Paint the Rock.

Evanston, Illinois, 1978. Mr. Irene and his friends visit the Rock.

I used to pass the Rock on my way to class; the Rock stood outside Harris Hall.

Restorations

My Dad worked primarily in black-and-white photography because (1) he appreciated that aesthetic; and (2) he liked to develop and print his own photographs. He occasionally took color photographs, and he reserved color film primarily for human subjects.

A friend recently asked whether I tweak those old Kodachrome images before I post them. When I first started the blog, I scanned photographs and did little restoration. Later—when we bought a new scanner, and I got accustomed to working with photo software—I began adjusting the images.

Some purists believe altering an old photograph mars its integrity. I disagree. A restored image better captures what the photographer saw.

Here's an example of a photograph (I posted it earlier here) before and after a quick restoration:

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What do you think?

Autumn in Wisconsin

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Devil's Lake, Wisconsin, October 1963. Dad captures autumn beauty during my Parents' getaway to Devil's Lake.

A Casual Hike at Devil's Lake

My Parents "got away" one autumn weekend, and they made the short drive from Suburban Chicago to the Wisconsin Dells.

Devil's Lake, Wisconsin, October 1963. Mom carries a pocketbook and her "dressier" knitting bag. The dressier knitting back is a firm-sided, woven bag with bamboo handles and a faux-amber flower decoration on one side.

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Devil's Lake, Wisconsin, October 1963. Both the pocketbook and knitting bag are visible here. It's so stylish to drape a jacket or cardigan over the shoulders. Why do so few women do that today?

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Verona, Wisconsin, February 2012. My Parents brought a souvenir from the Dells for me: a child's silver, Native-American bracelet. I still wear it sometimes.