Baling Hay

The path of righteousness is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter until the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18

Curiouser and curiouser, the old man becomes.

He left Interstate 35 to travel the back roads for awhile. Driving south of Overland Park, near Hillside Lake, he spots a hay baler. It is a two man operation, one to cut, one to bale, and one dog to watch over them. The baler's tractor looks like a giant red grasshopper trailing the actual hay baler. These giant round bales weigh over a thousand pounds and look like green lifesavers. The black lab watches over the operation.

The old man learns later that not all hay is equal. Bales may be of alfalfa, brome, or prairie grass. The price for a round bale weighing 1000 pounds or more goes for 35 dollars more or less. The old fashioned rectangular bales weigh 75 pounds and go for 7 bucks a bale.

The internet has made the buying and selling of hay simple. One posts on the website of choice what he has for sale and the buyer then contacts him.

Before

After Photoshop

Add a little contrast to the foreground

The whole thing was a chance for the old man to stop and marvel at the simple things in life. The image resolution is not good for I am more than 200 feet from the subject and I only have my Ipad as a camera. Then the dust from the grass makes for a fine mist. Moreover, it's five o'clock, not the best time to shoot. That comes earlier or later about a half hour after sunrise or before sunset when the landscape lights up a golden yellow hue.

Still, the old man knows opportunities in life are few. And what we see depends on what we are looking for.

Once back at the computer, the old man has a chance to use Photoshop.  First he enhances the blue of the sky. The Youtube tutorial is by Yanik Chauvin, thumbs up if you want something quick and easy. Then the old man adds an artistic filter to the image details.

He is using the watercolor filter, if you are curious.