Red Peppers, At Last
Local Food Forum also shares its first sightings of eagerly awaited local produce. Today, at long last…
…. Red peppers are in season, these from Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois), purchased at Chicago’s Green City Market today (Saturday). These are Barb’s favorite peppers, by far and away. If they are yours, too, get to your market soon. Summer doesn’t last forever.
Air Show Preview Photos
OK, this admittedly has nothing to do with food… unless you are bringing a picnic to the lakefront today or tomorrow to watch the Navy’s Blue Angels put on their amazing aerobatics performance for the abbreviated Chicago Air and Water Show.
I was able to snap the following photos of Friday’s rehearsal from the comfort of our living room. Our lakefront apartment has provided a box seat for the annual Air Show every year (except 2020, when it was cancelled because of COVID). I call this a checkup on my photography reflex skills, and I think I passed.
The true story is that I had just bought my first Sony "a" series digital camera in August 2011, and I was still learning how to use it when the Air Show gave me my first major test. When I discovered I could capture speeding aircraft in sharp relief, it encouraged me to think that taking photos of stationery vegetables and fruit had to be easier.
Now, I know some folks who really don't like the Air Show for a variety of reasons that include noise, pollution, the risks in doing such crazy-assed stunts in a populated area, and what critics describe as a display of militarism. I understand and respect those viewpoints.
Nonetheless, when there is something spectacular and unusual going on right outside the window, I grab for my camera. My motivation for photographing the Air Show is no different than my motivation for taking photos of storm clouds, lake waves, sunrises, sunsets and rainbows.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy or at least can concede that these are pretty good photos, even if you could totally live without the event.
All photos are copyright Bob Benenson and may not be used without my express consent.