Photography as History

Over the past few years, I've come to think of the importance of the work I do. Whether it's portraits of seniors, families or children or the images I make outdoors, each shot is a moment in history that lives on. It becomes a significant part of a family's history, or in this case, Milwaukee's history.

I recently read in the local paper that an old grain elevator was slated to become another condo project along the Milwaukee River. Searching back in my files I found an image I've made there that shows the stately nature of what would have been a very busy grain elevator in the Port of Milwaukee.

The old, rusted, railroad turnstile still stands that allowed trains to cross the river and deliver grain for storage. From there it was loaded on ships and traversed the Great Lakes to be delivered to other ports of call. One can image the hustle and bustle of workers each fall as the grain harvest came in from all over Wisconsin. And now it's history will evolve and become condos.

Perhaps I can be there with my camera when the change begins anew!

The Sun Shone on Them

The wrinkles on my hands have faded from cleaning up water in the problem corner of the basement and it's been 2 days since I've had to retreat to said basement with my dogs, external hard drives (with important wedding/portrait images), and other personal effects to avoid playing "Dorothy" in a tornado warning.

We've had 6-8" of rain in a 2-3 day period and some lakes in Wisconsin have decided to empty and become rivers. Picture that! So I feel fortunate that all is OK at my house.

All this water got me thinking about the last day of beautiful sun and warmth that "rained" down on us. It was for the wedding of Christine and Bjorn! They were lucky to have the sun shine down on their special day and I was lucky to be able to photograph them with my most able assistant, Julie Zahn. What a team we were that day! All I need to do is look at this image to feel not only the sun's warmth, but the warmth of their love for each other. Congrats and that's for the sun!

I'm a New Aunt!

I'm ever so grateful to tell you that my younger sister has given birth to a healthy boy, named Carl George, after my deceased father. It was a happy day this past weekend when my family received the news from England, where his parents live. It's an especially heart warming occurrence since his mother and father finally married after an 11 year break-up. Miracles do happen!

The other miracle is that his dad is the recipient of his sister's kidney! Carl George's dad underwent a kidney transplant just one year ago after a bad experience with an antibiotic. Nothing like a new kidney to help make a new baby!

So as my sister and most of my siblings share the "red hair" gene, it appears that Carl George may be heading down the same genetic road. Yippee! Now I've just got to plan the time to get over to England and start making some keepsake images of the little guy. And yes, my dad would have been happy and proud to welcome his namesake!

The Salute

We are lucky in Milwaukee to have a National Cemetery for our fallen veterans. It is Wood Memorial National Cemetery in West Allis and on this holiest of military days, hundreds gather to visit the graves of our war veterans and partake in the events honoring their service. Servicemen and women, as well as the spouses of those that served, are buried here. They hail from every state in the union.

Certain graves stood out because they were marked by wreaths of purple flowers for those that had earned the honor of Purple Heart. This site was a soldier from the 82nd Airborne Division - a much respected assignment in the Army. People were stopping to read the grave stone when this Young Marine came by. Knowing the power of an image, I asked him to salute the grave. He respected my wish and simultaneously showed his respect for a soldier who sacrificed.

I share this image to honor all our veterans; especially my father and nephew.

Burst My Bubble

The weather's getting warmer and soon I'll be taking my children, family and senior portraits outdoors. As a photographer in Milwaukee, WI, it's a much revered season! There's nothing like finding a special location outdoors to photograph people in.

Before I head outside, however, I wanted to share a fun portrait of a 20 month old made in my studio (PEGGY MORSCH life photography). When photographing children, I usually like to try to think like one. Some times that's real easy!

So blowing some bubbles is usually a good way to solicit a "wonderment" look in a child. (Don't you just love that "everything is wide-eyed new" look in a child?) Sure enough, with his Michigan State teddy bear sitting next to him, I was able to make this well timed portrait, just as he was about to burst my bubble!

If it's not too windy, maybe I could do this outside too! Enjoy this holiday weekend!

Labs Love Water!

Today was a beautiful day to be a pet photographer! It's not a secret that dogs, or as I like to refer to them, canines, are my favorites. Why? I share my life with two of them!

But today I got to spend with Comet, a black beauty of a Labrador Retriever! While she's older than I in dog years, she still shows the initiative to play, splash in cold Lake Michigan and otherwise enjoy some time outside with her ball.

What I loved about photographing her was her grace and confidence. She waded through the cold water like she was greeting an old friend and ran through the sand loving the soft surface on her pads. There was one other thing I look for when I photograph dogs and that's a little glimmer of sassiness is their eyes that seems to say, "just try to come get me." Comet had it all and I'm grateful to have spent part of an afternoon with her. Her owners will love the images!

An Evening to Remember

Nights to most photographers is time to process images or sleep. I was in both those groups until I took a class with Tony Sweet, a remarkable nature photographer. He's taught us to see differently in low light and NO light as well as other techniques to improve our photography. I'm so glad I'm here and that he's my instructor!

So last night I went out and tried my hand at "seeing in the dark." It's fun because you never really know how things will turn out. Every night and every scene is just a little different.

At Sunset Beach in Cape May, lives an old boat near an old changing room house. It's a great place to hit the beach and watch the sunset and it's usually inhabited by many a sunset seeker. After everyone left, a fellow student and I started working our newly learned techniques. Practice, practice, practice. . . When this popped into the LED, it was magic! I guess getting up early and going to bed late does make for great nature images!

Portraits at night, anyone???

Spring Sunrise Surprise

Getting up early in the morning to be in place to photograph a sunrise can be a hit or miss proposition. Clouds can roll in or the sun can be too bright to really "set the mood" in the image. Well today was a good day! I didn't stop photographing until 9:30 p.m., but you'll have to wait to see that image tomorrow.

While I was planning my spot to photograph the sunrise among 18 other photographers, I began to see that hot pink glow on the horizon. A quick look around and I had my spot with the boats and some reflections coming off the water. The funny thing is that as the sun rose, it seemed to be supported by the boat antennas. I love surprises!

Ethereal Mornings

This week finds me at Cape May, N.J. for a photographic workshop with Tony Sweet. He's as "sweet" as his name and he's teaching us all kinds of new tricks with nature photography. We're a rogue bunch here at the conference. We run around in heavier, fleecier clothes and get up at odd times, like 4:00 a.m.

When you get up early and go out to photograph, a whole new world opens up! With 19 in our group, we spread out along the Atlantic Seashore to photograph the remains of pilings in the water. Here's one of many that I think show the power of the water and gives one a sense that it's nowhere near the land - just floating out in the ocean. Enjoy!

Doggie "Thank You"

What a nice surprise I received from a client today! I had recently photographed her 3 children and their 2 yr. old Lab and had lots of fun in the studio! Too much laughter to even describe! (see blog archive from 3/30 - 4/8) We made a wonderful wrapped canvas from the session as a surprise anniversary present for Dad. He was surprised!

So as a thank you"the kids made me a marvelous dog dish for my dogs! Ellie and Emma LOVED it (of course I put some good salmon treats in it from Hounds Around Town in WFB!) They were so smart because they used my PEGGY MORSCH life photography logo colors in the design! Inside is a big, brown paw that finishes it off. If you noticed the "matching" orange color on Emma, you win "bonus ponts!"

Mom enclosed a note saying "thanks so much for your beautiful work and attention to detail. The kids, Addie and I so enjoyed working with you!"

Thanks gang! You made my day - and Emma's!

Stylish Seniors

Wow! So much is new for the Class of 2009 Seniors! I'm so excited about the designer styles I have to use with my seniors this summer I can hardly wait for you to see them. That means that my seniors get to have distinctive, designer pieces made just for them!

So I had a little fun this morning making up a Senior Style Magazine cover. Just a little fun to show off and let you dream about what it would be like to be on the cover of a magazine!

Creative Sessions are filling up for the summer but you can still take advantage of my June special. Book your ON-LOCATION Creative Session in June for $100 (a $50 savings!). Don't miss out on what everyone's talking about for this summer's senior "look!" Call Peggy @ 414.550.5340 today!

She's So Thin!

Earth Day - walking on the beach in the early morning light with my camera. Not much happening, not seeing anything that catches my eye so it's time to start making things happen! (Sometimes this can be dangerous so don't try this at home.)

I saw my shadow and wondered "what if." What if I prefocused and shot from the hip? Could I catch my shadow? I had heard for years that I was "so thin!" but my being thin always jived with the fact that my father was 6'5" and a "long tall drink of water," as someone used to say.

But here it was, PROOF to the highest degree that they were right! This tall, lanky creature making it's way along the beach surely looked as if the slightest breeze would bowl her over. Maybe Olive Oil had a twin?

Chicago with a View

Last fall I spent a late afternoon at Navy Pier in Chicago. The weather was perfect, warm with hazy clouds, as we braved our way to the Ferris Wheel. Not being of fan of ferris wheels, my strategy is always to "look out" and what a better way to do that than have a camera in front of your face!

What a view of the Chicago skyline! People were having fun below on the rotating swings and out in the parks. With the sun beaming through the clouds, it was enough to pull it all together in this one image. A little anxiety crept in when the ferris wheel suddenly stopped! Keep breathing . . . There was only one thing to do, keep photographing and confront those fears! We started moving again and soon found our way back to terra firma with a number of memorable images.

I've since graduated to flying in a very small helicopter with no doors. Now that was FUN! Go figure.

Unseen Art

This week, the Newseum opened in Washington, DC with great fanfare. While this museum is dedicated to the journalism profession, it reminded me of the Black Art History Museum that I visited in Washington a few years ago.

Being a fan of art, I was immediately stuck by the design, colors, angles, and architectural "pieces" that adorned the lobby areas. This image was not hard to see, as the sun was coming through the stained glass windows, showing off the wrought iron structure. Now setting this image up on the tripod was a whole other conundrum!

It took me a truckload of time to get the image aligned just right. I'm not one to "fix it later in Photoshop." But while I was making my adjustments, I was able to stop and take in all the details in this image and how they complimented each other. Color, lines, angles and of course, light! I can never pass up a scene that has one or more of these elements screaming at me!

The lobby was the perfect entranceway into the museums fine collections. However, to see it, you had to look up. I wondered how many people missed this view as they walked down the stairs to the collections. So here it is for you to view.

Goin' to the Dogs

The month of April has been a four paw month - lots of dogs in front of my camera! It all started with a belated, canine Easter Egg Hunt at the Central Bark in Oak Creek. Sue, the owner/manager had called me to fill in for another photographer who couldn't make it, and let me tell you, there was lots of canine companionship that day!. After the egg hunt there were a variety of activities set up, all to raise money for the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Canine Unit.

All the dogs that were photographed had well behaved owners (remember, they went to Obedience School too!) and I was lucky to photograph a variety of breeds. One breed that I haven't seen much of recently on my daily dog walks is the Collie. When I was a youngster, my uncle's Collie would try to race the car when we left his house. My dad "clocked" her on the speedometer and she once got up to 32 mph! She was fast! And what kid didn't fall in love with Lassie? I LOVED going to my uncle's house!

So when Foster showed up for his photo session, I went back in time to my uncle's dog. Just look at that face with his long nose and eyes that melt your heart. I couldn't help but wonder just how FAST he was??

So Soft, So Tired

Today was a special day in the studio. A Weimaraner puppy named Roo came to be photographed, and of course, hugged and loved! She is a wink short of 9 weeks and came with all the usual puppy accoutrements like sharp, pin-like teeth, puppy breath, and soft, stretchy skin.

After lots of playing, eating of treats and a few slurps of water, Miss Roo finally tired. Curled up with her owner, she could barely keep her beautiful blue eyes open. It was then that one of those baby blues came shining through for that magical moment.

It was a good day today and I had fun. It was a reminder to "live well ~ play hard ~ love often!"

Simplicity Counts

Some of my favorite images are those that are simple. Where the eye is told where to go in the image and immediately a story is told. Remember the eyes of the woman from Afghanistan, photographed by Steve McCurry? You get the idea.

What I loved about this Creative Session with Grace is that her name seems to be just right with this image. "Just hold your hands behind your back," I said. Without a word, she slipped one hand over the other. Then the light played off her First Holy Communion dress. Grace-ful!

All Swaddled Up

I'm so lucky to LOVE photographing infants! There's not a session that isn't filled with laughs and when you laugh, the infant laughs. What a great way to spend the day!

My nephew's baby is pictured here and I have to share it with all of you. It was nap time and mom got him all swaddled up and looking like a fine cigar. So there he was, this little blob of protoplasm, just lying in this large sea of space known as his crib.

I saw the image and moved to be where I wanted to be and his eyes followed me. I couldn't believe it! I felt like I was being watched by a guard dog. It was if he was saying, "don't you get to close to my crib." The shadows of the crib bars gives it a little something extra.

Click! I had the image. An infant cigar!

My Family of Feet

Two year old Addie arrived with her three "siblings" to the Creative Session. All were excited to have their portraits made! I was excited to photograph them as I had a couple of ideas I wanted to try out. Addie was well behaved for a 2 year old and we kept her busy with treats and sniffing around the studio yard.

After a while, I decided to test the "feet" shot with the kids that I had in mind. Then it hit me - "bring in Addie!!" Oh my God - I could hardly contain myself because I could visualize how it would look with her in the image. She gave me a nice sit-stay to tell the story of her family of feet. You should have heard the kids laughing! Wait until the see the final result!!

So I'm asking for input on titles for this image - something along the "smell/scent" line. Pitch your ideas my way and we all can enjoy them!

"Pay Attention to the Small Pictures"

A few days ago I had the fun role of photographing a young girl for her First Holy Communion. "It's a lot different than your school pictures, isn't it," I said. She nodded "yes" and off we went to have fun!

A dress and veil always give you some nice details to bring out and then suddenly I heard the voice, "Photograph her shoes!" I followed that intuitive voice and this is what what resulted.

The funny thing is that the next day I started reading Joe McNally's new book, "The Moment It Clicks." He's a gifted photographer and his work has enlightened the pages of National Geographic and many others magazines. (www.joemcnally.com) I came across one little chapter where he talked about rounding out a pictorial story with "something small, intimate, telling." It didn't need to be "the best, nor the prettiest picture of the take, just the most important."

I thought back to this image and smiled. I had done it!