Welcome to the Library
This sign greets visitors to the Callahan County Library and Museum in the basement of the courthouse in Baird, Texas. The "library" is confined to a tiny room, filled with uncataloged artifacts and documents, and staffed by a volunteer on an occasional basis. This neglected sign is a testament of the low priority of education and culture in this West Texas county.
Callahan County Courthouse
Callahan County Courthouse, Baird, Texas. This building is designated an historic landmark, but little has been done to take advantage of the distinction. Among the many beautiful country courthouse buildings in the State of Texas, this courthouse has to rank among the ugliest, in my opinion. Processing in DxO Optics Pro 9, PhotoLine 18, PaintShop Pro X6, and Perfect Photo Suite 8 (beta).
Old Cottonwood Bank and Post Office
Texas Historic Marker and old Cottonwood Bank and Post Office in what used to be the downtown area of this Callahan County, Texas community. Composite image. Processing in DxO Optics Pro 9, PhotoLine 18, PaintShop Pro X6 and Perfect Photo Suite 8 (beta).
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First Callahan County Jail
This building was built in Belle Plaine, the original County Seat of Callahan County, Texas. An election resulted in moving the County Seat to Baird, and the building was dismantled and reassembled in Baird. Although designated an historic site by the State of Texas, the building has been neglected and is not promoted as a tourist attraction. The two exterior doors appear to be interior doors, not designed for external security. Composite image with processing in DxO Optics Pro 8, PhotoLine 18, PaintShop Pro X6 and Perfect Photo Suite 8 (beta).
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Cottonwood Ruins
Ruins of an old service station in downtown Cottonwood, Callahan County, Texas. Processing in DxO Optics Pro 9, PhotoLine 18, DxO Filmpack 4 and Topaz B&W.
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T&P Railroad Depot Marker
Texas Historical Commission marker on the old Texas & Pacific Railroad Depot in Baird, Texas, county seat of Callahan County. The depot is located at the end of Market Street and is now used as a visitors center and museum. Image processing in Photo Ninja, PhotoLine and Topaz Adjust.
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Historic Bankhead Highway
Historic Marker at Baird, Texas for the Bankhead Highway, depression-era designation for the U.S. Highway 80 construction project which went through this Callahan County seat. This marker is on the lawn of the Callahan County Courthouse. Image Processing in Photo Ninja, PhotoLine and Topaz Adjust.
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Shackelford County Marker
Texas Historical Commission historic marker for Shackelford County at the Shackelford County Courthouse in Albany, Texas. Image processing in PhotoLine, Photo Ninja, PaintShop Pro and Topaz Adjust.
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Callahan City Cemetery
A composite image showing the Texas State Historical Survey Committee historic marker and the cemetery for Callahan City, Texas. This historic cemetery is located in Callahan County on FM 2228, between Baird and Admiral, Texas. From Baird, take US 80 East about 4 miles, then go south on FM 2228 about 2.5 miles. Image processed in Photo Ninja, PhotoLine, PaintShop Pro, Perfect Photo Suite and Topaz Adjust.
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Knife Works
Old metal building in Baird, Texas once used as a "knife works." Image processing in Photo Ninja, PhotoLine, DxO Filmpack and Topaz B&W Effects.
BairdTexasCallahan Countymetal buildingoldstreetcloudsjunkPhoto NinjaPhotoLineDxO FilmpackTopaz BW Effects.
Collapsed Garage
Collapsed garage in a rural area of Callahan County, near Scranton, Texas. Shot with an Olympus OM-5 E-M5, Lumix G 20mm f1.7. Raw processed in DxO Optics Pro 9. Antique Plate applied in Google NIK Silver Efex Pro 2, Luminance Blend in PhotoLine 18, Dirty Viewfinder Border in Perfect Photo Suite 8 and finishing in Zoner Photo Studio 16.
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Dirty Window
The dingy window of one of two weekly newspapers serving the tiny town of Baird, county seat of Callahan County, Texas. Shot with an Olympus E-420 and Olympus 14 - 42 mm f/3.5 - 5.6 zoom. Raw conversion in DxO Optics Pro 9. Post Processing in Silver Efex Pro, Topaz Adjust and PhotoLine 18.
BairdTexasdowntownCallahan County StarnewspaperwindowdirtdingyBlack and WhiteOlympusE4201442mmf3.55.6Silver Efex ProDxO OpticsTopaz AdjustPhotoLine
Sign at Rising Star Market
An old Arbuckles Ground Coffes sign inside the renovated Rising Star City Market on US Hwy 183 in Rising Star, Texas. Construction of this stone building was begun at the end of the depression era. The building is now privately owned and is used for various community events, including musicals, dances and weddings. Shot with an Olympus OM-D EM5 and Lumix G 20mm f1.7 prime. Raw development in Lightroom 5. Post processing in Topaz Adjust, Topaz Detail and PhotoLine 18.
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Rising Star City Market
Plans for this stone building began during the latter days of The Great Depression. First used for a place for local farmers to sell their produce, the structure eventually became a warehouse for peanuts grown in the area. The building is now privately owned, has been restored, and is used for musicals, weddings and other local events. Shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Olympus M.12mm f2.0 prime lens. Raw development in Lightroom 5. Post processing in DxO ViewPoint 2.0, Perfect Photo Effects 8 and PhotoLine 18.
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Metal Cactus Flower
Cactus flower metal sculpture on display adjacent to a metal art studio in Albany, Texas. Shot with an Olympus E-620 and an Olympus 14-42mm zoom at 18mm. Raw development in Lightroom 5. Post processing in Perfect Photo Effects 8.
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Prickly Pear Cactus
A prickly pear cactus in bloom in a pasture on a farm in Callahan County, Texas. Shot with an Olympus E-620 and 14-42mm zoom. Raw conversion in DxO Optics Pro 9 via Lightroom 5.3. Post processing in Perfect Effects 8.
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Old Tractor
A rusty, antique tractor behind a chain-link fence at an antique store in the Callahan County seat of Baird, Texas. At the time this photo was taken in 2009, this tiny town was nearing the end of a short burst of economic activity spurred by antiques. Since then, however, many of those businesses have closed, and there's little there to attract Big Country antique shoppers. Shot with an Olympus E-420 4/3 format camera and Olympus 14-42mm lens. Raw development in Photo Ninja 1.2.2 via Lightroom 5.3. Post processing in Google Nik Collection HDR Efex 2, Topaz Adjust and PhotoLine 18.
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Nature's Process
A bee pollinates a blooming Indian Blanket blooming in the rural Scranton area in Callahan County, Texas. Shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 m43 camera and Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 macro. Raw conversion in DxO Optics Pro 9 via Lightroom 5.3. Post Processingin onOne Software's Perfect Effects 8.
60mm f2.8 MacroCallahan CountyDxO Optics ProIndian BlanketLightroomMiscellaneousOMDOlympusPerfects EffectsScrantonTexasbeeflowersgreeninsectm43micro 43native plantsonOne Softwarepinwheelpollenpollinationredwildflowersyellowµ43
Cottonwood Springs
Historical marker for Cottonwood Springs, Cottonwood, Callahan County, Texas. Most state historical markers are mounted on poles or on wallks. This one, however, is embedded in a concrete slab on the ground. Shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 m43 camera and Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0 prime lens. Raw conversion in Capture One Pro 7. Post processing in onOne Perfect Photo Suite 8 and PhotoLine 18.
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Old Gas Station Pump
Gasoline pump at long-closed station in Cottonwood, Callahan County, Texas. Shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 m43 camera and Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0 prime lens. Raw conversion in Capture One Pro 7. Post processing in PhotoLine 18, Topaz photoFXlab, Topaz Clarity and Topaz Adjust 5.
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Robert E. Howard Museum
A composite image of the restored home of Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian and the National Register sign. From this home of his parents, Howard wrote short stories for pulp fiction magazines that later generated comics, books, video games and films. The Howard home is located on Texas 36 in Cross Plains, Callahan County, Texas. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places but ironically has not been designated a Texas Historic Site by the Texas Historical Commission. This tiny community celebrates Robert Howard Days the second weekend in June each year. Shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 m43 camera and M.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0 prime lens. Raw conversion in Capture One Pro 7. Lens correction in DxO Viewpoint 2. Additional post processing in PhotoLine 18, Photoshop Elements 12 and Google Nik Color Efex Pro 4.
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Abandoned
Empty space of an abandoned gas station at Cottonwood, Callahan County, Texas. Shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 m43 format camera and Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm F/2.0 prime lens. Raw conversion in DxO Optics Pro 9. Post processing in PhotoLine 18 and Google Nik Collection Silver Efex Pro 2.
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Old Printing Press in Monochrome
Lith: Selenium/Gold rendering applied to image of an antique printing press. The Selenium toner produces a rich brown in the shadows; the Gold toner results in delicate blues in the highlights. The aged concept was accentuated with the use of a damaged-look border. The machine here is a Babcock Printing Press, a cylinder press typical of those used by small-town, weekly newspapers in the United States prior to the modern era of the computer. This model is in the offices of the Cross Plains Review in Cross Plains, Texas. It was purchased around 1909. A concrete slab was laid to handle the heavy unit, and the floor was then built around it. This press could print two pages at a time at a rate of about 700 pages per hour.
m43United States of AmericaEM1TexasM.Zuiko 1240mm f.2.8 PROmicro four thirdsUSAantiqueCross PlainsON1 Softwarephoto borderphoto frameOlympus EM1MFTOlympus 1240mm F2.8printing pressCallahan Countyphoto edgemonochromeBBWfilm effectfilm lookblack and whiteblack whiteAlien SkinAlien Skin ExposureExposure XLith SeleniumGold
First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church in Baird, Texas, built in 1910 and designated a Texas Historic Site by the Texas Historical Commission. Shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 m43 format camera and Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0 prime lens. Raw conversion and processing in ACDSee Pro 7. Additional post processing in Topaz Adjus 5 and Topaz Detail 3.
BairdTexasBig Countryhistoric markerTexas Historical CommissionchurchPresbyterianbuildingstructurebrickmarkerskyOlympusOMDEM1M.Zuiko 12mm f2.0ACDSee ProTopaz AdjustTopaz Detail
Couldn't You Fix It?
A street sign originally embedded in the curb at the corner of the street. Now broken off, rather than restroring it to its original state, it has been placed on the sidewalk, adding to a tacky, rundown look of this once booming railroad town. Shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 m43 camera and Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0 prime lens. Raw conversion in ACDSee Pro 7, Post Processing in Topaz photoFXlab, Topaz Clarity and Topaz ReStyle.
ACDSee ProBairdBig CountryEM1M.Zuiko 12mm f2.0OMDOlympusTexasbrokenconcretecurbhydrantrundownsidewalksignstreettackywindowTopaz photoFXlabTopaz ClarityTopaz ReStyle
Cactus in Infrared
New spring growth on a prickly pear cactus. Shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 m43 camera and Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. Raw conversion and processing in ACDSee Pro 7. Additional post processing in onOne Perfect Photo Suite 8, including application of B&W Infrared.
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Old Hardware Store
Boydston Hardware Company, one of the longest-lived retailers on Market Street in Baird, Texas. It has been closed for several years and the window hosts a For Sale sign. The weathering bench and the decaying storefront are signs of decline of this once-thriving small town. Shot with an Olympus OM-5 E-M1 m43 camera and Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0 prime lens. Raw conversion and processing in ACDSee Pro 7. Additional Post Processing in PhotoLine 18, Topaz Adjust 5 and Silver Efex Pro 2.
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Antiques or Junk?
A couple of rusty old wagon wheels and an old wood and metal contraption for unknown purpose on sidewalk display at an antique store in Baird, Texas. Shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 m43 camera and an Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm f/2.0 prime lens. Raw conversion in DxO Optics Pro 9 via ACDSee Pro 7. Post Processing in DxO Viewpoint 2, Google Nik Collection HDR Efex Pro 2 and ACDSee Pro 7.
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Unidentified Grave
An unidentified grave in the Callahan City Cemetery, Callahan County, Texas. In many old cemeteries like this one, original grave markers have disintegrated. The graves are then marked with whatever "permanent" marker is available. Usually there's no identification to go with stones like this. Processed in Lightroom, PhotoLine, Topaz photoFXlab, Topaz Adjust and Topaz Detail.
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T.J. Terry Grave Marker
Plaque marking the gravesite of T.J. Terry, Confederate States Army veteran. Callahan City Cemetery, south of Baird, Callahan County, Texas. Among the earliest burials in the cemeter based on a review of the remaining engraved stones. Processed in Lightroom, Color Efex Pro and PhotoLine.
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This Old House
The entrance of an old house built shortly after the beginning of the 20th century in Scranton, Eastland County,Texas. Raw conversion in Capture One 7. Post processing in PhotoLine 18 and DxO FilmPack 4 (Grunge, Ferric Sulfate and Light Leak applied).
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Old Service Station
The remains of an old gas station in Cottonwood, Callahan County, Texas. Raw conversion in DxO Optics Pro 9.5. Post processing in DxO Viewpoint 2, PhotoLine 18 and onOne Perfect Photo Suite 8.
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Signs on Old Building
More effort to maintain the signs on the side of this old building in Baird, Texas than to maintain the mostly unused interior. It's unlikely coffins were ever sold from this building after World War II. Raw processing in Capture One Pro 7. Post processing in DxO ViewPoint 2, Google Nik Collection Viveza 2, PhotoLine 18, Topaz Adjust 5, Topaz Detail 3 and ACDSee Pro 7.
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Sipe Springs Tabernacle
A film look for the old tabernacle at the Sipe (pronounced "seep") Springs Cemetery in the Comanche County, Texas community of the same name. Although Sipe Springs long ago ceased to be a small center of commerce, the cemetery remains an active burial site and is well-maintained. Raw conversion in DxO Optics Pro 9.5. HDR processing in Google Nik HDR Efex Pro 2. Additional post processing in Viveza 2, onOne Perfect Photo Suite 8.5, DxO FilmPack 4 (Agfa Ultra Color 100) and PhotoLine 18.
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Baird-019_PN
One of numerous businesses that opened in Baird several years ago in an attempt to revive commerce by attracting buyers of antiques. However, consumer interest quickly dwindled due to many factors, including inconsistent hours of operation, poor quality of inventory and lack of infrastructure in the city like public restrooms to meet the needs of shoppers. Today Market Street, where these antique shops were located, has return to resemble the main street of a ghost town. A century ago this Callahan County, Texas seat was a boomtown, driven by the railroad industry and ranching. Raw processing in Photo Ninja 1.2.3b. Post processing in DxO ViewPoint 2.
AntiquesBairdBuildingsCallahan CountyDxO ViewPointGoogle Nik CollectionJunkM.Zuiko 12mm f2.0Market StreetOldOlympus OMD EM1Photo NinjaPhotoLineRetailSilver Efex ProStore SignsTexas
Forget the Calories!
Texas Trash, a popular breakfast item at The Flippin' Egg restaurant in Abilene, Texas. Texas Hash (hashbrowns mixed with jalapenos, grilled onions, melted cheeses) topped with two fried tomato slices, two eggs your style, sausage gravy, and two bacon strips. Raw conversion in Photo Ninja 1.2.3b. Post processing in onOne Perfect Photo Suite 8.5 and PhotoLine 18.51.
AbileneBaconBig CountryBreakfastEggsGravyM.Zuiko 12mm f2.0Olympus OMD EM1OnionsonOne SoftwarePerfect Photo SuitePhoto NinjaPhotoLineRestaurantsSausageTaylor CountyTexasThe Flippin' EggTomatoes
Grungy Oil Tank Farm
Part of a small, grungy tank complex on an oil lease in Callahan County, near Scranton, Texas. Oil is pumped into these storage tanks, and it is later transported by truck. Raw conversion in DxO Optics Pro. Post processing in Photomatix Pro 5, DxO Filmpack, DxO ViewPoint 2. and PhotoLine 18.5.
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Indian Blanket
Indian Blanket ( Gaillardia pulchella) wildflower. Shot on roadside, FM 1864 in Callahan County near Scranton, Texas. Olympus OM-D E-M5 with M.Zuiko 60mm f2.8. Raw conversion in Capture One Pro 8 called via Lightroom 5.6. Post processing in Photoshop 2014 CC, Viveza 2 and Color Efex Pro 4.
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Woodland Shadows
Light and shadow among the post oak trees in the Cross Timbers region of Texas. A small and dry stock pond, built more than a century ago, can be seen in the backtround. Erosion of this sandy land has reduced the size and depth of the pond. Shot in Callahan County near Scranton on FM 1864 with an Olympus E-620 and M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/5-5.6. Raw conversion in Lightroom 5.6. Post processing in Photoshop CC 2014, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Impression (Cave Dweller II preset) and Google Nik Color Efex Pro 2.
Big CountryCallahan CountyColor Efex ProCross TimbersFM 1864Google Nik CollectionLensLightroomM.Zuiko 1442mm f55.6Olympus E620PhotographyPhotoshopScrantonSoftwareTexasTopaz ClarityTopaz ImpressionTopaz Labspasturepost oaksandy landshadowstock pondsunlighttreeswoodlands