Palette of Poppies

This past weekend I attended a graduation party of one of the high school seniors I photographed and while I was on the way, I stopped at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. I'm embarrassed to say that I had never been there before (PLEASE don't spread that around!).

Well, I now have some dates plugged into next year's schedule to get down there for the 7:00 a.m. opening because it's a place that's NOT TO BE MISSED. (There, I yelled at myself for not going there sooner!)

While it was a cool, windy day, the gardens were alive with all kinds of color, but the poppies took the show. They were in full bloom and everyone was standing around enjoying this palette of color. Cameras were clicking with parents photographing their kids and admirers trying to capture the beauty of the color, so I had to add my two cents.

Since is was 1:00 p.m. and bright daylight, I decided to make a multiple exposure to blend all that color together. Some experimentation with a few exposures and I started to feel the emotion behind the process. Then I got the high sign from my fellow party goers that it was time to hit the road.

It felt great to try something I don't usually do, just for the heck of it. A little "what if" is always good for any photo shoot because it teaches me to take chances, experiment, fail and then eventually succeed.

Walking the Dogs

First, a huge Thank You to all the military folks that think of others before themselves! I missed saying that yesterday, but it includes one nephew that is just starting his tour in Afghanistan and another nephew who served two tours in Iraq.


Saturday found me traveling out to a home with 3 dogs and a one year old. Lisa, besides her husband Chris and son, Tucker, has 2 Pit Bulls and 1 Rottweiler - all rescue dogs - living with her. It was a hospitable bunch, or should I say, pack, of dogs that greeted me and gave me some fun images. They all have their own personalities and jobs in the family.

Weather was warm and humid but they got them all ready for a walk. Now walking 3 dogs can be tricky - that's why I stopped at 2. But Lisa & Chris got them all hooked up and Tucker was "tucked" into his stroller and off we went. Spanky, the alpha dog, was sporting his pulling harness and he towed Bulldozer, who suffers from some arthritis. Bulldozer absolutely LOVES to sit in his red wagon and be pulled, and Spanky loves to provide the muscle. Bulldozer kind of looked like Cleopatra and her servants! Bear, he just strutted his stuff with the rest of them. Pretty cool - you only needed to hold 2 leashes instead of 3!

After we got back, Chris pulls out his skateboard and Spanky gets a little more exercise giving Chris a ride. Go Spanky, Go!

For the Love of a Dog!

It's official now! The Dogs & Their Women project has begun. I meet with Sarah today and her three dogs, Harry Monster, Ralphie and Mac Daddy. Three different personalities, ages and breeds. We talked over what we're going to do when we get together for the "shoot" and I got to see them all "in action." One of the things Sarah likes to do with the dogs is dress them up. I've always thought that to be a little "undog-like" but then, I have breeds that were meant to hunt.

When I saw Sarah's dogs go crazy when she brought out the outfits, I had to suppress my laughter so I could photograph them all getting excited to play "dress up!" My point of view has changed now!

Real life images is what I'm after with this project. No suggestive posing; just Sarah and the dogs doing their thing. At one point, I caught this action of a tender moment. Harry Monster LOVES to ride in his pouch. See what I'm missing with dogs that like birds and rabbits? It lends a new definition for when I say to my dogs, "Wanna go for a ride?"

This project is going to be amazingly FUN to do!

Jorge

I haven't seen my "across the street" neighbor in quite some time. We both work out of the home so we're usually coming and going. When I saw her this morning, I ran out to have a chat. In her backyard was her 21 month old son, George, who's called Jorge by his nanny. There he was, perched inside the cab of a metal, push-peddle, fire truck. With the sun hitting him just right, I said to Crystal, his mom, I'll be right back with my camera!

Come on - is he not a cute, little guy?? I loved the back light sun in his hair - resembles a halo, but I'm not sure mom would agree with that. The pink lips, blue eyes and that precious, young skin make him a complete package! I first photographed him for his baby announcement, all wrapped in a big, apple green ribbon. Now he's trying to figure out who I am!

We're in the Finals. . .

Just a few minutes ago, the phone rang and my photography friend, Janet (www.janetfulcherphotography.com) was on the other end. She and her production assistant were on speaker phone. That usually means that they have a question for me and we all put our heads together to answer it.

Today was a different scenario. They told me that my "Oh My Gosh" image of Piper, my 8 year old neighbor, was picked as a WINNER for Round 2 of my lab's (www.millerslab.com) Baby and Child Portrait Contest. Now it's onto the Finals, which will be in a couple of months. I hadn't gone online to check so it came as a surprise!

So here she is, dressed up as Pippi Longstocking. She loves these books and it was a no-brainer to have her dress up and play the part. Nice job, Piper! You made a great Pippi, Piper!

Custom Photography

While in Alaska this past winter, I wandered over to a property that has not been occupied since the 1970's and photographed some old vehicles, gas cans, a bucking saw and an old refrigerator. Most of the above mentioned items have been infiltrated by rust. Now rust can be a fun thing to make images from because of it's texture, shape and color. Each rust spot communicates a different story. There's bluish rust, green/gold rust and the old common variety - rusty rust. As long as it doesn't show up on YOUR car, rust is fun!

Such it was with this image. The "custom" was found on the lower, right, front of an old Marquette refrigerator. I didn't see it at first, and then, while waiting for a long exposure on another shot, low to the ground, I saw it. Is it not custom, in and of itself, that the word is missing a "U"? Or "U" are the custom in customer?

I paused to think about my work and how it's all custom and here it was screaming at me in the colors of fire. It reminded me that I 'burn up' with a passion for what I do while others 'burn out.' It is why I never photograph any high school senior from the same school in the same location. They're too unique to not have their own place to be photographed! Same thing with families, children or canines. Each family, dog or child is distinctive in their own regard and deserves a special place that brings out something in them that can be translated or communicated in the photograph.

The custom books I create for my clients are also one of a kind heirlooms that can be picked up years from now and enjoyed. How about the Signature prints or the care to plan and execute a fun experience on location or in the studio? All of that went through my head just because I spied some rust. If I can get that excited about rust, imagine what we can create together!

Mad Hot Ballroom!

Since the hit movie, Mad Hot Ballroom, the Danceworks company of Milwaukee has been going into schools and teaching school kids how to do all kinds of dance. Tap, ballroom, swing, Latin, etc. Today was the day to show their stuff in front of Milwaukee! The Bradley Center, home to our pro, indoor, athletic teams, was the venue. No small little church stage for these kids - it was "big time!" Throw in live filming, seeing your image up on the jumbotron and an MC with a British accent, and you couldn't get much more fun, excitement and pumped up nerves all in one place! What a great lead up to Mother's Day - especially if you were a mom!

First the elimination rounds and then the finals for the best dance teams. This was serious stuff folks! The looks on their faces, as well as their coaches, was all about giving their best. As I photographed them with my 300mm 2.8 lens, I could see their concentration as well as the look of accomplishment when the judge put a medal around their neck. I'll go back next year and stay longer but it certainly was a day when everyone was a winner. Even those of us sitting in the audience!

The Season of Color

Yesterday I started carrying my camera while walking the dogs. It's a new exercise program I'm embarking on - visual exercise, that is! An easy thing for a photographer to do, you think, but there's a point in the walk where juggling 2 dog leads and doggy 'deposits' can get to be a balancing act. Throw a camera into the mix and you can see where patience would have to enter the equation. This new exercise is intended to simply 'stretch' my perceptions and not worry about the results.

While walking, my eyes have noticed all the colors that are springing up now! Besides the greener grass, there are azaleas, phlox, tulips, daffodils and even the nemesis of lawns, dandelions, are throwing color into my visual field. I've noticed a different kind of shovel in people's hands and the noise of the snow blower has been replaced with the sound of the 2-stroke lawn mower engine. There's another sound I've noticed over the last month - the voices of my young neighbors playing outside. That alone is a sound that makes me smile and remember all the fun I enjoyed outdoors as a child.

Enjoy this image of a Stoln Infera (Phlox). I learned this botanical name from Holly, a fellow workshop attendee in the Smokies. This phlox was about 4" high so definitely was in the "belly shot" category. It also was one of my first experiences with focusing on different parts of the plant and then combining them in software to make for a completely, in-focus image. Enjoy the color!

Two Springs

Today I made time to get dirty! Before your mind wanders, think earth dirt. It was time to clean up the debris of last summer's bloom of flowers and old, dried stalks from the Purple Aster, Sedum and Big Blue Stem grasses. While I was shoving last years dendritis into bags that I hauled to the street, I looked at the minty, green buds on the trees against a clear, blue sky. "Just like last week in the Smokies!," I thought. Only 10 days later.

So it is the season of "two springs" for me. One in the Smokies and now the Wisconsin version. "Any difference?" you ask. You bet - can you say "Lake Breeze?" As in the form of a cold air blowing off of the freezer called Lake Michigan! Don't feel bad for us close to the Lake, however. The sun was warm enough for shorts!

In the spirit of Spring, I share with you an image of day's first light as it hits that fresh green of tree buds, erupting to make chlorophyl. In the background, imagine robins, meadowlarks and other birds singing the boundaries of their respective territories and generally greeting another fine day. This image is best viewed on a rainy day!

Multiple Exposures

I just finished Tony Sweet and Susan Middleton's workshop in the Great Smoky Mts. workshop. Spring is definitely here with minty green as far as the eye can see and wildflowers popping up. We rose early, before dawn to get the best light and after time, mid-day, in the classroom, we set out again for the sunset. We were blessed with good weather and this morning was stupendous watching ground fog lift out of a valley with the mountains peeking out from below. More about that in another blog. . .

My goals here were to learns some new things and have fun. I'm happy to report that mission was accomplished! Due to making portraits most of the time and living in the city, I found my nature eye "rusty" and it needs some more exercise. However, there were successes, one of them being multi-exposures in camera. When I first saw multis that Tony showed me last year, I didn't really relate to them. This year it was something different and I think it was the difference between a boat harbor and a nature scene.

Here's an image of 10 exposures, blended in the camera, of the spring trees with some setting sun hitting the tops of the trees. Tony likes to say that you can make lots of these and not all of them turn out. However, when you get a good one, you know it and feel it. And so it is with this image. Suggestions for titles are welcomed!

A View of Spring

Today is Sunday, but yesterday I found myself in church; a few churches, actually. I'm now voluntarily sequestered in the Great Smoky Mts. National Park for a photographic workshop with Tony Sweet, a great photographer and human being that knows this park like the back of his . . . Nikon D3 (fooled you!)

I had some time to explore yesterday and my first stop was in the Primitive Baptist Church. Primitive was the right word as the pew benches were a simple construction of pine boards and nails and definitely had that worn look about them. Out one of the windows was a view of spring erupting over the old, church cemetery. The church was built is 1887 and it closed during the Civil War because a few Cades Cove residents sided with the Confederates when most of the locals at the time sided with the Union soldiers. Even God has to take a rest when there's war!

Galaxy Flyer

The bikes have hit the road and today's thermometer is going to read close to 80 in Milwaukee. Can you say "Bike Ride!" Whether you own a Harley or a rusty old Galaxy Flyer, today is the day to get out and explore that "galaxy" we've not seen since October - green grass and blue skies.

If you're like me, you might fondly recall the first freedom from your parents when you could ride off on your bicycle. There were boundaries I had to stay within, of course, but in my small town in upstate New York, that meant I had about 2-3 miles in any direction. Village boundaries were the limit and the expanse in between was my 'hood.'

After it had rained, we'd ride through mud puddles, as fast as we could, while holding up our legs so we wouldn't get wet. We'd ride with baseball gloves threaded over the handle bars and give each other rides on a long banana seats and handlebars. Once dad showed us how to pump up the tires and change a flat, we were off for what seemed like hours. I'm sure Mom loved it!

There was a gaggle of kids in my neighborhood that would ride 3 miles, one way, to the Park program held during the summer. We owned the roads in town and it felt like our own personal parade as we all road abreast, taking up the entire width of the road. We built bumps to fly over, stood up on the seats and handle bars while riding and even turned our bodies around, while sitting backwards on the handlebars, and peddled. No one ever got hurt beyond a little road rash, and if you haven't experience road rash, you haven't really rode a bike! It was the way we learned to be athletic, coordinated and in touch with our kinesthetic abilities of balance and shifting body positions. I was blessed to grow up at the time I did. One bike, so much freedom!

Go explore your "galaxy" today!

First Holy Communion

Spring is here! The weather is teasing us, the tulips and crocuses are popping up, and First Holy Communions are just around the corner. Every year I enjoy creating images of this special event and am reminded of the photographs my father made of my First Holy Communion.

It was a leggy, spindly child, all spiffed up in a white dress, shoes and gloves, standing next to the portly Monsignor Schneider with his signatory peaked hat, for the typical photo to celebrate the day. My father, with his Kodak rangefinder slung over his shoulder, always shot Kodak slide film, and today, those images still look good! And that was 44 years ago.

When I look back on my family's photos, I realize the impact and importance that the images I make today will have on family's for generations to come! Families will enjoy seeing this young boy, who will someday be someone's uncle or father and they will say things like, "He still has that same look," or they'll remark, "Little Matt looks so much like his father did at that age!"

This brings me back to a favorite quote I have near my desk: "Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." William James

Simply Elegant

Today found me sharing part of my day with 2 lovely daschunds, Lisle and Hilde, and their owner. They were well behaved and responded to some gentle coaxing and sweet talk. When I came home and downloaded the images, this image seemed to stick out. I simply had to take the time and work with it.

The fainting sofa just added to their elegance. It's a funny thing when you view this image because this breed was bred for their ability to go into tunnels and rout out rodents and other small varmits. Such an elegant breed doing the "dirty business" around the castle!

Rest up girls, enjoy the sun. When you're ready, there's some rodents to rustle up!

"Dogs" Update

It's been a busy week here! Everyone taking care of things before Easter. Good news! My photography project, Dogs and Their Women, is beginning to take off like a wildfire with a Santa Ana winds blowing behind it! Over the last two days I've had 7 emails of women who are either volunteering for the project or know of someone who might be interested. This is exciting!

I've heard from a "Yoga" dog, a police dog, mistreated rescue dogs, and pure bred dogs. Women are starting to answer the questions I've posed for them and soon I'll be scheduling sessions that are sure to be exciting and exhilarating. This weekend I'll be photographing at Central Bark - Oak Creek and passing out my flyers, so I anticipate more inquiries.

Now I need to include an older woman, a child or teenager and people that have a unique story to tell about their relationship with their dog. Spread the word - woof, woof!

Here's a shot of my Ellie, the elegant coonhound, taking a snooze in a sunbeam. She loves to lie in the sun and will move from room to room to find the sun. Smart dog!

Mail Day in McCarthy, AK

Imagine that you live 60 miles from the nearest paved road in a vast wilderness of 13.2 million acres. Your only power comes from solar panels or propane, usually in the form of a generator. On a good, summer day, it takes about 2.5 hours to drive that 60 miles and in the winter, it's not unusual to get to 50 below zero. If it's a Wednesday or a Friday, it's Mail Day!

In Alaska, planes are like cars. They are a dominate form of transportation to remote areas and are often the "lifeline" to a community. McCarthy and Kennecott are two small communities of about 40 year-round people that reside in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. They are served by Copper Valley Air Service on mail days.

A small shed is the post office, where volunteers unload the plane and sort the mail into everyone's slots. Folks stand around catching up with one another about weather, trapping success, good books read lately, etc. The mail shed's not heated so if you're dressed for snow machining, you're dressed for mail day! After the mails sorted, they grab their mail, and maybe a "neighbor's," and take off for home on their snow machine or cross-country skis. But if you're a winter visitor, like me, it's plan to have someone meet you that has a sled on the back of their snow machine so they can haul your gear to your cabin!

I flew both ways on this plane and loved seeing scenery I had come to appreciate only in Spring, Summer and Fall. When you experience such a vast place like Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, and take in such extreme beauty, words like awe, wonderment and humble are so tiny to try to describe snow covered mountains, river & glaciers that repeat in an unending fashion.

It was in 1999 that I met retired National Geographic Photographer, George Mobley, at his part-time residence in WSENP&P. After chit-chatting for a while, I asked him, "George, you've been all over the world on assignments and seen some of the most beautiful places in the world. What made you decide to live part of the year here in Wrangell-St. Elias?" His eyes spoke to me before his words. "Because it IS the most beautiful place in the world." No further questions, your honor.

I'm grateful for my experiences and the friendships I've made in the our nation's LARGEST and least visited national park in our system. For more information about this park, visit: www.nps.gov/wrst/

Ready for Snow

Tonight just might be the last night we see any measurable snow before Spring sets in. I've already spotted Robins in mid-March and now see Teardrops, Tulips and some little Crocuses sprouting up out of the warming soil. Tonight's forecast is merely a distraction from the "big picture," and just a little communication that we're really not in charge.

I was working on some images today, as well as ripping down an old, back porch (did you only think I was good with a camera? It's amazing what you can accomplish with a crowbar!).

This image probably best describes what's playing out in nature these days. Sam's ready for winter, with his "all boy," winter hat on, and yet one could argue that he's ready to hit the beach with his bare shoulder showing. That sums up the attitude of about 99% of anyone that lives above the 40th parallel! So when I walk the dogs in the morning, I may need that hat, gloves and down coat, but soon, very soon, they'll get washed, put away and replaced with shorts and a T-shirt. (If you're a dog, you have it easy when it comes to choosing a wardrobe!)

Just bat your baby blues, like Sam, and repeat, "Spring's right around the corner. Spring's right around . . . "

Double Vision

If you're like me, you probably have more than one pair of glasses lying around the house, in the car, at work, in your purse, etc. I have glasses for reading the paper, for reading in bed, for working on the computer, the ones I swear for when I can't find them, . . . you get the idea. I've also been know to take my computer glasses with me on a trip, but leave the reading glasses at home. Hence, my exotic collection of frames and strengths I've collected from places around the globe.

While recently at the cabin, in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, I'd been working on my images one, sunny, morning when the outside air temp was minus something. When it hit zero, it was time to go out and chase the light! I scurried around getting my gear together and when I finished getting all buttoned up for the cold, I went over to the table to get something I needed, and stopped suddenly in my tracks. WOW! The light was right there in my cabin! No need to go outside!

You got it - I stripped off my down jacket and made a few hand held images of my reading glasses lying in repose in the sun. It wasn't enough for me that the light made the eye glass shadow larger. No. It was the deep shadow in the upper, left corner and the slight one in the lower right, that polished this image off for me. It gave me the feeling that I was in Henry David Thoreau's cabin and he had just put his pen and glasses down after finishing some writing; - "If one advances in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet success in uncommon hours." It's just one of his quotes that has stayed with me since high school and continues to guides me.

What a way to start one's photographic day!

She's Rounding Third Base. . .

Dateline Minneapolis:

Yes, I'm almost home! When our nearly full 747 lifted off from Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage at 8:00 p.m. Alaska time, there was cheering and applause for Northwest Airlines. They chartered this hulk of a plane with a flight attendant crew that flew up to AK and back to MN in the same day. Way to go guys and dolls! We arrived @ 4:00 a.m. and I now sit waiting for the 7:00 a.m. flight.

Good things do come to those of us that are patient and this flight was a prime example of "going with the flow" the last few days. My flight was due to leave at 7:30 so I arrived at the airport at 5:30 and stood in line while not 1, but 2 ticketing agents closed down their stations just as I was the next person in line. I get all the luck, right? Fear not, readers! When I walked on the plane @ 7:15 and started to head to row 28G, the flight attendant said to me, "Find an open seat. It's OPEN SEATING."

As I had looked at the seating arrangements of this aircraft online while spending my days in Anchorage, I headed right to Business Class. Snow boots, fleece and all! Sure enough, there was one seat left and it was right behind my Anchorage friend that was heading to Washington for a conference. We had lunch 2 days previously and I had told her about the 747 that they were bringing in for us. As her flight had also been cancelled, she pulled out her iPhone and immediately got booked on my flight. Then we ordered lunch. Priorities DO prevail, you know!

So "patient Peggy" got a full meal on the plane (I ate it ALL!,) a seat that practically became a Sleep Number bed, and a personal Video monitor to watch movies. Yeah, I tried to sleep on that comfortable seat but I just never got there. I think it was the chocolate I ate! The first chocolate I'd had in 3 days! Kurt, my seat mate, told me that he'd been hanging out in Anchorage for 4 days. A fellow Milwaukeean had gone to Alaska for her college Spring Break and got stuck there. And there's a whole gaggle of U.S. downhill and nordic skiers who have just completed their U.S. Championships hanging out in Anchorage.

Just for laughs, I just pulled up the Alaska Volcano Observatory website and Mt. Redoubt has been spewing small amounts of ash up to 25,000 ft through the night and it's slowly drifting towards Anchorage. You guessed it, it started just before we took off!

I LOVE adventures! Here's the OTHER plane I flew into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.