Lucas, Kansas
Road Trip!
Doug, at Brant’s Meat Market
Road Trip! Driving from Denver to Chicago, I stopped for a visit in remote, rural Lucas, Kansas. Population 407. About 20 or 30 miles north of Interstate 70, east of Hays. I was drawn to the area because I read they have a lot of public art including, “The 2nd Best Restroom in the United States.” No kidding. Click here to see their Facebook site! Or here for their website. Keep reading to see more photos on the blog!
I got there about 9AM or so and it was quiet in Lucas, Kansas. The first thing I noticed was that 100% of the people smiled at or greeted me as they drove or walked by. And I also noticed that there was artwork everywhere. They are very proud of their collections and creations and rightly so! The pièce de résistance is, of course, the restroom. But I’ll defer posting photos of that here for now. It IS something to behold, but I cannot say that it is the second best since I haven’t seen the first best or the third, for that matter! But here’s a scene of the plaza outside the restroom (below):
Outside the Famous “Bowl” in Lucas
It was pretty quiet on the street in Lucas at that time of the morning, for sure!
Quiet Main Street
Street View
Lucas buildings on Main Street, with character
There were a few people out and about, and the numbers surely increased by the time I left (after about an hour or more). Here’s John, having a smoke outside of his daughter’s business location (below).
John having a smoke
Too bad this place (below) is closed. Can you imagine what it was like there in its heyday?
Old Town Restaurant
Going into Brant’s for a little shopping. I saw a steady stream, so to speak, of people going in and out of there.
Street View of Brant’s
Here’s Doug, telling me about some more art galleries and such in the town. Amazing, considering the small population! Kudos to them!
Doug Showing info about the Town’s Artwork
Some nice, grand homes in Lucas, Kansas, too. With a view of the noisy grain elevator in the background!
Grand Home near the Grain Elevator
Art everywhere….even on the corner of a building. Just so ya know, that’s not a real person (below)….it’s a piece of artwork leaning on the side of the building.
Another piece of artwork on the street
Let’s not forget…they are Rural by Choice in Lucas, Kansas. Just take a look at the sign on the door!
“Rural By Choice”
Anyone up for a visit? Please say hi for me! And tell them I thank them for their hospitality.
-Stephen M. Levin
“Life Scapes”
www.stephenmlevinphotos.com
AS I know so little about photography, may I ask if these photos are re-touched? I love the clarity and how you’ve captured the scene there. Another Q: is it an older persons’ town? I can ask that as I’m old.
I never know how to answer that question, Dave. I certainly process things in the “digital darkroom,” but I don’t alter the scene, so to speak. Mostly tonal adjustments and such.
Being a musician, as you are, it is likely somewhat analogous to adding effects to your guitar sound, or altering the bass, mid, and treble tonality. Or, even changing amps altogether! Sound coloring…
I would hope that clarity is part me, camera, and software.
I’m not sure about the ages of people in the town. Everyone looks young to me! haha
Thanks for commenting, Dave!
Back to manipulation: I am still working out the differences between seeing something and taking a picture of it. Is it me or are your pictures getting more clear? Is there such a thing as being too clear? Is a photo’s clarity and/or resolution dependent on screen size, resolution and/or quality of the screen?
Yes…big difference between seeing something and taking a photo. Every photo is a subjective record of what you are seeing, first of all…based on perspective, angle, and things like that. Also, our brains adjust and compensate for color corrections (for example, when you’re in a room that’s illuminated by incandescent light, you generally perceive it as white rather than yellow, but a photo shows that yellow tint of the room.) Also, our eyes/brain filter out power lines, etc. when we look at a scene while the camera can’t do that. Etc., etc.
I have noticed no difference in the clearness of my photos. I don’t think anything in my workflow that would affect “clearness” has changed.
Yes, for sure…screen size (and print size!) and the other factors you mention have a big impact on clarity. For example, how many times have you seen a photo on the screen of a camera phone that looks clear, yet when you see it on a computer screen or as an enlarged print, it looks mushy?
Is it me or is there a blue-ness in the black & white?
Quite the contrary. The images have a sepia tone.
I wonder why you’re seeing blue? That’s curious.
Lucas was my hometown. I lived there from 1938 to 1960. It’s a wonderful little town and you did a great job portraying it in your photos!
Thanks!
Thanks, Kathryn. Your comment means a lot to me as a photographer!
I think I was smiling the whole time I was there.
Glad that you took time to stop and see us in Lucas. In our population there are a lot of us that are older but we are luckier than some of the towns around us. We have two factories, Heartland Hay which makes small alfalfa hay bales for pets using local alfalfa and Great Plains Manufacturing that builds commercial mowers for States and also sells them internationally. They have a pretty large work force that keeps some of our young people both in Lucas and the surrounding area. We still have a Bank, Grocery Store, large Hardware, Plumbing business, movie theater, our own weekly newspaper, liquor store, service station/convenience store, great coffee and a weekend steak house that serves mixed drinks. We are much more fortunate than the small towns nearby.
SO interesting to get this explanation and these details about Lucas. Makes it even more interesting to me. Seems like a close, warm community.
And the art!! Almost everywhere.
Thanks so much, Dee!
These photos have a timeless quality, captured in the b&w format. Goes to show YOU can find a worthy photo opportunity wherever you go – just need a vision and the personality to approach and investigate. I see the people of Lucas appreciated your visit and your post too.
Yes…I am glad and proud to have “Lucas” respond to this blog post.
Thanks, Judy!
Mr. Levin,
Enjoyed reading your blog on Lucas. May I place this blog on our Brant’s Meat Market Facebook page? I like to share what others have to say about our wonderful community.
Please let me know if I have your permission to do this,
Thank you,
Stephanie Svaty
Of course. In fact, I’d be honored.
Thank you.
There is a dreamlike vision that comes out of your treatment of the photos, and a sense of the
vastness and the aloneness of the vast midwest prairie and those who live there.
Fred
I definitely got the feeling that the people who I saw and spoke with there seem to be quite happy and content with that rural atmosphere.
Thanks, Fred!
These are terrific. You found life in this rather quiet setting. I could just hear John, the smoker’s rough voice.
I actually received a very touching note from John’s daughter saying, “The picture you captured of my Dad outside of my business was “perfect small town America”! Thanks again…I will cherish it!” And I responded to her that I will cherish her note!!