Category Archives: Photography

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Weekly Photo Challenge: SWEEEEEET!

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You don’t like sugar because it’s sweet. Sugar is sweet because you like it!
It’s all about brain chemistry and evolution…and out-dated adaptations for survival.
Today is Valentine’s Day and the beginning of Lent. There’s a dividing line for you! Do you indulge in pleasure or do you fast?
We certainly are complex organisms, with all of this to consider: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
So, here are some visual temptations to ponder while you consider your choices. 

Sweet

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Wisconsin Tour Guide

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“Share with us an image, or two, or three, (or more!) of where you live.” 

If you look up over this post title, you will see two links to separate pages labelled “Wisconsin Historical” and “Wisconsin Outdoors”. You will find quite a few more than three photos there!

I moved to Wisconsin 7 years ago from Illinois, and have absolutely fallen in love with my new home state. I used to summer at Girl Scout camp as a child in northern Wisconsin, but I’ve come to feel like I’ve always belonged outside, here, even after living for 15 years in California. When I first moved north, I worked for 3 summers at Old World Wisconsin, a 575-acre living history museum that recreates 19th century farm and town settlement. Last year, I moved onto a property that is owned by the land trust that employs me. I have thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by 56 acres of Wisconsin woodland, wetland, and restored prairie. 

Wisconsin is a ridiculously photogenic state. It can take your breath away, fill you with pride, and surprise you at every outing. When we’re out hiking, my partner Steve very often just flings wide his arms and remarks (to nobody in particular), “Ladies and gentlemen — Wisconsin!”

Yes, it deserves your attention and applause. Here’s why: 

Mineral Point
Photo credit: Carol Toepke
Old World Wisconsin

Tour Guide

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Beloved

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A kiss, a hug, interlocking arms, smiling side-by-side, a loving glance, a delicate touch – these are tokens from a beloved. 

And to witness, record, and return these tokens, oh best beloveds, is my love gift to you.

— dedicated to my family. 

Beloved

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Variations on a Theme

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In my mind, there can only be one theme for today. Today is my daughter Susan’s birthday. I’ve been photographing her for 33 years now. She is one of my very favorite subjects, not simply because she has a beautiful smile and is ridiculously photogenic, but also because she is an extraordinarily caring person. You can see how her warmth touches the other subjects in these photos. 

Engrossed in escape

Happy Birthday, my darling daughter! May your endlessly creative variations continue for many more years. 

Variations on a Theme

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Silence

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Silence.
I am at the end of a 12.5 hour work day. The very word ‘silence’ speaks healing and restoration to my soul. I long for silence.
I imagine a muffling snow falling on a wilderness landscape, and I project that onto this view from my front door…

I think of contemplatives in monasteries, reading and meditating… I remember the peaceful silence of still waters…I hope I’ll retire tonight and sleep in dreamless silence. What could be more restful? Good night! 

Silence

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth

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Growth can be experienced in many dimensions. All around are things that are growing deeper, broader, wider, higher, inward and outward. In this culture, though, a dominant expectation says that growth is “up and to the right” – as in a chart of profit over time. This single story spreads a kind of growth retardant in other areas. My focus has never been on increasing my wealth. I’ve had paying jobs at a nursing home, a summer camp, a school district, a children’s theater company, a few museums, and a land trust. Most of them are non-profit organizations that measure their success in benefits that are not easily quantified.

Surely, though, multi-dimensional growth can be captured in snapshots over time. There is always a beginning point……any number of midpoints……and some final outcomes. Whatever you are nurturing this year, be it a new skill……a deeper relationship……a broader viewpoint……or an inner journey,I wish you joy in the process and peace and contentment in the end. May 2018 be a great year of growth for you! Cheers!

Growth

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Weekly Photo Challenge: 2017 Favorites

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My 2017 photo Favorites have to include those I took of my favorite son, who got married and asked me to do his wedding photo shoot. 

My other 2017 photo Favorites would be those I took while traveling and camping in 8 National Parks/Monuments with my favorite camping companion, Steve. 

It’s been a very special photo year for me! To all you Photo-philes in the Northern Hemisphere, happy Winter Solstice – may you rejoice in the return of LIGHT!

2017 Favorites

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Ascend

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The example set for this challenge is exceptional. Please take a look at Krista’s post on WordPress. 


I am thrilled when someone sets the bar high. “We can do better,” Steve often says, as a sort of mantra to a deeper call to “do no harm”. Here he is in Canyonlands National Park, just outside of Bears Ears National Monument. Can we ascend to higher thinking about how we treat wild places?   

The newest addition to the National Park system is Pinnacles National Park. What is our goal for protecting the natural beauty and balance of this place we call America? Have we reached that summit? Are we striving to ascend towards it?

“We can do better.” It doesn’t matter where you start. Ascend, and see how your perspective changes. 

Ascend

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Cheeky

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My son got a marriage license. Then he asked me to do a wedding photo shoot. I am no professional photographer, but I would say that my professional opinion as a mom is that he is a bit…..cheeky. 

 

Of course, I was delighted to grant his request!

Cheeky