My grandmother gave me a Brownie camera when I was eight
years old, then proudly showed my photographs of her flowers to her Garden
Society. The joy I felt as a young child while taking photographs for others to
enjoy remains today, and it is this passion that keeps me immersed in
photography.
My husband and I moved to Wisconsin in the mid-1970s and,
on impulse, I borrowed a Pentax K-1000 to take my first photography course. I
later attended the Madison Area Technical College and Edgewood University in Madison
where I took both art and photography classes.
In 2007, I received a digital camera as a gift and the door
to photography opened wider than ever. My world shifted as I saw the
possibilities that could be created using a camera and lenses — infinite possibilities
to document the natural world, architecture, history, seeing everything with a
new perspective.
"Even the smallest of details became intensely
interesting. Maybe that's why I love photography. I try to capture what I see,
my own interpretation, not what someone else might see."
I also became a contributor to WisconsinNative.com, writing
and photographing for both the Wandering Wisconsin and Travel Green
features on the travel website through December, 2008. My photography has also
been published in regional magazines, national travel guides, and in a book on
Functional Architecture which was published in London in 2009.
Though I shoot in many genres, I most love the experience
of photographing the natural world. Nature grounds me. I can be myself --
in the forest, the mountains, the desert, or the prairie -- in solitude with
nature.
My hobby is now a career, as I write and photograph as a
freelancer as the principal of Seeded Earth Studio, LLC.
Can anyone out there identify this? Looks like a small tree or bush, about 2 feet high, and I found it growing in the Ridges Sanctuary in Northeastern Wisconsin’s Door County.
jpt - i like the blurry criss crossing05/31/2008 - 5:29 pm
jeanabaena - cool plant but i have no idea what it is05/31/2008 - 5:30 pm
uphilldowndale - looks like it could be something from the pine family, but there are 100's of them :)06/01/2008 - 2:19 am
Gandalf - Whatever it is it looks dead. :) Alas I have absolutely no clue. Do you have a shot with more of the plan showing? That might help in identication. Also what was the habitat and other conditions? Sandy soil, wet, etc.?
I don't know that any of those will help me identify this item, but others who are smarter may be able to do so. I wonder if they can make beer out of this?06/02/2008 - 1:18 pm
Photo Buffet - My best guess is that it's either a pine or spruce. Looks dwarfed, to have a cone and very little foilage.06/04/2008 - 8:52 am
Karen - It's called a willow pine gall. A very tiny wasp lays it's eggs in the growing tip of a willow branch, and the willow reacts by developing this growth around the egg. The egg then hatches and lives inside the gall until it matures into the adult flying stage, then chews its way out of the gall and goes off in search of a mate.09/04/2008 - 4:25 pm
Watercress (nasturtium officinale) is an aquatic plant, this one found near the shores of Lake Michigan. It is edible – the leaves are high in Vitamins A and C and iron, and was a popular plant with the early settlers of North America as it was a successful treatment and preventative of scurvy. The...
Ron in L.A. - top photo is beautiful Bo ;)
R (etc... )05/31/2008 - 2:53 am
rlovison - Bo,
The first and second images are my favorites. I love the lightened edge effect in the first along with the shallow depth of field.05/31/2008 - 6:25 am
visuallens - Bo
You take good photo of flowers. Nice to view big and colorful flowers. I must learn and find out the secret from you. Do visit my blog and give me some tips on taking better flower pictures.05/31/2008 - 11:06 am
amelia - I love the blue iris. I guess I have to go to Michigan or Wisconsin to get a view of one.05/31/2008 - 1:20 pm
Anna Surface - Oh, I love the Dwarf Lake Iris! Gosh, those are gorgeous! Very, very nice capture, Bo.
I've been out photographing wild strawberries. I haven't posted any photos of them yet. Neat info... I didn't know the Native Americans used the strawberry juice for eye remedies. :)05/31/2008 - 2:23 pm
bookbabie - Great trio of wild flower shots!05/31/2008 - 5:34 pm
montucky - That Iris is very beautiful! It's interesting in that it is much different from the ones we have here, but the strawberry is nearly identical to one of our species.05/31/2008 - 8:43 pm
Gandalf - Love the Iris. I wonder if you have some hidden sanctuary with all sorts of endangered flowers. You indeed have a talent for finding and shooting some very amazing specimens.06/02/2008 - 1:20 pm
When I was in Door County, Wisconsin last weekend, I stopped in the village of Ephraim and visited one of the more famous buildings on the peninsula. (The county is the northeastern bit of Wisconsin that sticks out into Lake Michigan like a thumb.) The building is famous enough – it’s even on the National...
Gandalf - Wonderful shots & great story. BTW did you see Gandalf anyplace on the walls?05/30/2008 - 7:30 am
Anna Surface - That is way, way, way cool!!! I would have enjoyed seeing that. Yes, I agree, that every town should have a graffiti wall of their very own. I know of several old buildings that would suit for where I live. It would be an attraction, for sure.
You know, what I love about blogging... especially photo blogging... is the wealth of what is shared from other people's neck of the woods.
I enjoyed this post--the information and neat photos--Bo! :)05/30/2008 - 7:39 am
Robin - This is so cool. Very cool. I agree. Every town should have a graffiti wall (a legal one, that is). I like graffiti, to a certain extent. It livens up some areas that could use a little livened up.
I like Door County, too. I was there once (a long, long time ago) when my husband and I decided to take a camping trip and travel around Lake Michigan. Lots of pretty places can be found around that lake.
Great post, Bo. :)05/30/2008 - 8:36 am
Joanna Young - I loved this - the picture, the words, your description, my imagination starting to form stories from the scrawls...
Thanks for sharing it
Joanna05/30/2008 - 1:21 pm
Darren Daz Cox - yeah, community sanctioned graffiti brings people together!
nice post!05/30/2008 - 5:35 pm
montucky - That's a great idea and it makes a very interesting place to visit. I enjoyed seeing that05/30/2008 - 7:05 pm
amelia - It would be so cool to have a graffiti building in every town.05/31/2008 - 1:21 pm
amuirin - King Lure is so cute~!06/04/2008 - 9:22 pm
ankush - hmmm interesting, love #106/11/2008 - 12:46 pm
lady.percy - I love the graffiti wall.06/16/2008 - 6:50 pm
I found large patches of Indian Paintbrush on the grassy fringes of the shores of Lake Michigan in northern Wisconsin last weekend. It grows throughout the temperate zones of North America from May through July, especially in the prairies or meadows and in sandy areas.
Native Americans from many tribes used the plant for medicinal purposes....
Joanna Young - Thanks for sharing the background to the flowers Bo. I saw the picture on flickr and loved it, but it's wonderful to know a bit more about the history and mythology of the plant.
Joanna05/29/2008 - 3:16 am
aullori - I loved the story and the shot is just amazing! I believe you did the really gorgeous flower justice on every level!!! Excellent work Bo!05/29/2008 - 3:28 am
rlovison - Beautiful capture Bo and thanks for the background info. I enjoy Native American lore.
I used to cherish trips to northern Wisconsin as a child and young adult though my family vacationed a bit further west in Eagle River.05/29/2008 - 6:49 am
Robin - This is one of my favorite flowers. We have them growing all over our lawn and meadow.
Wonderful post, Bo. :)05/29/2008 - 7:11 am
Gandalf - Wonderful detail & a beautiful image. Indian Paintbrushes are amazing flowers.05/29/2008 - 8:05 am
jpt - so fuzzy05/29/2008 - 10:05 am
jeanabaena - Wow! That is beautiful. The details are incredible and the flower perfect. :D05/29/2008 - 10:08 am
HeyJules - Gosh I wish we had that down here in Kansas City! I saw a field of it in Michigan a few years back and its gorgeous!05/29/2008 - 1:53 pm
davidlind - Your photo has a ghostly quality about it that fits in very well with the story of the Indian painter and his brush. Very nice.05/29/2008 - 2:27 pm
montucky - Simply beautiful! You did an excellent job with this one! That's slightly different than the ones we have out here. with the color on the tips. What a beauty!05/29/2008 - 6:42 pm
Bo - Joanna - I love the legends and lore too.
Lori - Thanks. Can't you just see the "paintbrush?"
Richard - I've never been to Eagle River; it's a part of the state I'd like to see.
Robin - In your lawn? Wow!
Gandalf _ Thanks.
jpt - very fuzzy - the wind was pretty fierce when I was taking the photos and contributed to the "look"
jeanne - Thanks, it is a lovely flower.
Jules - The color is what is so amazing - a fieldful would be pretty magnificent.
David - I like the idea of 'ghostly'
montucky - I read there are 100+ species of the paintbrush. I'd love to see photos.05/30/2008 - 1:52 am
amelia - I love the ghost look too.05/31/2008 - 1:21 pm
I saw this beaded car in a parking lot hemmed in on all sides, but I took lots of photos anyway. Have you ever seen quite such a vehicle? Do you think the car’s name is Claire?
Here’s the driver’s door. Wonder what kinds of comments and donations the owner gets?
Anna Surface - Good grief! What a sight! The roof of that car... How did this person get that stuff to stay there? That must be some super, super glue. Obviously, the person has a creative bent and is colorful. I wonder what their house looks like? You're right, the only way to describe this car is with photo proof. LOL05/28/2008 - 7:31 am
Pat Denino - There's an art car that I see occasionally in my neck of the woods. I love how the creative muse manifests in most unlikely ways. I tip my hat to the free spirits that are brave enough to put their stuff out on the public stage. Me? I'd like to ride in an art car, camera in hand, windows down, taking pictures of the faces looking at the car…
:-)05/28/2008 - 7:45 am
bernie kasper - Bet that would be a bear to wash :) :)05/28/2008 - 8:03 am
Gandalf - This one tops the weinermobile. This is definitely supports your motto of "Have Camera, will take pictures." This one made me smile - a big wide OMG type smile. :)05/28/2008 - 1:22 pm
jpt - what happens when you press the emergency button?05/28/2008 - 2:22 pm
jeanabaena - those are sure some psychadelic pictures!05/28/2008 - 2:26 pm
montucky - Wow! You're sure right about photo proof!05/28/2008 - 7:31 pm
Preston Surface - Anna told me about your car. Had to check it out. Wow - what a shot. I love pictures such as these.05/28/2008 - 7:50 pm
Stevo - Great shots, you captured the car very well. The colors, textures and composition are amazing.05/29/2008 - 12:07 am
aullori - How crazy is that? Very cool. The funny thing? We'll all be doing this to our older cars now that the gas prices are what they are! Or maybe... just cutting off the tops, filling them with good soil and turning them into strawberry beds! ;)05/29/2008 - 3:31 am
Grace - LOL that was AWESOME! I've been to alot of 'classic' car shows and but have NEVER seen anything even remotely like this!05/29/2008 - 1:16 pm
Bo - Anna - funny thought about the owner's house. I wonder...
Pat - it would be fun to take for a spin.
Bernie - no washing allowed.
Gandalf - I agree - better even than the weinermobile.
jpt - maybe a Lego ambulance appears?
jeanne - psychedelic indeed!
montucky - yep!
Preston - Thanks. I'm glad I had my camera along.
Stevo - Thanks. Taking the photos - it was a tight fit in the parking stalls.
Lori - You think the car's aerodynamics are mesed up?
Grace - awesome - yes. classic - definitely not!05/30/2008 - 1:58 am
amelia - How long would that take to do? Forever. I bet it's not done yet.05/31/2008 - 1:22 pm
lady.percy - I love this car. It has so much character, especially for a car. It looks like something you'd see in an art exhibit, not in a parking lot.06/16/2008 - 6:54 pm
I haven’t been a woman in this state of affairs for a long time. For the last 7,469,280 minutes of my life I have been a mother of one or more teenagers. But today the streak ends. My younger daughter, obviously the baby of the crew, turns 20 today.Today I lose my title as parent...
Gandalf - Happy BD.
No teenagers - a new stage of life for you and your daughter. The picture matches the next stage very nicely. Where do you find cherry trees in Wisconsin?05/27/2008 - 9:19 am
rlovison - Wow, stunning colors and a beautiful composition! I hope this new stage in your life brings happiness. :)05/27/2008 - 10:37 am
ybonesy - Oh, goodness, what a great photo and text to go with it. Big day for both of you. (And cool, you have a Gemini daughter. Tell her, Geminis Rock!!) 8)05/27/2008 - 11:25 am
HeyJules - Happy Birthday to your daughter and WOW! on the photograph!05/27/2008 - 11:43 am
jpt - fanciful and dreamy, just like life in the twenties.05/27/2008 - 1:05 pm
Robin - Wow! Amazing and beautiful capture of the dawn, Bo.
Happy birthday to your daughter! :)05/27/2008 - 3:17 pm
man - Thanks mom <305/27/2008 - 4:17 pm
aullori - Congrats! The shot is gorgeous! It once again says to me, "care about this world" and my natural reaction is to say "I do!" Say happy birthday to your daughter! I think the very idea of coming into your own adulthood at a time in your life when you discover your own talent in photography is wonderful. Lord knows mom's are selfless (and us photographers are quite the opposite) well okay, maybe only out in the field! ;) Brilliant shot!05/27/2008 - 5:56 pm
montucky - I can remember that day in my life too. Happy Birthday to your daughter!05/27/2008 - 9:42 pm
mon@rch - Happy 20th to your daughter . . . those were some amazing years! She should be out enjoying them!05/27/2008 - 10:05 pm
Norm - Today was my daughter's b'day as well; her 'champagne' birthday, 27 on the 27th.
Happy birthday to yours and congrats to you.05/27/2008 - 11:44 pm
jpt - http://216.243.184.169/05/28/2008 - 7:19 am
bernie kasper - Beautiful image Bo, and congrats to you on surviving the teenage years :) :)05/28/2008 - 8:07 am
Stevo - What a beautiful capture! I would love to see this scene. The mountains outside my window are partially obscured by buildings.05/29/2008 - 12:11 am
Bo - Gandalf - Cherry trees grow in Door County where Lake Michigan moderates the temps.
Richard - Thanks.
ybonesy - You must be a Gemini, too...
Thanks, Jules.
jpt - I don't think I remember life being twenty. That was a long time ago!
Robin - Thanks. It is nice to see the beauty of the sun rising.
man - You're welcome sweetie.
Thanks, Lori. Selfless? Mmm. Maybe...not.
montucky - She had a very HB. Thank you.
Mon@rch - She IS out enjoying herself.
Norm - Champagne? Never heard that expression - I always have called then 'golden'
Bernie - Thanks, and yes, I'm kinda glad those teen years are over. Well, at least SOME of those minutes!
Stevo - Ugh! Buildings in front of mountains. Sounds kinda crowded. Sorry.05/30/2008 - 2:08 am
amelia - Beautiful color. Happy Birthday. 20 is great time.05/31/2008 - 1:23 pm
Robin - Wonderful! I like the colors. :)05/26/2008 - 2:16 pm
HeyJules - Love the composition on this one! I keep thinking I need to duck down and get beneath it. I LOVE that!05/26/2008 - 7:14 pm
mon@rch - Wow, that is such an interesting photo! I also love the red coloring!05/26/2008 - 8:25 pm
davidlind - This one is very intriguing. It seems to be growing out at the same time it is growing in. And the colors and shapes seem to suggest inner turmoil or conflict.05/26/2008 - 9:22 pm
Gandalf - It reminds me of a geyser caught in slow motion or freeze framed.05/27/2008 - 9:10 am
aullori - The colors on this are just captivating. Now there is something I have never seen.05/27/2008 - 6:01 pm
amelia - I've never seen anything like that before. I think we have hickories all around.05/31/2008 - 1:24 pm
floodlit - Floodlit says : I absolutely agree with this !06/02/2008 - 10:57 am
nouveaufauves - I have one of these. They are native to our state. I missed its blooms this year, however....it has been a busy spring but I feel if my life is too busy to enjoy my spring flowers, something needs to change.05/25/2008 - 10:26 pm
amelia - It is very creamy, isn't it.05/31/2008 - 1:25 pm
Does anyone remember reading the book Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney? It is a children’s book written in the early 1980s, popular when my children were little. Miss Rumphius was a woman who wanted to do three things in her life – travel the world, live by the sea when she grew older,...
nicole - I love those kind of flowers!
And nope, haven't read that book :)05/23/2008 - 3:37 am
Gandalf - Beautiful colors & I love the shape of the blossom.05/23/2008 - 7:45 am
jpt - i like the abstract background in the upper left corner. reminds me of mac commercials.05/23/2008 - 8:25 am
montucky - Somehow I missed that book. I didn't miss the lupines though. They are beautiful and that's a terrific photo! We have the blues around here and just two days ago I found the first blooms.05/23/2008 - 8:28 am
Janet Wilkins - What a beautiful photo of a beautiful flower! There's a home in my town where the owners have left the field in front "wild." It is full of blue and yellow irises and a pale blue or lavender lupine. Perhaps "Miss Rumphius" was "responsible" for this particular patch of lupine?! :D How pretty!05/23/2008 - 8:50 am
Robin - I don't remember the book, but maybe that's because I had sons (no daughters) and somehow I don't think either one would have been interested in a book called Miss Rumphius. Just a guess. You never know. ;)
Very pretty flowers and photo.05/23/2008 - 10:26 am
Bo - Robin - I think the kids read it in school in about 2nd or 3rd grade. It's supposed to be a philisophical book of note, though maybe lost on that age. It's probably the parents who ended up getting the story.05/23/2008 - 10:36 am
amelia - really neat color of pink.
I read Miss Rumphius and I loved it.05/23/2008 - 11:01 am
HeyJules - That's some mighty sweet bokeh you've got there, Bo. Mmm, mmm, good!05/23/2008 - 11:15 am
davidrochester - Remarkable photo ... the flowers look like they're made of fabric.05/23/2008 - 8:00 pm
organicsyes - One of my favorite books...Miss Rumphius. Lupines are magnificent!
Have you read My Great Aunt Arizona? while on the topic of children's books...?05/23/2008 - 8:19 pm
ybonesy - I don't remember the book, but the photo and the flower are incredible.05/24/2008 - 1:20 am
onewayphotoblog / Mark - Love the almost abstract repetition and the colours05/22/2008 - 2:24 am
Ron in L.A. - That's great Bo, really, really cool ;)
R(etc... )05/22/2008 - 5:59 am
Robin - This is SO cool, Bo. I love it. :)05/22/2008 - 7:35 am
Gandalf - Love those buckets - a veritable brigade of buckets. This reminds me of the Ticki-Tacky song from a while ago (I date myself).05/22/2008 - 8:26 am
Teresa - Never knew buckets could make my jaw drop. Very very cool.05/22/2008 - 8:53 am
truddle - I never knew buckets came in so many colors - Love it!05/22/2008 - 10:39 am
Susan - Only you could make 5- gallon buckets look so pretty and appealing... ;)05/22/2008 - 11:50 am
leafless - Great shot! The color scheme is just amazing.05/22/2008 - 1:23 pm
HeyJules - Wonderful use of color and pattern. I could get lost in this!05/22/2008 - 3:57 pm
rick mobbs - that is a beautiful, wonderful photo. (but then, i am all about color...)05/22/2008 - 10:00 pm
amelia - the buckets make a great picture. i like how the blues and oranges do contrasting.05/23/2008 - 11:06 am
Preston Surface - Nice capture. It is surprising what makes a really cool picture.05/26/2008 - 2:51 am
davidlind - Very nice. Contrasts well with all the flowers.05/26/2008 - 9:25 pm
ankush - beautiful shot, love the colors06/11/2008 - 12:48 pm
by Bo
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