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Since I was 12 with my Kodak 110 camera, I’ve loved making images of mundane objects in amazing light.
December’s frost is no exception, and for a moment I can forget that this is a sign of escaping heat from our somewhat ramshackle home. Sometimes, the beauty of frost patterns and sunshine overpowers the sensible economies of life.
An oldie but goodie. This is one of my favorite images of all time. Is it because I stood in knee-deep snow for about 20 minutes before the sun was just at the right spot? Maybe.
To me, this image says Wisconsin. I can remember the crisp, cold, clean feeling of the air. It wasn’t quite cold enough to hurt my face, but I knew that it had the power to do so.
The muted hues in this image dampen December’s wrath, and remind me that Winter is not all horrible cold and cringing against the merciless wind. It is also gentle mornings and the promise of the sunrise.
If I can, I like to take the long way to get to and from places. For example, as I headed home from Menomonie, Wisconsin after an appointment one cold December morning, I happened upon this interesting building.
It was a bit of a challenge to isolate the structure from its surroundings, but the tree and sky cooperated nicely, so I had to try.
It’s from School District #4. I don’t have any history on this place, but I’m forever fascinated by old buildings, barns and sheds. I really should try to find out more about them.
What about you? Have you seen this building? Do you have any info to share?
I love to experiment with new techniques, especially with what some consider to be sup-par gear. I’ve never been one who has to have the latest or the best gear, but I have invested in quality pieces and “upgraded” over the years.
However, there is something freeing about seeing what can be found with equipment that should probably have been retired awhile ago. My philosophy is that if something still works, why discard it? Especially when a bit more fun can be eeked out of it. This stand of poplars was glowing in the morning sun after a fresh December snow. But the colors in the final image are almost muted enough that it could have been a cloudy day.
The great canvas
I talked a little in my last post about sunrises. The skies above us are ever-changing. How often are we too busy, too hurried, too stressed, too focused, to look above to the heavens and see the beauty there?
Photographing the sky can be tricky. In fact, as I reviewed “December photos” to choose the photos for this month, I at first thought this was some through-the-car-window shot that I’d grabbed from the side of the road. But upon closer inspection of the photos “next” to it on the “roll,” I realized that the lighter areas are indeed blue morning sky showing through fiery clouds. The exact angle that the sun is reflecting off of those clouds, including the darker areas, is mesmerizing. These spectacular colors surround us all winter. So if you’re tired of winter’s grays, I suggest a bit of relief can be found just before sunrise, on a semi-cloudy day. Just look up.
Chilly Autumn morning
Getting up an hour (or more) before the 30 minutes before sunrise is both a joy and a chore. The closer we get to the cold season, the later I can sleep in, but the harder it is to leave a toasty quilt and head out to possible frost and worse. I found this image almost a year ago today. It was a bit of an experimental morning, as I wanted to try some long exposures, but I don’t quite have the gear to do so. Improvisation being one of my favorite things, I set out to do it anyway.
You probably couldn’t really call this exposure long, (1/4 sec.) but it still yielded interesting results. And as the sun came up, it was totally worth it to be out from under the quilt and enjoying a one-of-a-kind sunrise.
Remains of the day
Last time we visited the Pierce County Educational forest, we found this on one of the entryway benches. Not sure what animal it is from, but super interesting to come across things like this on our journeys.
The forest is beautiful and still, despite the nearby highway. If you’re ever in the area and see the sign, it’s worth a jaunt. You’ll find a variety of trees (with informational placards) and signs of wildlife on the winding trail. If in summer, however, bring mosquito repellent!
Of Ferris wheels and sunshine
As a kid, I loved going to the fair. My favorite ride was Crack-the-whip, which was pretty tame by today’s standards. Of course, I went on to the “harder stuff,” but these days I’m happy to be a spectator, and the ferris wheel, or maybe the Tilt-a-Whirl is enough excitement for me. And now, going through the animal barns and arts and crafts exhibits is something I enjoy even more.
The very aura of the fair evokes nostalgia and excitement: Walking on to a midway and smelling the popcorn, the multiple fried delicacies, even the garbage. The sounds of the machinery and the people calling us in to spend our last dollar on a game. The kids running to us to tell us of the latest ‘awesome’ ride they were brave enough to try!
Yup, I still love going to the fair.
Make a wish on a wild flower
In sixth grade, one of my friends and I wrote a song called, “Make a wish on a wild flower.” I still find myself randomly chanting the melody these many years later. Sometimes I stop and reconstruct full verses of lyrics, and it becomes the song in my head for the day.
It wasn’t a good song by any stretch of the imagination, but it was an original collaboration! I can still remember us, sitting in her basement on a rainy day, trying different guitar chord combinations, rhymes and nonrhymes.
It was possibly, the preteen sequel to “he loves me, he loves me not.” Instead of pulling petals off, we were content to just make wishes. Wishes for romance, love and the pain of the inevitable break-up. Things that we had no experience with yet. But isn’t that what song-writing or creating any art is about? Exploring and defining our world, or how we wish it could be?
Blood moon through the trees
I get by with a little help from my friends. One good pal often texts me when the moon looks great. Sometimes I’m good about watching the skies and knowing about celestial events, whether I plan to photograph them or not. Other times, not so good.
Last Friday night, my phone rang. It was another friend, who’d just left a short while ago after an evening at the pool.
“I just wanted to let you know that I’m almost home, and the moon is orange and the sky is blue!” She was so excited!
I was tired after two hours of swimming, but I ran out anyway for a few hand-held shots. I haven’t gotten the greatest results with my moon shot endeavors, but this one turned out OK, even though the moon isn’t the focus.
Thanks to dear friends, I’m alerted to photo opportunities! You know who you are! Thank you!