President Gerald Ford, campaigning 1976 – Grand Rapids, MI

Glen Campbell, Michigan State Fair 1970 – Detroit, MI


Gordie Howe, right wing Detroit Red Wings practice 1966 – St Clair Shores, MI

Gordon Lightfoot, DeVos Performance Hall 2013 – Grand Rapids, MI

Graham Edge, drummer Moody Blues Meijer Gardens 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI


Harrison Ford, actor at Oshkosh Air Show 2008 – Oshkosh, WI

Ira Joe Fisher, broadcaster 2008 – New York, NY

James Taylor, Van Andel Arena 2021 – Grand Rapids, MI


Jim Neilson, defenseman NY Rangers Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY

John Lodge, bass Moody Blues Meijer Gardens 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI

John McFee, Doobie Brothers Meijer Garden 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI


Justin Hayward, lead guitar Moody Blues Meijer Gardens 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI

Lil’ Ed, blues Rosa Park Circle 2008 – Grand Rapids, MI

Maggie Rodriquez, broadcast anchor 2010 – New York, NY


Marcel Pronovost, defenseman Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY

Marilyn McCoo, Fifth Dimension Univ of Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI

Mark Douhit, saxaphone improvisation – Grand Rapids, MI


Michael McDonald, Meijer Gardens 2013 – Grand Rapids, MI

Michael Richards, near Greenwich Village 2010 – New York, NY

Mick Fleetwood, drummer Fleetwood Mac Van Andel Arena 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI


Mike Heffernan, keyboards Gordon Lightfoot Band DeVos Performance Hall 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI

Moe Rocca, humorist near Central Park 2010 – New York, NY

Muhammad Ali, aboard airline flight – Los Angeles, CA


Neil Diamond, Van Andel Arena 2008 – Grand Rapids, MI

Neil Sedaka, American Bookseller Association Conference 2010 – New York, NY

Pat Simmons, Doobie Brothers Meijer Gardens 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI


Patty Wagstaff, aerobatics pilot Oshkosh Air Show – Oshkosh, WI

Paul Anka, Computer Electronics Show – Las Vegas, NV

Pete Rose, Caesars Palace 2008 – Las Vegas, NV


Pete Stemkowski, center Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY

PeteTownsend, guitarist The Who Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI

Richard Daley, Mayor at graduation ceremony 2011 – Chicago, IL


President Richard Nixon & Pat Nixon, campaigning 1971 – New Rochelle, NY

Rick Haynes, bass Gordon Lightfoot Band DeVos Performance Hall 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI

Governor Rick Snyder, at graduation ceremony 2013 – Grand Rapids, MI


Rodney Charters, cinematographer at National Association of Broadcasters Show 2010 – Los Angeles, CA

Rod Seiling, defenseman NY Rangers Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY

Roger Daltrey, The Who at Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI


Ron Townsend, member Fifth Dimension at Univ of Michigan 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI

Sean Tucker, aerobatics pilot Oshkosh Air Show 2008 – Oshkosh, WI

Sigfried Fischbacher, Sigfried and Roy at Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV


Stephanie Izard, Iron Chef at Girl and the Goat 2012 – Chicago, IL

Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac at Van Andel Arena 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI

Terry Clements, lead guitar for Gordon Lightfoot Band at Orleans Casino 2009 – Las Vegas, NV


Tim Horton, defenseman for Toronto Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY

Tom Johnston, Doobie Brothers at Meijer Gardens 2015- Grand Rapids, MI

Representative Vern Ehlers, campaigning in parade 2009 – Grand Rapids, MI


Vic Hatfield, left wing for NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY

Walter Becker, guitar for Steely Dan at Interlochen Performance Art Center 2014 – Interlochen, MI

Wayne Newton, at Aladdin Casino – Las Vegas, NV


William F Buckley Jr, political commentator and journalist at Univ of Michigan 1969 – Ann Arbor, MI

Willie Nelson, street concert 2011 – Grand Rapid, MI

Willie Mays, Shea Stadium 1965 – New York, NY


Kate Markowitz, with James Taylor Band at DeVos Performance Hall 2011 – Grand Rapids, MI

Wolfgang Puck, Chinois Restaurant 2008 – Santa Monica, CA

Arnold McCuller, with James Taylor Band at Van Andel Arena 2021, Grand Rapids, MI


Whoppi Goldberg, following Broadway performance – New York, NY

Reggie Flemming, defenseman NY Rangers Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY

Governor John Engler, British Airways dedication at Western Michigan University 1988 – Battle Creek, MI


Christopher Cross, Soaring Eagle Casino 2022 – Mt Pleasant, MI

Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac at Van Andel Arena 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, 2019 at local Grand Rapids restaurant

Picturesque Continental Divide

In Yellowstone when you’re driving the Grand Loop from West Thumb to Old Faithful, the road climbs a few hundred feet as it crosses the Continental Divide at Craig Pass.

There sits Isa Lake atop the summit that has a distinction of draining into two different oceans. While Isa is very small, it is a very picturesque site among the tall forested coniferous trees.

This article is the another in a series of articles that I’ve called About this photo to draw attention to a few of those memorable photos that may be hiding in a shoebox or on your hard drive.
 
 




 
This is one of my favorite photos from the outdoors. What stands out are the large great yellow pond-lilies floating on the lake surface.
 


 
By stepping back a bit you can see the larger part of the lake and the tall surrounding pine trees.
 


 
This photo was taken at a different time of the year in the pouring rain but presents a pleasant view.
 


 
 
I hope this is a reminder to get those favorite photos of yours off of your cellphone or computer for others to see.
 
 
Written by: Arnie Lee
 
 

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