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  Microwave Tower Triptych  

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Uploaded: 05/06/23 3:38 PM GMT
Microwave Tower Triptych
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My sons job occasionally involves him traveling to remote microwave towers out on the windswept plains. Since he doesn't climb these monolithic structures, he has plenty of time to record them and any interesting work that might be done on them, utilizing his smart phone. In this triptych of captures he sent me from the field, the grated path approach to one of the towers and the steel construction therein, on the left, create the sort of repetitive detail that has always appealed to me (perhaps I am a wee bit autistic). In the center he's flashing his creative side by placing the sun directly behind one of the microwave dishes, inadvertently forcing his camera to adjust the sky and lighting to create a deep blue sky that contrasts nicely with the silhouettes of steel. On the right is the reason all these folks got together out there in the first place: repairs. Those two gentlemen are carefully replacing a damaged shield that gets installed above each of the dishes (like the one you see in the middle), an important addition to the towers up here in North Dakota. During the winter, heavy ice usually forms all over these towers, and when it eventually gets heavy enough, it breaks free and plunges to earth, crushing any delicate equipment in its path (or, if you will, any workers... my son says it whistles on the way down, like a bomb!). You can appreciate, no doubt, that this operation is something that starts in December and often continues into May. And the reason these guys are being careful, other than the hefty cost of this equipment? They are conducting these acrobatics approximately 250 feet in the air! Thanks for stopping and shopping.

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::corngrowth
05/06/23 7:32 PM GMT
'Nik', I have looked with interest at the photos taken by your son and read your narrative.
I immediately saw some parallels with regard to ice formation on various objects. In this context I will give an example from my previous (active) career: laymen think that the greatest danger that can befall a seagoing vessel is, for example, huge waves whipped up by a hurricane. Of course this should not be underestimated, but the greatest danger is if this happens in the polar regions where the extreme cold causes serious ice formation on the bridge complex. The ship then becomes top-heavy with disastrous consequences.

BTW, I'm not afraid of heights, but I don't envy the technicians, 😁 !

Compliments to your son for providing this beautiful and interesting collage and for you for your educative narrative.
7∈ [?]
If you think you can't accept something, try to change it. But if this doesn't work, don't be frustrated, but give it later another try. The one who perseveres wins! Please CLICK HERE to see my journal! Feel free to save my images or to add them to your favorites.
::tigger3
05/07/23 10:32 PM GMT
Great narrative to go along with this shot, I sure don't envy them. Nice to see your back. tigs=^..^=
5∈ [?]
Nature in all her glory is my uplift on life and so is my love of photography. sandi ♪ ♫
::Flmngseabass
05/09/23 10:04 PM GMT
What a great story Ted! Very interesting and I would not do well up there:):) Thanks for sharing this with us:):)
5∈ [?]
BB
::Nikoneer
05/11/23 8:34 AM GMT
Ted?

-nik
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::Flmngseabass
05/16/23 10:44 PM GMT
Hey Nik!! You are NOT nor ever have been Ted!!:):):):):) Oops:)
13∈ [?]
BB
::Nikoneer
05/18/23 4:57 PM GMT
[o|
[o)
[oP
[oD

-nik
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