JerodSchaefer.com

Architecture and Outdoor Art in Red Lodge

Jerod — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:20:56 +0000

To celebrate my lovely wife’s birthday I secured the use of a friend’s cabin in Red Lodge as well as having the kids stay at my brother’s house for the weekend. After a filling breakfast at Cafe Regis we took the opportunity to walk around and take in some of the beautiful and unique architecture as well as do some shopping. As we were walking past a building I’ve seen many times we stopped to make a few photos.

The building, named the “Theatorium,” has a handful of beautiful statues that were imported from Italy in 1921 during the building’s construction.

This statue adorns the top of the Theatorium in Red Lodge.

I am not sure which I like better – the color or black and white.

A little further down the road was this old Coca-Cola billboard painted on the side of one of the local shops – you can see that there are several layers of paint from

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Grateful 365 Day Sixty-Five

Jerod — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:23:03 +0000

It has been many, many days since I last posted a Grateful photo but as I mentioned i previous posts, it is my project to do (or not do).

I made this shot on Highway 87 north of Billings when I was coming home from picking up my kids from their grandparents’ home. I like the slightest sliver of a moon in the shot and the way some of the clouds are reflecting the sun and how others are beyond the sun’s reach. I shot it as an HDR and processed it with the intention of making it look as natural as possible.

It is easy to forget just how beautiful Montana is when you live in Billings. I rarely leave the city and the opportunity to look around was very welcomed. I love Montana and am Grateful for the blessing it is to live here.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Light Painting

Jerod — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 18:41:40 +0000

Light Painting, a set on Flickr.

The kids and I played around with long exposures and glow sticks. It was a ton of fun and the photos turned out great!

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Grateful 365 Day Sixty-four

Jerod — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 03:46:11 +0000

Sue and I had the opportunity to get out an enjoy some fun at the Western Heritage Center’s “Hollywood Montana Style” event at the Crowne Plaza this Saturday. The event is one of the center’s most important fundraisers and is an evening filled with costumes, excellent dining, silent auctions and dancing. The photo below is of one of the greeters and he was more than willing to point his “weapon” at me for a moment.

I am Grateful that Sue and I were able to get out and enjoy an evening with "friends."

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Grateful 365 Day Sixty-three

Jerod — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:43:32 +0000

When I am up early enough in the morning I make it a point to take the dogs for a walk before I go to work. They certainly enjoy the opportunity to get out and I enjoy the exercise and the fresh air. I generally take the same route so I don’t always bring my camera (I know, shocking). However, on this particular day I grabbed my bag on my way out the door and I am glad I did.

God's Creation is a constant reminder of His Love for us.

One of our neighbors that share the alley have a crop of sunflowers and as the sun was coming up this bee was taking the opportunity to soak it up and stretch his cold limbs. I liked the way he (assuming it’s a “he”) was just beginning to warm up enough to move around and get a start on his day.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Grateful 365 Day Sixty-Two

Jerod — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:52:24 +0000

I originally took these photos on Monday, September 12th as I was heading back to the office from a sales call. The fire station on 24th Street was power washing the floors of the garage and they pulled all the engines out on the neighboring streets and (as I always do) I had my camera on me and decided to make a couple photos. While I was focused on trying to make the most of the opportunity I was overcome with a sense of loss and sorrow because of the previous day being the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and the attack on the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and the failed attempt on the White House that was prevented only by the sacrifice of many Americans as they fought to control United Flight 93 before crashing in a field in Pennsylvania. That day 2,977 innocent people including many first responders were killed by 19 terrorists (who also died in the attacks). Those 2,977 people were Dads, Sons, Brothers, Moms, Daughters, Sisters, Husbands and Wives and their lives were snuffed out because of the evil of sin. At the core this is the reason for all death and destruction in the world and what the world needs is not another political party, not another referendum, denomination or new governing power – what the world needs is Christ. There is no hope for this world – it is “reserved for fire” (2 Peter 3:7); but there is hope for all of us that is found only in Christ.

I chose today’s photos because I am thankful for those first responders that sacrificed their lives in 9/11 and for those that put their lives on the line every day for the sake of others.

I am grateful for the "first responders" that help to keep us safe.

They are willing to Give their Lives for the sake of Others.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Grateful 365 Day Sixty-one

Jerod — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 03:48:28 +0000

I am calling this post day Sixty-one – even though I am waaaay behind to be day sixty-one. Oh, well, that’s the fun of having a blog – it’s mine to do (or not do, as the case may be) with as I please.

I had a bit of time this morning to download some photos off my camera and to browse through some of the hundreds I’ve taken in the last 30 days. While browsing through some I took of our cat, Mocha, Sue said that she wanted a black and white of her with only the eyes colored so I spent a few minutes putting this together. Mocha has been the subject of my 365 Project (which is turning into a 5-year project at this rate) before but I liked the way this one turned out so I thought it worthy to post.

I am Grateful for the joy that Mocha brings to our lives.

ISO 800, 35mm, f/1.8, 1/100 sec

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Grateful 365 Day Sixty

Jerod — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:14:57 +0000

There is something so refreshing about kids and their free spirits. At one point or another in our lives we forget what it means to truly be “free” and start caving to societal pressures to try and fit into the bounds of “normal” we think are necessary for acceptance. This is one of the reasons why I enjoy photography so much; it enables me to capture moments in time during my family’s lives that are so fleeting. Moments that come and go and would be otherwise forgotten. Today’s photo is of my daughter, Lilly, who is still young enough to be a free spirit, reminds me daily of what a blessing it is to just be who God made me to be.

Lilly is seen here with a “Miss Spider” basket that she rescued from at least 2 garage sales and many a toy culling. I am not sure why she loves that basket so much, but I think it may be because we laugh so hard when she wears it as a hat. Lilly’s goal in life is to please those she loves – especially Sue and I – so when she is able to make us laugh it makes her heart soar. Lilly is a special little girl that I love so much and thank God for every day.

Lilly Salvaged this "hat" from 2 Garage Sales and I am Grateful for Lilly's unique and delicate spirit.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Grateful 365 Day Fifty-nine

Jerod — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:42:58 +0000

Work has been exceptionally hectic lately so today I had to work through my lunch to try and keep on top of all I had to do. I thought I would just go without lunch (and I could probably stand too!) but I hadn’t eaten much for breakfast and was already hungry. So when I found Ramen Cup-O-Noodles I put in my desk several months ago I was very Grateful to have it! Loaded with more sodium (and other bad stuff) than any one person should consume in one sitting, the chicken-flavored treat really hit the spot. Plus, it gave me a subject for my Grateful photo!

I was Grateful to find this Cup-O-Noodles in my desk so I could eat lunch and continue to work.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

Nye, Montana

Jerod — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:20:28 +0000

I had the opportunity to officiate a wedding outside of Nye, Montana on the Stillwater River on 30 July 2011. I was born in raised in Montana and have lived in the Billings area since 1995 but I have never made the trip to this beautiful area. So Friday night when we drove down for the rehearsal I was awe-struck at the natural beauty in the area and was excited to make some photos. However, as I mentioned, I was not there to fiddle around with my camera. I was there to rehearse a wedding so Sue, my wife, was able to make a couple photos while she waited for the rehearsal to finish. I even chose one of her photos for my Grateful post, which can be seen here.

I was able to make a few photos after the wedding on Saturday and here are a couple samples.

There’s something about old homesteader’s dwellings that really intrigue me. My mind immediately wonders what the lives of the people that lived in those now dilapidated dwellings were like. I can only imagine what it was like to live without all of the modern things we take for granted like running water, electricity, telephones, smooth roads and packaged food. The folks that built this place did it with their own hands, one stone, log and plank at a time without powered tools of any sort. Their faith in God and amazing courage inspires me.

This relic lies just a couple miles down the road from the homestead and is a reminder of how much work has been done on the land to make it habitable. I liked the metal tires of this tractor and thought they made a nice focal point of this shot. I wasn’t sure what I liked better though, the black and white version above, or the color version below. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite