Happy 249th Birthday, America!
Taken at Elk City Kansas, 2025
Behind the Camera
On July 4, 2025 we celebrated America’s 249th birthday! Well, technically 249 years of the United States’ independence. I never want to arrogantly diminish the heritage of my Canadian or Mexican friends. Their histories are filled with heroic figures (and scoundrels), just like the United States. Still, we celebrate our birth as a republic and the monumental place that we have on the world’s stage. Not without challenges, not always pretty, but the world would certainly be poorer without us.
I look back on my family with a fulness of spirit, and a head held slightly higher as I think of my ancestors. My grandfather served as a Soldier in the trenches of World War I. Called the “Great War” and the “War to end all Wars.” Of all people, my family knows that no war is great, and if that global conflict was fought to end all wars, well…it was an unfortunate failure. It only begat more war.
My father endured the Great Depression and joined the United States Navy during the Second World War. He was severely injured in the South Pacific as he served on the U.S.S. Enterprise. Dad never talked about combat. Like so from of that “Greatest Generation” he only told the funny stories. In fact, I never knew he had been injured until I looked up his records in the National Archives. Among the many things that Dad passed on to his sons (I am the youngest of six boys, and no sisters), his work ethic is what may be the easiest to observe. However, he was also meek, generous, and loved America. We all do too.
My older brothers reflect Dad’s commitment to serve others. The three eldest all served in Southeast Asia. Another conflict so very far away. Each tasting a different branch of the military; Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps, respectively. Another brother joined the Air Force, and the fifth brother followed a higher calling of service and entered the ministry.
I was uncertain of where I would serve. Initially, enlisting in the Air Force. I had the opportunity to switch to the Army, attend Officer Candidate School, and serve the remainder of my career as an Army Officer. I was fortunate to serve with the most amazing and talented people I have ever known.
From a poor high school student to serving as a senior officer in the Pentagon, I was very blessed. No other nation offers such an opportunity. I credit the first sergeant who saw something that I failed to see in myself. He kicked me in the rear (literally) and sent me to various educational courses. He challenged me to give my all at these programs. What I learned about myself is that I loved to learn. I still do.
Perhaps studying photography after completing two other careers is the result of my Dad’s insatiable curiosity and first sergeant’s tenacity for me to do better. Whatever it is, I owe a debt to those who invested in my life. I owe a debt to a Nation that gave me a chance to break out of my limits and strive for more.
This is an amazing Nation. Not perfect, but better than any other place I have ever been. God bless America!
Geek Speak
I took this photo at the Independence Day celebration in Elk City, Kansas. Elk City has a population of less than 250 (that’s right, 250 people), but they put on a fireworks display unequaled in the area.
This photo was taken with a Sony a6700 camera and Viltrox 27mm, f/1.2 lens. The bright lights from the fireworks could blow out the image if normal night settings were used. So, I set the shutter speed to 1/100 and the aperture to f/9. Yep, those are typically daytime landscape setting. The ISO was set at 3200 and the White Balance was at 3800 Kelvin. Those are my go-to night settings. (TIP: All these settings are what I use for nighttime lightning photographs. However, I use a timelapse for lightning because it is so unpredictable).
I would love to hear how you take photos of fireworks, lightning, or other high contrast images.
