Photo © Mike Hendren 2009
I found this old rusty plow sitting in a nice green pasture, not far from Sedalia, Colorado. The scene was so serene and peaceful that I couldn't resist. Plus, I think it kind of reminded me of the fact that I retired about 5 years ago, but didn't stay retired like this old plow. Of course, maybe it went through cycles, too, where it was put away for a few years and then brought back into action, tilling the soil for a new crop. Old, rusty, and tiny compared to the huge multi-disc plows that farmers use these days, it still stands ready to work if needed.
I used Lightroom to crop and enhance the green colors a little, then sent it off to Photomatix (single image) where the Tonemapping / Detail Enhancing functions brought out some of the details in the shadows - especially on the plow. This could also have been done in Lightroom with the "Fill Light" slider, but I like the result from Photomatix a little better. After reimporting the "enhanced" image back into Lightroom, I just sharpened and added some noise reduction.
(This flag was found flying proudly in Sedalia, Colorado - it's since been retired.)
I know some of you object to flags that should have been "retired", but personally, I can't fault anyone who proudly displays our beautiful flag, even in this tattered condition.
When I look at this torn symbol, I see pride and love of country. Of course, it's time for it to be replaced by a new one, but who of us can say in these difficult economic times when another person can or cannot afford that.
I would much rather see this ragged flag instead of a bare flag pole.
I hope you all take time to remember and show your appreciation to those in the armed forces who risk their lives in the service of our country, preserving freedom.
This old, rusty motorcycle sits on the roof of one of the buildings in the small town of Sedalia, Colorado. It seems emblematic of the motorcycle "gatherings" that often take place, here.
On most weekends, if the weather is nice, lots of people take the opportunity to get out and enjoy the beautiful Colorado scenery from the breezy seat of a motorcyle. Invariably, many of them will gather at a local watering hole in Sedalia called the Sedalia Grill, to enjoy great barbecue, ice cold beer, and usually some live music.
So, if you've got a motorcycle, drive it out to Sedalia on the next warm Saturday afternoon and have some good old small town fun. If you don't have a motorcycle - it doesn't matter - come on out, check out the bikes, and join in the festivities.
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I am a Real Estate Broker because I enjoy helping people through the exciting and sometimes challenging process of buying or selling their home and realizing their dreams. GRI, CDPE
"Mike does a great job covering the in's and out's of his hyper local market. Reading his blog gives you fantastic coverage. However, if it's an amazing photo that you're looking for, Mike's blog is FULL of them and we all know how much a picture is worth...."
Activerain Newsletter / Member Spotlight (11-24-09)
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“Mike worked with me on a real estate transaction that required a lot of special attention. That's exactly what Mike did, he was tenacious but patient throughout the process. Mike didn't let up until his client was taken care of and the transaction was complete! I highly recommend Mike as an agent.” January 22, 2009
Douglas James , Broker Associate , Re/Max Masters
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My area of expertise centers around Castle Rock, CO.
You can find more information about Castle Rock, HERE.
Information about Sedalia, CO, HERE.
I was born in Texas, grew up in Oklahoma, and now consider myself a native of Colorado just because I love it here!
After graduating from Oklahoma State Univ., I got married and went straight in to Air Force pilot training. I flew fighters, F-4s, in the Air Force and then decided to give civilian life a try and went to work for Delta Air Lines. After 25 years there, I retired as a B-767 Captain. During those years with the Air Force and Delta, my wife and I also managed to raise two terrific kids who are grown now and have their own families.
After flying airplanes for 30 years, first serving my country and then the traveling public, I decided that becoming a real estate broker provided a good fit for my people skills and service oriented background. I thoroughly enjoy the interactions with clients, the different challenges that each transaction brings, and the satisfaction of helping someone find (and buy) their dream home.
My true love is family, but I also enjoy photography, camping, hunting, fishing, sailing, golf, and Jeeping in the mountains. As far as hobbies go, photography is my passion and has been since my first “black box” camera I won at the age of 12. At OSU I took a photography course where I learned the basics of photography and using a darkroom and I thank God for the digital revolution and the computer “darkroom” we use for processing images, today. I currently use a Nikon DSLR and shoot only digital.
Prints of some of my images are available at: Fine Art America
GRI - The Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) symbol is the mark of a real estate professional who has made the commitment to provide a high level of professional services by securing a strong educational foundation. Real Estate Agents with the GRI designation are highly trained in many areas of real estate to better serve and protect their clients.
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