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Seeded Earth Studio bio picture

Bio






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.

 

Bo Mackison

Seeded Earth Studio LLC

Madison, Wisconsin

Category Archives: life lessons

Simply Seen

02*18*2010 Posted in Olympus E-P1 ** Southwest ** life lessons ** photography ** travel

I’ve been told I take photographs of odd things. That’s true. While I was enthusiastically photographing this light, quite thrilled with the two color tones of wall behind it, the graceful curve of the wrought iron, the textures – metal, fluted glass, adobe, wood – I had three different people approach with cameras in their...

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by Bo Mackison

8 comments

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Anna - LOL You see where other photographers do not. This is a wonderful capture of "simply seen" of the light contrasted by the colorful, textured walls. I really, really like this image!02/18/2010 - 11:40 am

Robin - I get it. :) And like it very much.02/18/2010 - 12:41 pm

Molly - It's a very "One man's junk, another man's treasure" sort of story, only switched a bit. Sometimes we take for granted simple little pleasures, like an awesome lamp for instance. Takes a good eye to noticed the little things. :)02/18/2010 - 9:39 pm

Marcie - Not 'odd' at all. Simply perfect!!!02/19/2010 - 7:11 am

Sue - Love this! The contrast of the colors and the curve of the light makes for a bold, geometric image. Simple but GREAT.02/20/2010 - 5:58 am

Debi - Most people can see, but not everyone has vision. This is a wonderfully artistic image, Bo.02/20/2010 - 8:38 am

Gandalf - simplicity personified.02/26/2010 - 8:27 am

Wendee - Oh, no worries; *I* get it. What lovely details, and how wonderful that you took the time to see and capture it as you imagined, as well!03/09/2010 - 10:15 am

Peering through the Window

02*02*2010 Posted in Olympus E-P1 ** Wisconsin ** life lessons ** photography ** quotations

While visiting Shake Rag Alley, I noticed this basket when I peered through the window. There was a bit of a red bow and the turquoise on the table’s edge, so I set up and took a few photographs. It wasn’t until I had the photo up on my computer that I noticed the hand...

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by Bo Mackison

9 comments

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Emma Newman - Wow. That just hit me like a juggernaut in the gut. Thank you for sharing it... I think I needed that message today too.02/02/2010 - 12:32 pm

Joanna Young - Bo, me too. I loved this photo and the way you drew us into the post, and the message, and those moments when that is just what we need to hear...02/02/2010 - 12:33 pm

Gandalf - Very full post. The visual effect of the reflections in the glass and the image in the building as well as the message.02/02/2010 - 2:31 pm

Anna - A beautiful window capture and a very apt message. Indeed. I certainly needed that message today. Perfect.02/02/2010 - 2:47 pm

Sue - As I looked at the wonderful image I could see there was writing, but couldn't read it. Thanks for sharing the words -- a important message contained in those words.02/02/2010 - 4:46 pm

Montucky - That is indeed a message and thanks for passing it on!02/02/2010 - 8:29 pm

Molly - Somehow we always manage to find the exact thing we needed to hear... it is so true.02/02/2010 - 10:26 pm

Susan - ooooooh....love the message hidden within...and then clear and claifying!02/04/2010 - 6:53 am

Robin - I think it's a message I needed to read, too. Thank you, Bo. It's a great shot. I've been getting caught up with you and admiring your recent shots. You're an amazing photographer.02/08/2010 - 2:26 pm

Basket Case

01*27*2010 Posted in Olympus E-P1 ** life lessons ** photography

The sun came for a visit to Wisconsin yesterday. I spent the afternoon studying shadows – many forms of shadows, both those I could see, and those I could only feel.

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by Bo Mackison

6 comments

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Molly - Those shadows are incredible. This picture really catches the eye.01/27/2010 - 10:49 am

Robin - This is beautiful, Bo. Simple, stark... just beautiful.01/27/2010 - 1:56 pm

Gandalf - The shadow play makes the shot. Very nice.01/27/2010 - 4:39 pm

Sue - Such a beautiful, artful image. Love the black and white choice.01/27/2010 - 4:44 pm

Montucky - Nice, Bo! I'm always impressed by the ability of cameras to deal with that kind of pattern.01/27/2010 - 10:39 pm

Tweets that mention Basket Case » Seeded Earth Studio -- Topsy.com - [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bo Mackison, heniadis. heniadis said: RT @bo_mackison The sun came out. I spent the day studying shadows I could see & shadows I could only feel #photography http://bit.ly/9CarGW [...]01/28/2010 - 2:24 am

Holding Hands – A Self-Portrait

01*18*2010 Posted in Madison ** Olympus E-P1 ** Wisconsin ** garden ** life lessons ** macro ** nature ** photography

On the most basic of levels, this is a photograph of overlapping leaves that I took using a Lensbaby Composer. But when I saw the photograph, it seemed to be much more than a few leaves, it seemed to be another one of those self-portraits I occasionally take that aren’t an actual self-portrait, but a...

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by Bo Mackison

10 comments

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Molly - That's incredibly creative, I love it. :D01/18/2010 - 5:46 pm

Joanna Young - Stunning! And a beautiful reminder of just what we're doing when we're outside :-)01/19/2010 - 1:33 am

Anna - That is very interesting! I like this and as a 'self-portrait'. :)01/19/2010 - 8:16 am

Gandalf - Interesting self-portrait, and I appreciate the insights into nature, architecture etc that you provide through your photos and blog.01/19/2010 - 9:33 am

bernie kasper - Beautiful shot Bo, great eye in capturing this, like your symbolic view on this !!01/19/2010 - 12:43 pm

Sue - Beautiful image; interesting analogy. I haven't explored the Lensbaby yet. That might be something I need to add to my bag....01/19/2010 - 7:33 pm

Ed Vatza - Oh wow! Very cool! There is also an embryonic look or even an otherworldly look to this image as well.01/20/2010 - 6:47 pm

ankush vimawala - wow, very original!01/21/2010 - 3:12 pm

Debi - Very nice, Bo. Your philosophy about self and nature is truly revealed in this photo. Love it.01/22/2010 - 11:54 am

ybonesy - Yes, I can see how this is a metaphorical self-portrait. It reminds me of an ultrasound, the image of a babies fingers en utero.01/26/2010 - 9:28 am

My New Year’s Day Project

01*07*2010 Posted in Olympus E-P1 ** Wisconsin ** life lessons ** photography ** travel ** winter

I had hoped to kick off 2010 with this writing project, but I didn’t have it done. Better finished a week into the year, than never finished. (See F). Here are my January musings from snowy Wisconsin. It’s a bit of a mish-mash. There are some to-do’s, some to-hope-for’s, some gratitude mentions, a bit of...

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by Bo Mackison

14 comments

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Dominique - Unique way to approach a goal post! I do love your photos, and don't stop often enough to comment. Hoped to get up to Wisconsin last year, but life threw us a curve ball in terms of unemployment and a return to school for my SO. So, for now, I'll continue to enjoy my virtual visits via your site. Thanks :)01/07/2010 - 3:17 pm

Gandalf - Awesome list. Good luck on your dreams. By the way very nice photo. It looks a tad cool out there.01/07/2010 - 3:40 pm

Molly - I love your photos of course, but your alphabet is awesome! It gave me the idea to write one of my own! So inspiring you are in my life, hope you know that. :)01/07/2010 - 5:53 pm

Anna - Gorgeous capture and I really like your 2010 ABC's and especially for F... Finishing and Z...Zero Tolerance. Happy New Year to you too.01/07/2010 - 7:20 pm

Preston - A little animal like Jazz can teach us a lot. I really like your U-turn. I can really relate. I need to do more U-turns in life as well. The ABC's -- fantastic.01/07/2010 - 8:54 pm

Lesley Smitheringale - Happy New Year Bo, This is excellent and I enjoyed reading your motivational alphabet. I think that many creative people are shy and we are all perfectionists I'm sure. I sometimes think that being artistic is a curse as I never seem to be happy with what I've done - always thinking up the next project and that somehow it will be even better. Wish I could relax and just watch TV:) Come and visit my new blog - I am in need of some friends! Lesley01/08/2010 - 1:09 am

Marcie - What a great list!! Gotta say - the 'I' - is definitely worth saving for (as you can see - I fell in love with the northern part of the country where I was lucky enough to visit). And - what a beautiful winter image!!!01/08/2010 - 6:22 am

Montucky - I love reading your musings, Bo and find myself so close to so many of them. This is an awesome post!01/08/2010 - 9:29 am

Robin - Wonderful list and post, Bo. I especially like Z. No feeding the gremlins. :)01/08/2010 - 10:18 am

ybonesy - I liked Z a lot, too. But all of them are great. It will be good to check in and see how F is coming along. (For all of us.) Say hi to S. :)01/08/2010 - 11:18 am

Ed Vatza - Excellent list. By the time I got to the end, I had forgotten the image which is also excellent. You tags reminded me. I have been a bit remiss in getting around the blogosphere of late so I want to say that you winter images from the lake are really wonderful. They capture a true sense of winter desolation.01/08/2010 - 5:18 pm

Debi - Well thought out and written. You're much more organized than me when it comes to this stuff. I am bowing in your general direction, dearie. Happy New Year and good luck with your list!01/12/2010 - 1:02 pm

Sandy Scherrer - I love your alphabet. i see in many of your statements the friend I first knew 30 plus years ago.Best wishes for 2010!01/14/2010 - 7:18 am

Tweets that mention My New Year’s Day Project » Seeded Earth Studio -- Topsy.com - [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Dominique King, Bo Mackison. Bo Mackison said: I finally finished my New Years post. An ABC mish-mash of goals, tributes, thanks & a #photo that looks very very cold! http://bit.ly/4B4YuK [...]01/07/2010 - 3:19 pm

Snow Plowing

12*09*2009 Posted in Madison ** Olympus E-3 ** life lessons ** photography ** winter

More to come – more snow, more plowing, more winter. But hey, first off, I’m thanking this guy who’s out there plowing my circle. There are many miles of streets in Madison, don’t know why my circle street got so darn lucky, but it’s only 9 a.m. and we’re already getting plowed out. He watched...

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by Bo Mackison

10 comments

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Gandalf - Hail to the Conquering Heros - Hail to the snowplow DUDEs. Great picture.12/09/2009 - 10:42 am

Molly - That's just insane. ( meaning the snow, of course)12/09/2009 - 1:37 pm

bookbabie - Yikes, you guys got walloped! We have the wind today, up to 50 mph and some snow and sleet coming:(12/09/2009 - 1:40 pm

kanniduba - AMEN!!!! Thank you Snow Plow Guys!!! They've been busy around my neighborhood today too! Snow and salt and sand, Oh MY! ;)12/09/2009 - 3:33 pm

lady percy - There is a lot of snow today, isn't there? When I was out digging out my driveway/car this morning around 9:30 we'd already been plowed, so they have been working quite hard today.12/09/2009 - 4:55 pm

quinncreative - SO great when they show up early! You really got gob-smacked with snow. That's a LOT of white stuff.12/09/2009 - 6:07 pm

Montucky - You sure did get the snow! Wow!12/09/2009 - 8:20 pm

Sue - Looks like you are getting a lot of that white stuff. Makes for interesting and beautiful photography, though!12/10/2009 - 6:15 am

Debi - Heroes of Winter, the snowplow guys! Good for you, immortalizing and thanking them via blog!12/14/2009 - 12:02 pm

Tweets that mention Snow Plowing » Seeded Earth Studio -- Topsy.com - [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bo Mackison and Derrick. Derrick said: RT @bo_mackison: Unsung hero - the guy out there plowing my street, been out there an hour. #photo on blog http://bit.ly/6U9Qb5 TOTALLY!!!! [...]12/09/2009 - 10:31 am

America to France: A Diary 1918-19

11*11*2009 Posted in life lessons

Veterans Day 2009
These are excerpts transcribed from the diary of Pvt. H. S. Wood 5 Div APO 745. The cover of this thin black journal reads “America to France.” Its first entry is dated May 13, 1918; the last is dated January 12, 1919. And it includes a simple accounting of Armistice Day.
(May) Left Huston,...

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by Bo Mackison

5 comments

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Molly - That is way too cool. Love it.11/11/2009 - 4:18 pm

Marcie - WOW! This is absolutely priceless!!!11/12/2009 - 12:51 pm

iheartfilm - That's just so cool.11/14/2009 - 5:58 pm

Gandalf - Gives me goose bumps. An amazing piece of history.11/17/2009 - 11:00 am

Tweets that mention America to France: A Diary 1918-19 » Seeded Earth Studio -- Topsy.com - [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bo Mackison, Bo Mackison. Bo Mackison said: Excerpts from grandfather's diary from WWI. Cover - "America to France". Check out #photo of his Palmer handwriting. http://bit.ly/4uYzDu [...]11/11/2009 - 1:39 pm

A Lesson on the Back Roads

10*27*2009 Posted in Olympus E-P1 ** Wisconsin ** architecture ** autumn ** life lessons ** photography

It takes discipline to take photographs, and a certain confidence. I don’t score high on life’s quiz when measuring discipline or confidence. But I’m learning – in little ways.
Take, for example, this photo of the two barns. To me, it represents progress. So you might ask, “Progress in photographic skills?” Nope, not what I’m talking...

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by Bo Mackison

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Doors of Change

07*07*2009 Posted in Madison ** Olympus E-3 ** Wisconsin ** life lessons ** photography

I’ve run into a few unexpected happenings, and so earlier today I decided to streamline my daily routine, and my online adventures, by taking a break from Seeded Earth. I posted that decision a few hours ago. But then a rather unusual thing happened—one of those kinds of things you’d like to have a logical...

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by Bo

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Carsten - Enjoy your time. And be sure that your return will be welcome.07/07/2009 - 3:01 pm

Joanna Young - Well, mysterious indeed :-) I'm going through some of those doors of change too... bewildering but exciting aren't they? And full of strange coincidences. Enjoy the summer Bo, whatever you do07/07/2009 - 5:10 pm

edvatza - Ponder away. And when you return, we'll be here!07/07/2009 - 8:07 pm

kcjewel - the bench is calling... come sit down. nice! what better way to express feellings than through photographs? glad you are continuing.07/07/2009 - 9:47 pm

Carsten - Welcome back :)07/08/2009 - 1:11 am

montucky - I've had similar feelings, Bo. I'm glad though that you are continuing!07/08/2009 - 1:13 am

uphilldowndale - Phew07/08/2009 - 6:35 am

Gandalf - Have a good rest. Welcome back. I was able to catch both with one comment. :)07/08/2009 - 8:11 am

Robin - Strange how life doesn't always agree with our decisions. Good for us, too, in that you'll still be posting rather than taking a break.07/08/2009 - 12:40 pm

Preston Surface - Doors of change, I like that. Never knew exactly what to call those moments, now I do.07/08/2009 - 12:54 pm

Sue - Capturing and posting images on a regular basis can indeed be stressful and somewhat of a burden. And, from time to time we need to step back and ponder where we are and where we are going. Glad to read that you are going to keep shooting and posting!07/08/2009 - 8:23 pm

memomuse - Photos are wordless poems Keep taking them and posting them for yourself!07/09/2009 - 5:47 pm

The Balloon Guy

05*02*2009 Posted in Madison ** Olympus E-3 ** Wisconsin ** life lessons ** photography

I went to the Farmers Market this morning. The April-through-October weekly ritual begins. I bought some spinach and a few flowers to plant, and took some photos of the Market and the crowd and the Capitol Building. (The Market is on the Capitol Square in Madison; the Capitol Building is in the center of the...

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by Bo

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quinncreative - This is SO perfect! I love the balloon guy, too! he's showing up in my journal. Thanks for posting this--it takes a real discerning eye to get this.05/02/2009 - 1:06 pm

Sande - That is neat. He's like the payoff for looking at all the rest - easy to miss if you assume each is the same.05/02/2009 - 6:58 pm

Robin - How wonderful! Great capture, Bo. :)05/02/2009 - 9:30 pm

Marcie - Terrific piece of wall art. I - too - love the little guy with the balloon. Great eye!05/03/2009 - 12:19 pm

Truddle - I think if I were one of the little guys captured on the wall, I would be the one holding the balloon. Nice capture Bo...05/03/2009 - 1:40 pm

suehenryphotography - Great eye for spotting this!05/03/2009 - 6:03 pm

oneshotbeyond - {applause}05/04/2009 - 10:04 am

edvatza - Love it! That is so cool. A couple more years and I am out of that rat race.05/04/2009 - 6:07 pm

Gandalf - Could be a Far Side.05/05/2009 - 7:01 am

Creative Play : #Theme Thursday « QuinnCreative - [...] Sokoler imagines what shadows would do if they had a lie of their own. And over on The Seeded Earth, there is a great graffiti-on-graffiti balloon man. Look [...]05/06/2009 - 11:52 pm