Vintage 1957 GMC Pickup Truck

The year was 1957. "American Bandstand," which featured teenagers dancing to Top 40 chart music hosted by Dick Clark, makes its network debut on ABC. The Volkswagen Beetle reached it's 2 millionth vehicle and a gallon of gas cost 24 cents. The first space satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched by Russia, then the Soviet Union. Kids played with Slinkys and Hula Hoops. Denim jeans were only $2.49. Jobs were plentiful and times were good. And fifty-three years later those good times continue to roll for this aqua blue beauty of a pickup.

1957 GMC Pickup Truck
A vintage 1957 aqua blue GMC pickup truck catches the last light under a pink sunset outside of a darkened Harbor Freight Tool Store. Fort Collins, Colorado
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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Water Tower at Sunset

Traveling in the American midwest you find many abandoned warehouses, factories, and old water towers. There is a reason this area of the United States is called the "Rust Belt." It is a vision into a past when America was the world's leading producer of goods. I remember that past and feel saddened by the direction our country has taken. But all that aside, I love the interesting rusty beauty of these old structures. I hope you enjoy my latest in this series from my Ohio trip. If you love to look at photographs of old water towers you should check out the work of my friend, Gary Heller. He has some fantastic shots of old water towers in New York City. Enjoy!

Water Tower
This old water tower with a golden sunset painting its rusty surface with an orange glow is found in Bucyrus, Ohio.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

I-80 Road Trip: Colorado to Ohio

Some of you may remember my road trip last month from Colorado to Ohio. I thought I would share a few photos from that non-stop whirlwind tour. We started bright and early on a Saturday morning and made it to our destination by Sunday night. That is pretty good time for 1300 miles. We had a fun family visit squeezed in between our obligations before we headed home. On the return trip we had one little glitch of a spark coil going bad on our truck. Apparently, our desert rat truck did not like the humidity either. Then it was back on the road. Some of these photographs were taken in a moving vehicle at interstate speeds. That might explain some of the blur and bugs!

Glass Building
This glass church with post and beam construction is exceptionally beautiful.

Happy Face

Wind Turbines
This could be the AT&T logo. Somewhere in Iowa on I-80.

Rob's Nap
Rob takes a nap in the jump seat of the truck. He ended up in many peculiar positions trying to get comfortable but this was the cutest.

Glass Dome
A glass geodesic dome flashes by at 80 mph.

Jordan Truck
Michael Jordan's head. Just one of the unusual sights on I-80 somewhere in Indiana near Chicago.

Best Moment
My Mom is a great grandmother for the fourth time.

Worst Moment
Our truck breaks down in Iowa City. We spent the evening and next morning with repairs sitting in this parking lot.

Road Weary
After almost 2600 miles of driving within six days, we are all a bit weary.

Colorado Sunset
An exceptional Colorado sunset greets us as we return home.

Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Sunrise Sunset

It is once again time for my Friday feature of guest photography. This week I searched for the very best sunrise and sunset shots from the Photographers of Etsy. It was difficult to choose only six. There is some amazing talent out there in the "Etsyverse." Be sure to visit each of these wonderful galleries by clicking on the shop name or the photo information link. Enjoy the show!

Children in the Sunset
by finfera
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Folly Sunrise
by FlashForward
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Haystack Rock
by mesmanimages
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Eternity
by mysaturnalia
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Tandem
by everydayeros
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second silhouette
by ravencolours
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Sunset on Water

The holidays are past. I had a wonderful Christmas with my family and a great New Years Day celebration too. I am rested and ready to jump back into photography. I have many goals for this new year and am happy that I have all of you to be my guides for this journey. I appreciate your comments on my work more than you know. So without further adieu...

The sun sets early in northern Colorado at the beginning of the year. In the summer four-thirty in the afternoon would be early enough in the day for many outdoor activities to still be done. But in the middle of the winter it is time to head for home and sip wine by the fire. That is exactly what I had planned on doing when I drove the serpentine road around the frozen lake. But my eye kept wandering from the road to the beautiful light reflected on the ice so I pulled the truck over to the roadside to take a few shots. I hope you enjoy the serene vista of a frozen lake at sunset in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Mahogany Ice
A hillside covered in Mountain Mahogany drops steeply to an ice covered lake reflecting the setting sun.
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Sunset on Water
The approaching evening of a cold winter day paints the frozen Rocky Mountain lake in the subtle tones of a peach and pink alpine glow.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Sunday Gallery - Seattle Evening Romance

One wondrous evening in Seattle I was totally enchanted. Going from a land of mountains and dry sage in Colorado to the seascape of the Pacific Northwest is a dramatic change to the senses; with the gently falling rain, the ocean's salty scent, and the sailboats floating lazily like giant birds on a giant pond. We stood mesmerized watching the ships for quite some time and then decided to have dinner on the waterfront deck of our hotel. The breeze was a little chilly but undaunted we "layered up" as we say in the mountains, unwilling to give up our intoxication with the waterscape. I caught our reflection in the window and smiled. Afterward, we walked hand in hand along the waterfront as the sun slowly descended into the water of the sea.

Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen