Author: imagist

When does our curiosity turn into a serious interest in learning more about people, places or things? or even shift into obsession? We inherit some cast iron pans. We learn how to properly season them. We find cast iron easy to cook with… for virtually anything… for frying… for roasting… for baking… for broiling… we become dependent on our cast iron… we research manufacturers… we learn the history… the markings… the market value… we find rusty 100 year old waffle irons caked with grease and grime… we dip them them in lye… and vinegar… and season them with beeswax… and other secret concoctions… we increase their value 10 fold… but we can’t sell them because we’re addicted to using them… and showing them… and learning more and more… we’re on the hunt for griddles… and Bundt pans… and we let people know that we’d like this or that vintage cake pan from Blaibach, Germany… for our birthday… Well not “we” really… But my daughter, Tanya. If it were me we’d be talking about pens, or lenses, or… well, actually, I really do love my cast iron waffle iron, griddle, and 6″ cast iron frittata pan.

The Cast Iron Bee arrived, from Germany, on my front porch on Monday. On Tuesday morning Tanya came to unwrap the pan. On Sunday she brought me a delicious (yellow, orange scented cinnamon cake with orange, honey, vanilla glaze)… and incredibly gorgeous Bee Cake with actual pollen stuck to its back legs. The cake received 1,400 likes within 4 hours of first posting a photo on Tanya’s international Bundt Cake Facebook page.

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Leica M Monochrom, 50 mm Summilux Asph

Leica M, 28 mm Summicron Asph

sipping coffee on the front porch.
Thinking about LUGgers who are thinking about Leica R lenses;
and their potential use on the new Leica SL.

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Leica M, 24 mm Elmarit-R

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Leica M Monochrom, 50 mm Summilux Asph

…instantly in love with a new born daughter
…into piles of leaves; as a child
…into the joy of seeing
my daughter and granddaughter smile at me
as they entered the Mad Rooster;
for Tanya’s birthday brunch.
A gorgeous day;
A wonderful time of year.
Savor the final blooms;
and other lessons.

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Leica M, 28 mm Summicron Asph

…the Driftless Area.
dipping into valleys, climbing hills,
full of fall color, print makers, wood workers, ceramicists, jewelry makers, painters,
photographers, paper makers, weavers, knitters,
and even a singer song writer named Teddy Davenport.

The Fall Art Tour — art and artists — galore — found me
so fully immersed in the moments…
absorbed in conversations about style and technique;
that I often forgot to photograph them;
thinking as I drove away, “why didn’t I photograph her? or him? or it?”

The full set can be viewed here.

(click photograph for larger view —Leica M, 28 mm Summicron)

Last Wednesday I returned to the Lion’s Den — with Ann. We then sought out The Arts Mill Studios in Grafton.
Our mini-vacation and Art Tour had begun; 15 minutes from our home.

(click photographs for larger view — Leica M, 28 mm Summicron)

…in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin.
Woke up Friday morning
just East of Mineral Point
with this view outside our motel door.

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Leica M8, 40 mm Summicron + BW F-Pro 093 IR

…the maple trees
and chip

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Canon 5D, 70-200 L IS USM + 2X

… then …as Jace and Ann watched for the orb
of the sun to appear above the tree line
Jace said, “Somebody should take a picture of this.”
I thought, “he’s right.”

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Leica M, 28 mm Summicron Asph

The photo technician said,
“Damn this wind.”
The poet said,
“See how the wind and flower dance.
Together they paint a lovely picture.
Don’t you think?”

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Leica M, 28 mm Summicron + OUFRO