“I believe that photography loves banal objects, and I love the life of objects.” — Joseph Sudek
one of Dad’s vises
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“I have no way of portraying the lives of others. I portray my own.” — Jan Saudek
Scheme to put yourself in the path of beautiful landscapes, buildings, art, and creatures.
as a child i chased
butterflies with a net
now i chase images
Once caught, I never knew quite what to do with the butterflies. I looked at them under a microscope. I marveled at their color and delicate lightness. I ended up feeling uneasy that, as I studied them, they became less beautiful; battered and wounded. In the end I gave up catching butterflies in nets. Now, catching fleeting moments on a light sensitive surface, I find the opposite. The images become more beautiful as I study them; push the edges around; pull information from them; adjust the colors, tonality and contrast. Yet, I still don’t know what to do with my catches.
Yesterday, arriving at a favorite bluff, overlooking the great lake Michigan, I found and caught the following:
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“If a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it’s as though I’ve neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up.” — Richard Avedon
some places and people
wish to be seen
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Recently I’ve begun to work with Nathaniel Reinartz. We’re upgrading his presentation portfolio and discussing possibilities and usefulness of web sites for blacksmiths. This young man’s work certainly demonstrates attention to detail, impeccable craftsmanship and a fine aesthetic sensibility.
“Oh my son’s my son till he gets him a wife, but my daughter’s my daughter all her life.” — Dinah Maria Mulock Craik.
Ann and Erin at Irish Fest, on Ann’s birthday, August 17, 2008.
“If a documentary photograph is to have any life in it, it’s very important that it exhibit certain characteristics. The photograph should, first of all, be about people. Nothing is more fascinating than the human face and the human condition.” — Bill Owens
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“It should be possible for even the photographer — just as for the creative poet or painter — to use the object as a stepping stone to a realm of meaning completely beyond itself.” — Clarence John Laughlin
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“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéy
A dozen years ago I experienced the pleasure of watching Matt Maher play high school football (and grow up) along with Ann’s son, Tyler. Last Saturday afternoon I experienced the pleasure of discussing Matt’s new career as a furniture designer; and meeting Mo Maher at Tyler’s (new) house warming, and Noah’s seventh birthday, celebration.
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Last Saturday evening Pere Marquette Park, an intimate little park on the Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee, became a nucleus for Peace. The program for Lanterns for Peace, a ceremony (sponsored by Peace Education Project of Peace Action Wisconsin) in rememberence of the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagaski on August 9, 1945, states, “We remind ourselves that this kind of human suffering must not happen again and that we must unite with all the people of the world to abolish nuclear weapons and put an end to war.” (Additional photographs of the setting can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.
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The evening light, cool summer breeze, musicians, speakers, and people, believing peace as possible, transformed the park into a magical space and time. (Additional photographs of people enjoying the event can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.
Children of all ages crafted their very personal lanterns. (Additional photographs of people creating lanterns can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.
Music filled the park; from heartfelt folk songs provided by Dangerous Folk’s Cap Lee and Julie Thompson to the joyful Afro rhythms of the Lucky Diop and Kassumai African Band. Holly Haebig breathed life through her classical flute as individuals read heart wrenching Survivors’ Stories from Hiroshima/Nagasaki; and again through her native American flute as the lanterns floated onto the river. (Additional photographs of the Musicians can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.
As the sun set the lanterns were lit; with some difficulty due to the wind. (Additional photographs of the lantern lighting can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.
The creators silently walked their lanterns to the canoes waiting in the river. The canoes took the lanterns into the river as the Native American flute remembered, and called to, all those killed and maimed by the violent ones. (Additional photographs of the lantern float can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.
Last Friday Ann and I packed a few things in the car and drove west by northwest on Hwy 60. We stopped in North Leeds for a bite to eat. The restaurant had what seemed like a romantic little room for two; it also had very little and very red light and quickly began to feel claustrophobic with too much funky decor.
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At Sauk City the highway does it’s best to follow the Wisconsin River. I love to drive the blue highways that follow the rivers; the paths of the animals and birds. At Gotham we headed north by northwest on Hwy 14 towards Viroqua to visit Ann’s niece, Jessica, and her husband Matt. They provided us with wonderful hospitality; including a bed for the night. Saturday morning’s coffee and conversation on their new deck — built by Matt — simply delightful.
Back on the road at 9:30 am — Hwy 14/61 to St. Paul, MN — now following the mighty, muddy Mississippi. Spectacular views with no time to stop; except for fuel, juice and muffins.
Arriving just a tad late due to one wrong turn.
Seeing as a guest and not “the wedding photographer” freed me to photograph “whatever” and take note of things I’d have done differently than the fellow and his crew. Slide show of additional wedding observations here. And a few from the “film” camera here.
Sunday morning, at the Best Western, provided pool time for Sophia and social time for family and friends of the iHusband and iWife (Sean is slowly Macifying Ellie):
Strolling, shopping, photographing with a late Mexican lunch in St. Paul before heading south along the mighty Miss.
A chocolate malt while driving through the night. Then south on Hwy 35 (hugging the river on the Wisconsin side); crossing back over to McGregor, IA at Prairie Du Chien. The Holiday Shores Motel provided us with a terrace seat and cooling summer breeze which made it difficult to “go to sleep.” We watched a huge row of barges navigate the water-way in the dark. Monday morning provided a gorgeous view of Wisconsin’s river shore.
Monday passed too quickly — simply enjoying the river, the light, the barge traffic and McGregor (at one time allegedly larger than Chicago because of it’s ferry crossing). Slide show of additional river and McGregor photographs.
“The whole point of [making] pictures is so you don’t have to explain things with words.” — Elliot Erwitt
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Brady Street Festival, 2008. Slide show of additional images from this event.
