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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: poetry

Announcing the Memoir Space

02*22*2010 Posted in Memoir Project ** Olympus E-P1 ** Southwest ** photography ** poetry ** travel ** wabi-sabi

I am excited to announce that I’ve just launched a new monthly feature called Memoir Space. It is published at The Calm Space, an online magazine which, according to founder and editor Karen Wallace, “is an online magazine published weekly with a monthly theme – written by a team of amazing, real-life women who are...

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by Bo Mackison

7 comments

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Molly - Love that blue color, it's gorgeous!02/22/2010 - 3:41 pm

Anna Surface - Memoir Space sounds wonderful! That is something I might like to do but for now my time is limited. I'd love to pick up writing again and what a great way to do so. Love those deep blue containers. By the way, we've moved to our own website and have a new photoblog. Thanks for answering my questions after you opened here. :)02/22/2010 - 4:08 pm

Bo Mackison - Thanks Anna. It does sound like a big commitment, doesnt it? Just so you know, a lot of these projects can be done in 15-30 minutes, once a month, no special skills or equipment - except maybe a computer and some sort of camera. The neat part about the project is that, with a little time, it will accumulate over the months. When the time is right for you, it will happen!02/22/2010 - 4:22 pm

Gandalf - I love the blue pots and cast shadows.02/23/2010 - 7:23 am

Sue - Congratulations on being part of the team at The Calm Space! Now I see just why you made such a lovely self-portrait! :) I'm afraid that I nearly forgot to comment here on Seeded Earth because I spent so much time at The Calm Space. I have subscribed to The Calm Space newsletter and will certainly try to follow your work there as well as here, my talented friend!!!02/23/2010 - 11:51 am

QuinnCreative - What a great shot to announce your memoir space. All those pots of memory to fill. It's a deep and wonderful photograph.02/27/2010 - 11:02 am

Bo Mackison - Quinn, I think you are the only one who noticed the metaphorical aspect to the photo. Yes, filling all those pots with memories--what a collection one could have!02/27/2010 - 11:38 am

Desert Sun

02*17*2010 Posted in National Parks ** Olympus E-P1 ** Southwest ** nature ** photography ** poetry ** travel

Staring into the burning desert sun. Desert heat
rises, sears my soul, the searching soul, seeking light.
I sink into the sand-earth, the desiccated cactus roots cannot support me.
Be not distraught. Reach out. Stand upright.
The sun drops off the edge of the world, night slips in quietly, settles,
A star shimmers and
another.
I have journeyed long,
watched sunrises and sunsets,...

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by Bo Mackison

12 comments

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Molly - This would have been breathtaking to see in real life, such a great moment captured. Sunsets are always some that captivate my attention, love this.02/17/2010 - 7:55 pm

Montucky - Magnificent photo, Bo! That scene just naturally leads to good poetry.02/17/2010 - 10:19 pm

Abbey of the Arts - Bo, what a beautiful photo and your poem is such a deep invitation to be present to the rhythms of sky and earth.02/17/2010 - 10:30 pm

Joanna Young - Oh Bo, I just love the last few lines of this. These words in particular "a multitude of stars alight the heavens, milky streams of light,"... are deeply soothing.02/18/2010 - 2:33 am

Marcie - Such a gorgeous..warm desert image. And the accompanying words are perfect!!! So very creative!!!02/18/2010 - 7:34 am

Gandalf - captivating02/18/2010 - 7:45 am

Anna - What a beautiful desert sun and silhouette cactus scene! I love that poem... stirs deep. The part that touches: "I have journeyed long, watched sunrises and sunsets, and the ascents and descents of many moons.02/18/2010 - 11:15 am

Robin - This is beautiful. All of it.02/18/2010 - 12:40 pm

sherri - This is stunning.02/19/2010 - 9:29 am

Sue - Beautiful.02/20/2010 - 6:00 am

Debi - This is a favorite, both photo and poem. You've a gift, my dear.02/20/2010 - 8:40 am

Ed Vatza - I was scanning through you Southwest images Bo and this one just stopped me in my tracks. Stunning. Beautiful. WOW!02/26/2010 - 6:11 am

Tree Walkers

01*19*2010 Posted in Olympus E-P1 ** Wisconsin ** nature ** photography ** poetry ** quotations ** wabi-sabi ** winter

Oh to be free of myself,
With nothing left to remember,
To have my heart as bare
As a tree in December;
Resting, as a tree rests
After its leaves are gone,
Waiting no more for a rain at night
Nor for the red at dawn;

~~Sara Teasdale, from “The Tree”

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by Bo Mackison

7 comments

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Molly - Reminds me of a Claude Monet painting...01/19/2010 - 7:16 pm

Marcie - Stunning impressionist painting. Beautiful!!!01/20/2010 - 7:23 am

Sue - Nicely composed. Reflections are a favorite subject of mine. This one is especially nice.01/20/2010 - 7:52 am

Gandalf - I agree with the other comments - very impressionistic and nicely composed.01/20/2010 - 8:08 am

Ed Vatza - Uh, Bo, its upside down! ;-) Beautiful reflection image. I absolutely love it! Great work.01/20/2010 - 6:44 pm

ankush vimawala - beautiful reflection, and composition!01/21/2010 - 3:09 pm

Debi - Peaceful, and perfect.01/22/2010 - 11:55 am

The 2009 Inaugural Poet and Poem

01*21*2009 Posted in photography ** poetry

(Photo is a TV shot from ABC News.)
Elizabeth Alexander is a poet, essayist, playwright, and teacher. She is a professor at Yale University and was a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University this year. She was chosen to write and deliver the inaugural poem, only the fourth poet to have...

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by Bo

6 comments

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Gandalf - It's curious to observe which Presidents had poems for their inaugurations (at least since the first one) and which ones have not. The idea to have a poem or not isn't partisan (at least not yet) inasmuch as Johnson & Carter did not have poems. Reagan had a gift of imagery in his presentations and did not need a poet to give image to his vision (whether you like the vision or not). Johnson, Carter, Nixon and the Bush family - what is in common?01/21/2009 - 10:16 am

uphilldowndale - Thanks for posting, I enjoyed reading that as much as I did listening to it yesterday.01/21/2009 - 10:21 am

ybonesy - Yes, "bramble" is a poet's word. I noticed it when she said it. I like that word, how it sounds like what it means, and how she followed it with "thorn." I really found her economy of words striking, and I said it on QM's post about Elizabeth Alexander, that I was amazed how in just a few words she was able to invoke the image of slaves and migrant workers, janitors/cleaners and business people.01/21/2009 - 11:15 am

jackie chavis - She, like Whitman, includes all of us. Her ideas strike of Auden looking at the painting of a momentous event like the fall of Icarus while others go about their daily tasks! Brilliant for a commissioned piece.01/21/2009 - 11:24 am

Daniel Klotz - In my reading (which I blogged about), I found that Elizabeth Alexander's poem paled in comparison to Maya Angelou's. How did the comparative reading strike you?01/21/2009 - 2:22 pm

Gandalf - I may need to review the other inaugural poems. Do you have a link?01/23/2009 - 1:26 pm

Sumac's Candelabra

01*14*2009 Posted in Olympus E-3 ** nature ** photography ** poetry ** winter

Red sumac seeds are an important source of bird food, precisely because they simply stay on the plant long enough to be part of the winter scenery. This makes them the perfect emergency food for all sorts of birds during the long winter months.  Bluebirds, black-capped chickadees and robins will feed on sumac seeds in...

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by Bo

7 comments

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Marcie - Didn't know that about the sumac. Always wondered how some birds survive the harsh winter. Lovely image.01/14/2009 - 3:44 am

Richard Lovison - "A knowledge glimmers in the sleep of things:" I like that. :)01/14/2009 - 6:46 am

Gandalf - Awesome poem and a great shot.01/14/2009 - 7:47 am

jeju - yum snowcones01/14/2009 - 9:05 am

montucky - Lovely shot of something that I really love to see when I'm out!01/14/2009 - 10:24 am

Robin - Lovely post. :)01/14/2009 - 3:59 pm

gypsy-heart - As usual, I enjoyed your photos and your words very much! I decided to leave my note to you here..for it tugged at my heart. :) I hope you are staying well and warm!01/17/2009 - 2:23 pm

A Wisconsin Alphabet – The Finale

12*18*2008 Posted in Madison ** Milwaukee WI ** Olympus E 510 ** Olympus E-3 ** Wisconsin ** macro ** nature ** photography ** poetry ** summer ** wildflowers ** winter

It’s a Wrap on the Alphabet, the End of the Year.
Here’s to a Holiday Season, Filled with Good Cheer.
To You and Yours, the Very Best
Bo

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by Bo

13 comments

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visuallens - A very nice series of Wisconsin Alphabet photos and they all are beautiful and fantastic. You are always my favourite.12/18/2008 - 7:21 am

Marcie - Such a wonderful contrast between the summer sunflowers and the winter polar bear. Great job..and a wonderful round of applause!!!!12/18/2008 - 10:16 am

bookbabie - I think the last two are my favorites, Happy Holidays!12/18/2008 - 12:56 pm

Gandalf - The polar bear is great. How did you get that shot? I guess this is an example of always having your camera ready because you don't know when a great shot will be there. The alphabet was a great idea and nicely done. Are your going to try it with the Chinese alphabet next? :) Happy Holidays to you, too.12/18/2008 - 1:47 pm

lady.percy - :-] Very cute! Reminds me of Dr. Seuss!12/18/2008 - 3:22 pm

Laurie - Wow! Love the polar bear! Just beautiful. How and where did you manage that shot?12/18/2008 - 3:58 pm

Robin - The very best to you and yours, too, Bo. Happy Holidays. :) This was very well done. I admire your creativity.12/18/2008 - 4:39 pm

Amelia - This is so cool. I love the way the letters go from page to page. The polar bear is soooooooo cute.12/18/2008 - 4:46 pm

montucky - That was a great and enjoyable series, Bo! Happy Holidays!12/18/2008 - 7:03 pm

ceanothe - Soleil et neige, belle rencontre ! Sun and snow, beautiful encounters12/19/2008 - 1:47 am

Debi - You've earned a Gold Star for your efforts! Bravo! Happy Holidays to you and yours, Bo!12/19/2008 - 4:15 pm

Grace - You are so talented! Not only a "Vision"smith, but a wordsmith as well! Happy holidays to you and yours, Bo! Stay warm!12/19/2008 - 5:38 pm

ybonesy - You are indeed talented, Bo. How in the world did you capture such a close-up of the polar bear? This was great. I thoroughly enjoyed it.12/19/2008 - 11:41 pm

A Wisconsin Alphabet – Part VI

12*17*2008 Posted in Madison ** Olympus E 510 ** Olympus E-3 ** Wisconsin ** nature ** photography ** poetry ** spring ** summer ** wildflowers

For the final installment, see  A Wisconsin Alphabet – The Finale .  Or start at the beginning with A Wisconsin Alphabet – A through D.

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by Bo

10 comments

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Marcie - Almost there. Love the windvane image. Am looking forward to the final installment. :-)12/17/2008 - 3:16 am

Gandalf - Clever use of the mayapple.12/17/2008 - 8:11 am

montucky - I love the May apples! Wish we had a larger alphabet!12/17/2008 - 10:08 am

Bo - Actually, Montucky, I'm kind of glad we only have 26 letters. I don't think I could have gone on much longer. And it's a good thing I had a stockpile of 10,000 photos from 2008, or I would never have been able to do it. It was a great creative activity though. The rhyme was rather fun to do, but putting it together took a lot of time.12/17/2008 - 2:08 pm

organicsyes - ohhhh....clever you! Love this theme:)12/17/2008 - 3:34 pm

Anna Surface - LOL Very nice! I love the eXercise bike with a view. :)12/17/2008 - 4:36 pm

quinncreative - These are just a perfect combination of clever, delightful, interesting and fun. The contrast of pictures is wonderful, too. And so are the words, which boost the pictures. Yep, tasty joy for sure!12/17/2008 - 5:38 pm

ybonesy - The weiner is such a winner (weiner) and the exercycle---what in the world? Did you just stumble upon that one? What a great use for an old, out-of-date gadget.12/17/2008 - 11:49 pm

organicsyes - When can I get a copy of your A-Z book??? I just had an epiphany!!! These are lovely rhymes and as I read, I pictured the Edward Gorey book! I fell into the rhythm of the rhymes and found my mind wandering to darker images... You are amazing!12/19/2008 - 7:27 am

Debi - I love the way you see your world, Bo. This is so great!12/19/2008 - 4:14 pm

A Wisconsin Alphabet – Part V

12*16*2008 Posted in Door County WI ** Milwaukee WI ** Olympus E 510 ** Olympus E-3 ** Wisconsin ** autumn ** nature ** photography ** poetry ** summer ** wildflowers

Continue with A Wisconsin Alphabet – U through X or start at the beginning with A Wisconsin Alphabet – A through D.

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by Bo

7 comments

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QuinnCreative - These are wonderful! Dr. Seuss, eat your heart out!12/16/2008 - 12:56 am

Marcie - Am just loving this. And - you're almost done?!?!? Such fun!!!!12/16/2008 - 3:23 am

Debi - Lovin' it, Bo! Looking forward to the next one!12/16/2008 - 8:49 am

Robin - Quinn wrote what I was thinking. :D Wonderful, Bo. Can't wait for the next one.12/16/2008 - 12:00 pm

Laurie - I love the first one, but they are all wonderful! Excellent series.12/16/2008 - 2:04 pm

montucky - These are great too, Bo! What an excellent idea this has been!12/16/2008 - 7:19 pm

Gandalf - I love the sailboat picture12/17/2008 - 8:12 am

A Wisconsin Alphabet – Part IV

12*15*2008 Posted in Madison ** Olympus E 510 ** Olympus E-3 ** Wisconsin ** autumn ** macro ** nature ** photography ** poetry ** winter

Continue with  Wisconsin Alphabet – Q through T, or start at the beginning at A Wisconsin Alphabet – A through D.

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by Bo

7 comments

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Marcie - Even more amazing is that you have amassed a perfect collection of images to match your alphabet rhyme!!!!12/15/2008 - 3:16 am

Debi - Bo! This is such a fun, creative series of photos and posts - we're all enjoying it!12/15/2008 - 8:06 am

Anna Surface - That mailbox photo is my favorite. I have a thing for smacked country mailboxes. :) I can't to see what Q through T will be.12/15/2008 - 9:33 am

HeyJules - I love this alphabet, Bo! What fun to follow along and see what comes up next!12/15/2008 - 12:34 pm

Gandalf - very creative, very interesting. I'm partial to the pots in this set.12/15/2008 - 3:25 pm

Robin - Fantastic series! Very creative. I enjoyed the photos and the poetry. Well done, Bo! :)12/15/2008 - 4:20 pm

montucky - After all the white I've seen today, it's wonderful to see those orchids, Bo!12/15/2008 - 9:28 pm

A Wisconsin Alphabet – Part III

12*14*2008 Posted in Door County WI ** Madison ** Olympus E-3 ** Wisconsin ** autumn ** photography ** poetry ** summer ** winter

Continue with  A Wisconsin Alphabet – M through P or start at the beginning with A Wisconsin Alphabet A through D.

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by Bo

9 comments

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Sumedh Prasad - that's a nice snowman and a nice series of photographic rhymes! :)12/14/2008 - 7:04 am

suehenryphotography - You OBVIOUSLY have been working on this project for a while! :) Love it. Can't wait for the next installment.12/14/2008 - 8:17 am

Bo - Actually, Sue, I got hit by the inspiration bug two days ago - but I've been working on the project ever since. I'm at U, so I still have a few more to do. ;-)12/14/2008 - 8:37 am

montucky - Great series of posts, although the ice cream isn't as appealing when it's -6 out! I don't know why though because the snow lady sure is.12/14/2008 - 10:25 am

Marcie - Am so impressed..and inspired. This is wonderful..and such fun! Looking forward to tomorrow....12/14/2008 - 10:26 am

ybonesy - Oh, love the ones in this series. Junk pile and snow cone I am esp fond of. And the snowman (woman?) has some pretty eyes!!12/14/2008 - 7:26 pm

Laurie - Such a fun collection of photos here. Nice work. I love the snow-lady!12/14/2008 - 8:19 pm

Debi - I love that ice cream cone! My parents would drive us kids into town occasionally just to get ice cream at a particular drive in that just served malteds, shakes, cones both ice cream and snow, banana splits, sundaes, and all manner of chilled goodies. I'll never forget the decals on the windows of dancing ice cream cones, the bright flourescent lights that buzzed, hot summer nights with dripping ice cream cones, and atop this drive-in was a similar lighted ice cream cone. For a kid, this place was sheer heaven, and the memory is a viseral one. Thanks, Bo.12/15/2008 - 8:05 am

Gandalf - Very entertaining post. In comment to Montucky - when it's -6, the ice cream cone certainly won't melt prematurely (at least not outside).12/15/2008 - 3:15 pm