Cover story

In February 1986 -- more than 25 years ago -- what was then known as Ohio Magazine ran a cover story titled, "A Portrait of the Ohio as a Working River." It was pretty good for the most part. Most of its 12 pages were given over to photos.

What strikes me as I look at it today is that with the Internet and digital photography, what took two professionals to do back then is done every day by regular folks like us. Some of the barriers to entry have fallen. In industry terms, print publications are no longer the gatekeepers to information. We barbarians have broken down the gate, and torn down a good bit of the fence, too.

FWIW, I'm pretty sure the cover photo was taken at one of my favorite spots along the Ohio, Virginia Point Park at Kenova, W.Va. Or perhaps just across the Big Sandy River at Catlettsburg, Ky. But that is Ohio in the background, with the Norfolk Southern bridge.

The boat is the Admiral Fu.