Thursday, October 13, 2011

The South (New Orleans, Mississippi and Louisiana)











The City of New Orleans skyline shines over Lake Pontchartrain as viewed from Slidell, MS. A pelican enjoys the final moments of daylight while 'NOLA' prepares for night festivities. This view provides a breathtaking view of the cities elevation.

In addition to the traditional Bourbon Street experience, New Orleans also shows signs of improvement and rebuilding after hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005. The Lower 9th Ward has largely been cleaned up, houses painted and grass cut. Still other homes sit vacant as do FEMA trailers, still unoccupied after 6 years.


Mississippi culture, past and present, reflect upon its shaky past. Signs of seggregation are largely gone but its cash crop (cotton) are in abundance. A few stray alligators make rare appearances alongside rural US highways but are not common.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

April 2010




With an upcoming move and new job imminent, I decided to take a few days to photograph a few railroad lines in Michigan that often go unnoticed. Of primary interest is CSXT's Saginaw Sub between Plymouth and Flint. This portion of the Saginaw Sub sees only 2 regularly scheduled manifest trains daily along with occasional coal and grain trains. Recent schedule changes have put the daily manifest trains, Q321 (Flint to Toledo/Stanley Yard) and Q322 (Toledo/Stanley to Flint) on this portion of the main during the early afternoon. Of particular interest is the signal system: active pole line and search light signals. The Pere Marquette Railroad began installing CTC from Saginaw, MI southward in the early 1930's and it was GRS's first CTC installation in the USA.

(Rail Americas "Huron and Eastern Railroad" at Akron, MI)

(Q32127 north passes a swamp near Clyde, MI)

(Q32227 south rolls into Wixom, MI to meet its' counterpart)

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009, you were generous indeed











As the final hours tick away, the year we know as 2009 are coming to a close and will soon be in the history books. Our proudest moment this year was the addition of our son to our home and learning the joy of becoming parents for the first time. Christian's baptism in July was exciting for all who attended this marvelous event. Christian has impacted our lives and the lives of others he has come to know.
A few highlights of 2009 include the birth of our Son, Christian Jon Avilia Schrader; having our roof replaced (I know, not all that exciting really, but it was leaking and the only leaking thing we need be concerned about were diapers); camping in Kentucky and Ohio; attending Summerail 2009 (a large gathering of well known railroad photographers showcasing their photos in a day-long multimedia extravaganza) in Cincinnatti, OH; Christian's first holidays and a 4 day trip to eastern Pennsylvania. Please enjoy the best photographs of 2009. With the end of this year brings the begining of the next. What adventures are we working on for 2010? Already in the works are SanFrancisco in March to see friends and attend Winterail 2010. Jeremy J Schrader

Monday, October 12, 2009

Smile.....

Uncle Kracker released his newest single, "Smile" this fall and it is giving folks in northern Michigan another reason to smile. He filmed the video in Hale and Long Lake, MI, just 15 miles from where we live. The vidoe was shot on the 4th of July weekend. Uncle Kracker can be found in various towns in northern Michigan, notably the bar in Long Lake and nearby Hale where he has a summer cabin.

This is my version of his hit "Smile". Music by Uncle Kracker with photography by Jeremy J Schrader.

Christian Jon October 2009






Christian has prospered much the past few months. He is healthy, gaining weight and growing long and strong. Quincy has taken a liking to him in the recent weeks, following his every move and sound he makes. She enjoys his small hands as he reaches for her, gently stroking her ears and head. Christian enjoys dogs too; a visit to grandma Suzanne's is not complete without the love of Logan, her puppy. Christian spent this weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Schrader's while mom and dad took an evening off and caught up on much needed rest.































Saturday, July 25, 2009


Lifelong Reese, MI resident, Fred Steck, is a true fan of steam. Fred restored three steam locomotives to operating condition in his back yard shop on the outskirts of the village of Reese, MI. Fred worked as a tool and die maker and fabricated many tools needed to restore three locomotives, a true genius. Now long retired and out the railroad locomotive re-building spotlight, Fred made the 75mile journey with my father, Ed, to witness the labor of others he can relate to.
Fred states "Jeremy, my eyes don't work well, my hearing is poor, but I can smell that engine....and the valves are timed well" as the SP 4449 passed by a mere 200 feet away near North Star, MI. Fred doesn't drive anymore but always has a moment to discuss rail operations in MI over an imported Canadian beer. (the best in his eyes) Fred is 92 years young.

(Fred has been my grand-parents neighbor for nearly 50 years. My dad recalls spending his childhood summers firing steam in his backyard, doing various chores and smelling that familiar coal burning.)

Watching trains with Dad

Watching trains with Dad
Christian gazes out the window at a passing train

McKeesport, PA

McKeesport, PA
Reaching to the heavens above

California Bar

California Bar

Marquette, MI

Marquette, MI

Ore Dock at Night

Ore Dock at Night
Marquette, MI

National Mine

National Mine
Michigan's Upper Penninsula

LS&I Ore Dock Marquette, MI

LS&I Ore Dock  Marquette, MI
A great lakes ore carrier loads iron ore

Lonely Cemetary

Lonely Cemetary
A lone cemetary sits in the middle of a field near Maple Grove, Ohio.

Kentucky Barn

Kentucky Barn
A barn sits silently northeast of Louisville, Lentucky.

Frank and Teressa's Anchor Bar

Frank and Teressa's Anchor Bar
Buffalo, New York, the home of the Original Buffalo style chicken wing sits at the corner of Main Street and E North Street.

Cadillac Ranch Amarillo, Texas

Cadillac Ranch Amarillo, Texas
West of Amarillo, Texas off I-40 sits the Cadillac Ranch, a tribute to some of Detroits finest.

LIKE A ROCK!

LIKE A ROCK!
Posing in front of our new Chevrolet Silverado during a torrential rain storm.

Flat Tire

Flat Tire
An old bicycle rests outside an abandoned building at East Jordan, MI

Spinning in Space

Spinning in Space
The earth is at a constant rotation and never stops. As viewed from North Findlay, Ohio, the earth shows its' motion under clear skies.

Todays forecast; 88 degrees with snow

Todays forecast; 88 degrees with snow
Snow covers the tops of mountains north of Nipton, California while ground temperatures are near 88 degrees, at 1PM.

Mojave Refuge

Mojave Refuge
The Mojave Desert occupies over 22,000 square miles of the southwestern United States. It is a typical Basin and Range topography, as witnessed from Ivanpah, California. Looking northwest up Ivanpah Road, the basins and ranges are clearly visible.

Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire
A road passes through the Valley of Fire State Park, located north east of Las Vegas, Nevada. April 2006.

Waiting on a Friend

Waiting on a Friend
An unsuspecting passenger awaits the arrival of the next train from Chicago, IL on a cold Thanksgiving evening. The train is operated by the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad. Photographed at the tiny depot at Beverly Shores, Indiana, November 2006.

STOP WAR

STOP WAR
"Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind." ~John F. Kennedy, 1961 Photographed in Teutopolis, Illinois, April 2008.

Inauguration Day

Inauguration Day
Michigan Governor, Jennifer Granholm, accepts the oath of office on the steps of the capitol in Lansing, Michigan, January 1, 2007. Jennifer is serving her second term as governor of the state of Michigan.

The Cowboy Way

The Cowboy Way
Cowboy boots, leather straps, a horse and spurs are all that's needed at the Muleshoe Roping Club at Muleshoe, Texas. May 2008.

Bumble Bee Buzzz

Bumble Bee Buzzz
A Bumble Bee goes about his chores on our Japanese Barberry bush. May 2008, northern Michigan.

Flower Garden

Flower Garden
A light water vapor falls through our backyard flower garden, August 2005.

Lightning Crashes

Lightning Crashes
A severe thunderstorn has brewed over central Kansas and is now unleashing its fury in downtown Kansas City, MO. April 2008.

License Plate Collection

License Plate Collection
Located near Hope, Arkansas 2007

Standing Out Amongst Others

Standing Out Amongst Others
Many birds of a single feather do not distract Seagull from taking a break in the upper Mississippi River valley near Bettendorf, Iowa.

High Falls District

High Falls District
Evening sets in Rochester, New York. Earlier in the day, bird watchers gathered to view Falcons fly over the falls. August 2006.

Children of the Mud

Children of the Mud
Two young children splash in a puddle of mud after a recent rain-storm in a non-prudent manner in Streator, Illinois, April 2008.