Steven Helmer Publications

It was a bit overcast at lunch, but we aren't supposed to get rain until later, so I managed to get a walk in with my camera. There wasn't much activity today, probably because it looked like they just got done mowing some of the grass, but I did capture some of the usual suspects. Here are some of my photos: There was no heron on this rock today, like yesterday, so the turtles returned. This turned out to be an interesting photo, at least in my opinion. The dragonfly was on a stump and the water from the pond was in the background, but it almost looks as though it is a giant dragonfly on top of a mountain with clouds in the background. Two photos of the same dragonfly from different angles. I was surprised it stayed in one place while I moved. I'm not against fall colors. I just am not a fan of seeing them when it is only mid-August. What's up with that? ___________________________________________________________________________ Here are some of my previous nature phot...

Synopsis: Moira Van Dean doesn't trust Fritz Mundt, the man who broke her husband, Pepper's leg and effectively ended his professional wrestling career, sending the couple into a financial spiral that had resulted in them living in poverty while working for a traveling carnival. However, after the carnival leaves them behind following a barroom altercation that leaves Pepper seriously injured, they have no choice other than to accept Mundt's offer to pay Pepper as a trainer for heavyweight wrestler, Garfield Taft for a potential match against heavyweight champion Strangler Lesko. Despite Taft's brashness, Pepper is up to the task but, as Moira feared, there are obstacles. The training camp in Montana is a front for a bootlegging ring and the only way Lesko's team will give Taft, who is Black, a title shot is if he agrees to throw the match. Plus, it is clear Taft is suffering the effects of some serious illness he won't disclose. Review: I'm not sure why, ...

It was a halfway decent day today, sunny without being super warm or humid, so my walk was a bit more pleasant than it has been. Plus, I had some company today. My wife was in her sewing studio (in the basement of the same building my office is in) so she joined me. Since she was wearing sandals, I avoided some of the trails I normally would check out. However, I still managed to get a few photos. Here are some of them: This wasn't the most cooperative butterfly, but I did manage to snap this photo when it took a short break from flying around. I almost didn't spot this blue heron from a distance against the backdrop but spotted it just in time to get a photo while it was hunting. This is the rock I normally see turtles on. They weren't there today, for obvious reasons. I haven't seen a lot of frogs this year but today, we had to avoid stepping on a couple of them. I grabbed this shot when one was hiding. _________________________________________________________________...

Synopsis: After being released from prison, conman Gabriel Caine and his partner, Fitz, travel to Diggstown, a town named after is most famous resident, boxer Charles Malcum Diggs. The town is run by Diggs' former manager, Charles Gillon, who secretly drugged his fighter to fix a fight and scam the residents out of their property, leaving Diggs in a vegetable-like state.  Caine gets Gillon to accept a wager, any 10 county residents versus 48-year-old retired boxer 'Honey' Roy Palmer. At first, it is just about the money but soon turns personal. Who's in it? The movie stars James Woods , Louis Gossett Jr., Oliver Platt, Heather Graham and Bruce Dern. Review: I remember watching Diggstown when I was a teenager but really didn't remember a whole lot about the movie, including what it was about. So, when I came across the film again, I decided to add it to my library and wound up watching it this morning.  I would now classify the movie as a forgotten favorite. The...

Synopsis: When his home planet of Eternia is attacked by an army led by the skull-faced villain, Skeletor, Prince Adam is tasked with protecting the Sword of Power and sent through a portal that takes him to the planet Earth. Fifteen years later, Adam is working in a human resources department while searching for the sword, which he lost along the way. When he finally finds it, he returns to his home planet with the help of his childhood friend, Teela and discovers the sword can turn him into a mighty warrior. However, that might not be enough to beat Skeletor. Who's in it? The movie stars  Nicholas Galitzine , Camila Mendes , Idris Elba , Jared Leto and Alison Brie. Review: While I know there are those who don't share this opinion, I think the 1987 version of Masters of the Universe isn't as bad as people say it is. Despite that, when I saw they were once again attempting to make a live-action version of the cartoon I grew up with, I was admittedly skeptical. However, ...

After having rain, or at least the chance of rain the past couple days, the weather finally cooperated enough for me to get back out with my camera at lunch. Between the overcast sky and visible humidity, I did have a few challenges with the photos being a bit darker than my editing skills could overcome. However, there were a few unique things this time around as well, offsetting that a bit. Here are some of the photos: I've taken quite a few green heron photos this year, but what can I say? They are very cooperative. I was a bit surprised this grey heron hung around the whole time I was walking to a spot I could get a clear photo of it. They are usually very skittish, and I fully expected it to let out a loud squawk and fly away. It was in the same spot when I got back to my car. I would have liked to have gotten a better photo of this hawk since I was standing quite some distance away when I took it. However, it flew off before I could get closer.  If you look closely at its leg...