Been Way Too Long . . .

It's been a long stretch since my last post but work and life have been extremely busy. I finally am getting slow down a bit and currently vacationing at my favorite spot, Legend Lake in Menominee County, Wisconsin. Sunrises have been particularly beautiful and I have been out capturing the pure beauty of this scene.

I've also traveled about the area to shoot some of the waterfall scenes along the Wolf River. Keshena Falls and Bear Trap Falls are two that are shown here. There are others along the Wolf but two of them I could not find the entry point.

More Wisconsin Loons

This weekend I was fortunate enough to see my favorite loons on Legend Lake.  This guy let me track him from my boat and stay reasonably close without him diving into the deep only to show up somewhere out of reach of my telephoto-equipped camera.  Luck was on my side when he suddenly stretched his wings to reveal the beautiful patterns and texture.

In Wisconsin, we cherish our summers as they are far too short (or is the winter that's too long). We revel in being outdoors, heading 'north' to spend time on one of the 17,000 lakes in the state. For me, sunrise is my favorite time to be on the water. The wildlife is waking for another day. The wind is calm and the water is still except for the small waves of your boat slowly trolling, cutting through the calm water. The waves that form make symmetrical patterns in the water colored by your surroundings . . . green trees, blue sky, the rainbow of colors at sunrise. The colors and light dance with the patterns of the waves. It's almost puts you in a trance and you can't help but become captivated by the abstract patterns that are formed and constantly change.

The images presented here are reminiscent of that early morning scene.

Legend Lake Sunset

I've spent the last several weekends on Legend Lake. I absolutely love the serenity of sunrise and sunset on the lake. The image here is a typical scene yet every time I capture one of these sunrises or sunsets, they are completely different.

Loons

The sun has just come up and the Wisconsin Northwoods comes to life.  The water is still as is the wind.  Some birds are singing but these are the common sounds you hear so often.  There's the occasional sound of fish breaking the water lunging to capture their breakfast.  Then, you hear it.  The Loons are calling.  Their sound is distinct and it is beautiful.  It is also calming and peaceful. There's no mistaking the call of the Loons and I love those mornings when I am fortunate enough to hear them.

Get Off My Perch

Yesterday, I went down to Lake Michigan.  It's been a while but the weather was glorious.  My favorite spot at north point had these seagulls all around.  I captured one who wasn't in a great mood.

Happy Father's Day!

This is my morning view this Father's Day. What a way to start the day. With this scene, Loons were the only sound as the water was still. A beaver made his way across the lake and some geese flew overhead. It just doesn't get any better than this.

A Glimpse of Milwaukee's Past

Just Another Day at the Office

Walker's Point

This past weekend, the Milwaukee local flickr-ites known as the Cream City Photographers, got together for a 'photostroll' through the historic Fifth Ward of Milwaukee, better know as Walker's Point.



Walker's Point, listed in the National Register of Historic Places as Milwaukee's first National Historic District, and coined "Milwaukee's oldest neighborhood," today is a neighborhood with a skyline dominated by steeples, and an assortment of historic homes, art galleries, and a mouth-watering variety of ethnic restaurants. Located in Walker's Point is one of Milwaukee's most notable landmarks, the Allen-Bradley building, which has resting at its top, the largest four-sided clock in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.



We're beginning to see signs of a great revival of this area like the Third Ward just to the north. However, right now, there's so much in the way of history and community that it's a photographic gold mine. While this Flickr stroll lasted a little more than an hour, I will return on my own for more.

Getting Back to Nature

It's that time of season . . . everything is starting to bloom throughout Wisconsin. My thoughts turn to Legend Lake in Keshena. We spend many of our weekends there, enjoying the lake with fishing, boating and enjoying nature. I've seen Bald Eagles, Blue Herons, even Black Bears in the area. This location has become my sanctuary. I'll rise at sunrise and venture out on the lake with fishing rod in one hand an camera in the other. If the fishing is good, great! If not, I'm perfectly satisfied photographing the sunrise, other fisherman and the Loons! I can't think of a better way to start the day. And no matter what happens during the day, you're sure to find us on the lake again during sunset when the lake is at peace, often so still that the water looks like glass.

Searchng for That Feeling

I can't believe it's been this long since my last post. I've been busy but aren't we all? I'm working toward some new projects and trying to nail down what I want to achieve. I've selected the area of focus but I have not yet finalized what I feel about the area. It's rich in history and yet it's also in a stage of revitalization. I'm drawn to its history and yet all that's new is being done sustainably with the environment in mind. I'm leaning toward capturing the history in black and white showing a mood that exemplifies the industrial era but is that enough to make it stand out or is it just another period piece. I have a lot of decisions to make. Aside from color or black and white, there's contrasty or not, day or night, sharp or blurred and what special look do I want these images to have.

Right now, I have been driving through this area, collecting notes, and finding hidden roads to new offerings. I'm hoping that between the drives and reviewing this area's history and revitalization, I be able to answer these questions. For now, it's a whirlwind of exploration.

No announcement on April 22nd

I've been waiting.  Ever since the rumor mill started about Canon's replacement for the 5D, I've been waiting for the official launch.  I was hopeful that it was going to be on the 22nd but the day came and went.  Even the blogosphere didn't have much to say.  Ah well, so much for rumors.

This morning I ventured out toward the Menomonee Valley in Milwaukee.  It's a place rich with Milwaukee history and it's also a place with exciting revitalization.  I'm glad to see they are focusing on sustainable development for the area but in a way, I hope some of that rich history is preserved.

I was walking along the 16th St. bridge this morning as was able to find a place through the chain link fence to capture the images above.  I love this kind of photography and the valley seems to be rich in these opportunities.  I guess I'll just have to spend a lot more time there.

Looking forward to new Projects

Now that the CoPA show is behind us, I'm looking forward to getting outside in the is nice weather and start shooting again.  I couple of themes are emerging and I would like to include something environmental.  I'd like it to be a local project so I can there often but I don't want to location to dictate the theme.  Speaking of environmental, I found this image to be one of those ironies that photographers always seem to find.  This was taken in the Menomonee Valley which is undergoing a resurgence.  It has a way to go as evidenced by this image but they look to rebuild the valley in a sustainable way.

I was happy to see that Mamiya just announced an adapter for their 22 megapixel digital back (ZD) that will fit my RB67.  I purchased the RB67 SD a couple of months ago for a fraction of what they were.  I imagine their value may rise with the announcement of the adapter.  Now, if I could only afford the ZD back.  At a mere $7K, I won't be running out to buy the ZD tomorrow.  No word on the price of the adapter either.

A Wonderful Member's Show

Well, I completed my first CoPA Member's Show and I feel like it was a great success.  Friday night was crazy with lot's of traffic.  Friends, co-workers, Cream City Photographers all came out to show their support and say hello.  I talked to many others about my work including one guy who I met on an airplane this week!

What was best of all however, were the CoPA members themselves who were very encouraging and friendly.  I made many new friends this weekend and I look forward to getting more involved in the organization in the near future.  Thanks to Larry Dattilio for his guidance and friendship.  It was great getting to know Mark Stall, Suzanne Garr, Richard Butler, and many other members.  I had a great time.  Now, I feel like taking pictures.

DC Metro

For the past couple of days, I was in our nation's capital, Washington, DC.  No, I didn't see the Pope.  But I was able to visit with some old friends in suburban Maryland.  It was great catching up.  I used the DC Metro (subway) to get from my hotel to my friends.  The DC Metro system is wonderful for getting around Washington, DC but it's also a great place to photograph.  The architecture and people make it quite attractive.   With camera in hand, I was able to capture a few images my favorite being posted here.  This is the view from the Glenmont, MD station.  I love the symmetry.  This was handheld so I needed ISO 1600 on my Canon 5D which I processed with Lightroom and Photoshop CS3 using Imagenomic's Noiseware Professional to reduce the noise.

Fallen

There's a small patch of woods behind the apartment where I am temporarily living.  It's great to bring the dog back there and of course the camera as well.  Deer are plentiful despite the small acreage.  I came upon this fallen tree and found it interesting and wondering what caused it to snap.  

Fisherman's Morning

The final image I will be showing this weekend is one from Legend Lake, WI.  It's just north of Shawano, WI on the Menominee Reservation.  I love this location.  This image captures the essence.  When I'm their, I typically go out fishing, alone, each morning.  When the fish are biting, I fish.  When they're not, I'm photographing the scenes on the lake.  You can tell the fish weren't biting this morning.  A fog began rolling in from the east blurring the sun when I captured this image.  

To me, this image reminds of the that solitude and peacefulness when I'm there.  You can barely hear a sound . . . maybe a loon or two.  Otherwise it's the most relaxing sensation I have ever felt.  I can't wait for summer.  Shortly after I shot this image, the fisherman disappeared into the fog.

Diamond in the Rough

While this image is several years old now, I never tire of looking at it.  I call it 'Diamond Studded'.  It was a day much like last week, thick with fog but it was warmer then.  I was out getting the mail from the mailbox across the street and on my return caught a glimpse of water droplets collecting on the leaves of plants in my flower bed.  Most ask if I sprayed some water to create the effect as they can't believe it.  If I had, I doubt I could have created this scene with tiny droplets on the end of the leaves.   This was taken on a Canon 20D with a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro lens.  I love this lens.  It's every bit as good as the Canon 100mm macro and while it's a little slower on the autofocus, I tend to manual focus on macro shots anyway.