Tuesday, September 17, 2013

I'm naturally skeptical of new things. I know HDR has been popular for a while-and overdone for almost as long. I generally only like it if it's done subtly, but I went a little haywire with this one. The top photo is HDR. The bottom is one of the five frames used to create the top one. I like them both for different reasons. 

It's sorghum-making season in Iowa. I recently went out to my aunt and uncle's farm for the afternoon to take in the sights, sounds and smells like I try to do most years. Their mill is powered by a steam engine that is about 100 years old. It's powering all the wheels and belts and everything you see here. Described as a "junkyard come to life," my grandpa built this mill a long time ago. He started making sorghum in 1926. For the uninitiated, sorghum is a thick, sweet liquid that is made from boiling the juice from the sweet sorghum cane down until it gets to be just the right sweetness. It tastes especially good on cornbread and biscuits. Some people eat it on pancakes or ice cream. I think my grandpa ate it on everything. He lived to be 98, so it's no doubt very good for you. If you want to give it a try, it's available at Hy-Vee. Look for the red Maasdam Sorghum Mills label. Or, look them up online: http://www.maasdamsorghum.com

And tell me what you think of the pictures. I go back and forth as to whether I like HDR or hate it.