The Green Door

I don't know what happened. All of a sudden it's post Thanksgiving and I haven't posted here since September? Well, I found my way back to some old Urbex stomping grounds and it was like I was there for the first time all over again. I was like a kid in a candy store.

Changing Seasons at North Point

Now that we are in mid-September, you can feel the change in the weather and a change of seasons is upon us.  The weather is nice but certainly cooler and the effect it has on Lake Michigan at North Point is certainly noticeable.  Whereas the lake can be perfectly calm in summer, the lake turns turbulent this time of year creating the opportunity for some dramatic images.

The End of Summer

Say it ain't so.  While there will still be some warm days ahead, Labor Day marks the end of summer and the care free days of vacation and summer time retreats.  Nature paid homage to mark this end with a sunrise that shows the calm tranquility of summer and the ominous skies leading to a change of seasons.

Foggy Morning at North Point

I was surprised to see a bit of fog this morning so I went back down to North Point along Lake Michigan.  The fog wasn't heavy but enough to blend the sky with the water.

Milwaukee Nights

I seem to be shooting more at night these days.  Here's a few looks at Milwaukee during the pre-dawn hours.  Hopefully the result justifies the insane hour of the day.

Gone Swimming . . .

This was a perfect weather weekend to leave your worries (and your sandals) behind.

Legend Lake, WI

Night Time is the Right Time

For photography that is . . .

With a rising moon over Legend Lake and a perfect night with clear skies, cool temps and very few mosquitos, you couldn't help but want to be outside.

Hints of Fall

Labor Day is only a week away and this week, the weather has turned to beautiful cool mornings and bright sunshine for the day.  The cool mornings remind us that fall is just around the corner.

More Grit from Jones Island

Getting My Grit

I've been itchy to photography lately and especially night, dark, gritty subjects.  I decided to head over to Jones Island, a busy port filled with heavy industry as well.  I was actually approached by an older gentlemen who drove up in his pickup truck.  Apparently, I was picked up by the Coast Guard's cameras.  He was polite enough, asked me what I was doing and merely said he needed to check because of Coast Guard security.  I told him I was just taking image of general structures in the area and that was a freelance fine art photographer.  While I was prepared to tell him I had every right to be there (on public property) and to photograph, he accepted my story and told me to have a nice day.  It was the first time I've ever been questioned on Jones Island.  I'm sure it won't be my last.

More Old World Wisconsin

Darkly lit rooms and sepia toned images of old things just seem to go together . . .

Old World Wisconsin

This month's photowalk for the Cream City Photographers took us to Old World Wisconsin. It was my first time there.

The museum's more than 60 historic structures range from ethnic farmsteads with furnished houses and rural outbuildings, to a crossroads village with its traditional small-town institutions. The efforts of countless historians have preserved an amazing slice of true Americana — one that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

Historic Structures Documented

To create this museum, researchers traveled throughout Wisconsin in search of authentic historic buildings hewn by generations of Wisconsin settlers.

From Lake Superior to the Illinois border, and from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan, historians documented many old farmhouses, outbuildings, and small-town structures. Once the research was complete, the amazing construction process of Old World Wisconsin began.

Structures Relocated to Build Old World Wisconsin

Piece by piece, workers painstakingly dismantled the old structures. They numbered bricks, boards and logs, and moved them to the site of Old World Wisconsin. In a setting largely unchanged from the rolling prairies the first pioneers found, the buildings took shape once more, reconstructed precisely as they had once been built.

World's Largest Museum about Rural Life

Today, Old World Wisconsin's historic farm and village buildings comprise the world's largest museum dedicated to the history of rural life.

Fire in the Sky

Another from Legend Lake, WI

Solitude. Tranquil. Peaceful.

Solitude.  Tranquil.  Peaceful.  Those are the words that come to mind when I'm out on the lake early in the morning especially during the week when the weekend crowd are nowhere to be seen.  It doesn't matter what the weather is, it's always a special time watching the world come alive to experience a new day.

Loons on Legend Lake

This year, a mated pair of Loons are hanging around the same stretch of lake all season long.  In the morning and evening they appear on the lake in the same place.  Approaching them slowly, they seem to tolerate me getting close enough to photograph them although always keeping a watchful eye.

Land of the Menominee

Each year the Monominee of Wisconsin host a Pow Wow on their grounds.  They have an almost natural amphitheater in the woods for the show where several Indian nations gather for three days filled with contests, food, jewelry and of course, traditional dance, and chants.  This image was taken during the Grand Entry, when all contestants enter the arena dancing to the various chants offered by each drum team.  The event is filled with color, dance, music and tradition.  It is clear that the Menominee are trying to protect and keep their native language which has survived for hundreds of years.

From Sunrise to Sunset

Today's post contrasts my last giving you today's sunset.  It was a pretty good one with sun rays shooting out from the clouds.  The clouds were fast moving and scene was constantly changing.  I was also fishing at the same time.  I would cast a couple of times then take a few pictures, go back to fishing and snap a few more.  My wife was enjoying the sunset lounging on the boat and commented that I was too busy with too many activities.  However, I was having a blast.

Legend Lake Sunrise, Like an Old Friend

While summer is in full swing, it's only been now that I have been able to catch a Legend Lake sunrise.  It greeted me like and old friend . . . so familiar but it seemed so long since I was able to enjoy one.  With this sunrise was the sound of loons and a bald eagle flew directly over head.  Not a bad way to start the day.

The Big Bang

Big Bang 062410-43.jpg, originally uploaded by RJIPhotography.

It's that time of year here in Milwaukee. Summerfest, an 11 day, 11 stage music fest gets underway with headliners that include Sheryl Crow, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton and many more. Some older classics will be here here as well including BB King, Peter Frampton, Yes and Rush. Rock On!

Dreams of Childhood

Along the Milwaukee River I found this swing hanging from a tree.  You can just picture a group of kids swinging out to the river only to jump off into the water.  While no one was here today, I'll be watching now that the weather is warmer in the hopes of catching some action.

Serenity

It's officially the first weekend of the summer season.  Docks are going in, boats are gently cruising the lake.  I arrived to calm waters and night light of the setting sun.  It only takes a few minutes of this before the stress of the week begins to unwind.

Spring Rain

There's something quite peaceful about a gentle morning spring rain.  The kind when the winds are calm and everything is still.  You can hear the rain hitting the trees and watch the landscape for water drops periodically falling from the leaves almost like a meteor shower in the sky.  It's easy to get lost in your thoughts.

Keep Out

Emerging New Series

I feel like I've been in a creative lull lately.  Well, with the CoPA Member's show and exhibit at Caggio, it has certainly been busy.  However, I've been without a real project for some time now.  I feel I need to a focus and total emersion in order to find and tell a story.  The concept is coming together nicely but now I have to get out there and explore it further.  For now, let's just say it will be urban focused . . .

More to come.

The Long and Winding Road

I've been spending more time down on the Milwaukee River these days, taking the dog for some exercise and meeting people and other dogs along the way.  The path parallels the river on both sides and at least right, while the grass is short, my dog has lots of room to roam and explore.  It's an area I plan to explore more with images.  This one, I'm experimenting with a Lightroom preset that I found online.  I find it interesting in that the image has this glow to it and the color makes it look surreal.  It certainly doesn't work for everything but I kind of like it here.  Let me know what you think!

My favorite for Breakfast

This is currently my favorite place for breakfast.  With great sausage biscuit gravy and bacon everywhere, what's not to like!

The Things We See While Driving

Whenever my wife and I travel, I drive.  For once, I asked her to drive figuring I could catch some shut eye and/or snap a few photos along the way.  I wanted to test out the 70-200mm f/2.8L version II zoom and figured shooting the scenery from a moving car would be a good test.  Well, first off, it's harder than it looks because the lens is long, the car is small and the windows were closed!  I eventually was able to get the hang of it and the lens performed very well.  This shot was taken almost perpedicular to the direction the car was traveling and at highway speeds!

More Wind Point

Just south of the Wind Point Lighthouse in Racine, WI are a series of some old Jettys.  I've stopped here a couple of times and even snapped a few images but this morning I decided to spend a bit more time.  While most of the images captured were colorful sunrise landscapes, this image was shot with the intent of a black and white conversion.  Hope you like it.

Cream City Photographers

Yesterday was the March photowalk for the Cream City Photographers.  I haven't attended for the past couple of months so I figured I should go.  The weather had turned cold and we had snow that morning. We still had about 15 brave souls who braved the wind and chill.  The site of this month's walk was the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.  Most students were away for spring break which made shots like the one above easy since the school was empty.  It was also a good respite from the cold to venture inside!

Upcoming Gallery Night & Day

The spring edition of Milwaukee's Gallery Night & Day, taking place April 16-17 promises to be a busy one for me.  I'm going to be exhibiting images at three different locations!  The current exhibit at Caggio will be moving to the Milwaukee Athletic Club in the yoga room.  New images will be shown at Caggio on Brady Street and finally, CoPA will be hosting its Members Show in the Dye Building in Milwaukee's Third Ward.  More details on each will follow so stay tuned!

Dogs at Play

They look ferocious but they're really just playing.  I've been testing out the new Canon 1D Mark IV capturing my dog and her friends in action.  I'm still playing with various settings but so far the camera does an outstanding job.  The dogs change direction very quickly and so it's hard keeping up.  I've been experimenting between using all 45 focus points and letting the camera choose and lock onto the action versus a single focus point with assist from surrounding points.  I still need to play and at least for dogs in action, haven't settled on a preference yet.  Nonetheless, it's still fun to capture the action.

The Good and Bad of This Economy

While we all feel like the economy has had more downside than up, some (few) businesses actually benefit.

Feeling Spring

While it's by no means warm, you can tell that spring is nearly here.  Today the temps are supposed to reach the upper 40s even though the morning was still below freezing.  But even then, you could tell it was going to be a warmer day.  A haze was forming in the sky and on the horizon.  Snow is evaporating and causing morning fog.  This is the time of year in Wisconsin that is often a tease.  Yes, today will be seasonably warm but will it hang around or are we due for our usual frustrations when is snows in April?

Time will tell.

Today's image is taken from the Third Ward of Milwaukee with a view of the Hoan Bridge and the Milwaukee Harbor Lighthouse during sunrise.

HDR Not Included

HDR seems to be the latest and greatest.  However, in many cases I think it's overused to the point the image looks over processed.  Now, some people do a wonderful job giving images the over processed look that it looks like something out of this world.  Other times, the image looks just a little off to me.  Finally, there are those that use HDR to solve a problem with high dynamic range images without the viewer recognizing that HDR processing was used.  It's this latter approach that I find most impressive.

I've never used HDR software and have been wanting to try.  For now, I'm really satisfied with the gradient filter in Lightroom.  I can achieve an HDR like process and expand the images dynamic range quite easily and using a single image.  The filter is really flexible and you can apply exposure compensation to achieve an HDR like process.  However, you can simultaneously adjust clarity, contrast, saturation and sharpness on the same gradient.  In this image, I used several gradients that were all high in clarity (tonal contrast) to give the overall 'graininess' effect in this image.