Elvis Kennedy

Memorial Day - Galen Kittleson

Elvis Kennedy — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:22:30 +0000

Elvis joins all of the proud and respectful people who will take some time today to honor all those who have fallen to preserve our freedoms.

Every Memorial Day Elvis personally honors Sgt. Maj. Galen Kittleson, who served the USA with valor and distinction. When that color guard passes during the parade today, Elvis will be thinking about his hero, Sgt. Maj. Galen Kittleson - one of our finest.

You can read about Kittleson's heroism HERE. And in the book about him entitled Raider, HERE. And you can watch an interview that Elvis did with his hero in 2003 - HERE.

America, and the world, is a better, safer place because of people like Galen Kittleson.

Sunset at Kelly Lake

Elvis Kennedy — Mon, 28 May 2012 01:55:39 +0000

Elvis is a lucky boy. He sometimes gets to hang out at a place on beautiful Kelly Lake, Wisconsin. Elvis could lie and tell you that this was a rare, spectacular sunset. But truth be told, every day is spectacular at Kelly Lake. Really.

It's just a bonus when the cumulus clouds hang heavily overhead and catch the last, fading rays of sunshine.

HDR image made with a Nikon D4 and 24-70 lens set at 24mm. All at f/6.3 and ISO 100. (For those of you who care).

Charlie and The Z-Man

Elvis Kennedy — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 02:35:43 +0000

Every once in a great while, if you're lucky, you'll meet a person that is just busting with positive energy and enthusiasm. Elvis is fortunate to know a number of these people. But it takes a bit of magic to find yourself with more than one of them at a time.

On Sunday, Jupiter aligned with Mars. Saturn was in the southern sky. And the crazy vortex of supernatural energy waves emanating from the fourth dimension drew Elvis to the Starbucks just south of Lambeau Field. And there they were; Charlie and The Z-Man.

Charlie is Elvis' best buddy. The Z-Man is an up and coming musician. Both of them will make you laugh, smile and appreciate life.

Elvis, Charlie and The Z-Man - all at the same place, at the same time - was nothing short of magical.

Made with a Nikon D4 and 50mm lens.

Paparazzi!

Elvis Kennedy — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:53:43 +0000

It was raining at Kelly Lake. But real photographers know that bad weather equals good pictures. So Charlie braved the rain to work on his craft. He's a trouper.

Made with a Nikon D4 and a 24-70 lens.

Sunrise at Cana Island Lighthouse

Elvis Kennedy — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:15:14 +0000

A beautiful sunrise peeks through the trees at Cana Island Lighthouse in Bailey's Harbor, Door County, Wisconsin.

The lighthouse was built in 1869 and is still used as a navigational aid today.

Made with a Nikon D4 and 14-24 lens.

Moonrise Over Egg Harbor

Elvis Kennedy — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:43:11 +0000

Elvis had to get up early in the morning to find and capture this beautiful scene. The moon setting over Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. The reflection is coming off of Green Bay (the bay, not the city). And the cloud above the moon? That's just luck.

Made with a Nikon D4 and 24-70 lens.

The Barn

Elvis Kennedy — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:32:21 +0000

The Barn Bar and Restaurant in Lena, Wisconsin is an institution. The novelty of eating a fine meal in an old milking barn just never seems to wear thin.

The clientele seems more local than tourist. That probably tells you something about the quality of the food, and the faint-heartedness of tourists.

The next time you're in Lena (you do get there often, don't you?), head west on County A a couple of miles. You can't miss it.

Tell them Elvis sent you.

HDR image made with a Nikon D3s and 14-24 lens.

Toeterville, Iowa

Elvis Kennedy — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 03:53:33 +0000

This is a special place for Elvis. Elvis was baptized here. He watched the old church that stood at this spot for decades be torn down and replaced with this new church (well, it was new in 1967). Elvis experienced weddings, funerals and all manner of community gatherings here. Elvis used to light the candles for Sunday service. There's even a dove with Elvis' name on it hanging from the rafters.

The very first photograph ever taken of Elvis happened here (see it HERE).

All of that and it's located in the greatest town on planet Earth - Toeterville, Iowa. Home of the friendliest people and the best fish fry you'll ever experience. Really.

For more photographs of Toeterville, Iowa go HERE.

Both photographs made with a Nikon D3s

Elvis is Training

Elvis Kennedy — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:17:52 +0000

Elvis was fortunate to travel to Iowa recently. He wished he could have traveled by train but alas, there are no people trains that run from Elvis' home to the sprawling metropolis of Toeterville, Iowa. There are freight trains though, and Elvis often considers becoming a hobo, at least temporarily, for the fun and adventure of it. Just not in winter.

Some trains, like the French TCG can travel at 322 mph. Some carry passengers in the luxury of days gone by. There are restaurant cars, sleeping cars and smoking cars. But none of that nonsense in Toeterville, Iowa. Here it's all business.

Take in this fine view of the undercarriage of a freight car, also called the truck or bogie. And the coupling that holds the cars together. You see Hollywood stars unhitch these all the time. Usually while firing a sidearm with uncanny accuracy. But Elvis digresses.

These boxcars are carrying corn. Some of it for seed, some to feed livestock and lots of it is used to make ethanol.

And that's how Elvis got to Iowa. In an automobile powered by ethanol.

Travel. Trains. Iowa. Corn. It's the circle of life.

Here's a bonus photograph. For many more Toeterville, Iowa pictures click HERE.

Both photographs made with a Nikon D3s and 14-24 lens.

Another Cold Sunrise

Elvis Kennedy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:55:35 +0000

Elvis was back at Cave Point on the shores of Lake Michigan early this morning. Clear and cold. Here are two more sunrise photographs for you to consider.

Both were made with the lens set at 14mm. That's w-i-d-e. You need to be at a nice spot and have lots of landscape to fill that much frame.

Both of these are HDR (high dynamic range) photographs. That is, Elvis took 7 photographs of each scene. Underexposing and overexposing. Then Elvis blended all 7 photographs into one. Please click on each one to view a big version and enjoy.

Both made with a Nikon D3s and 14-24 lens.