This Driftless Life

I've been leaving for work earlier these days. I take the "back way." My local region is filled with little meandering valleys. There are a few "loops" I can make on my way to the Cave. I've really come to love the terrain. There are hidden little side valleys all over the place. The morning fog rises out of them to mingle with the clouds. It's cool, lush and wet in the dim morning light. As I drive slowly along I can hear all the birds and see wildlife. And occasionally I'll stop to take a photo.

#oak #bluemoundsstatepark #bluemounds #wildwisconsin #naturalwisconsin #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutthere #naturelover #prairie #prairieland #oaksavanna #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #naturalwisconsin #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #redditig

Formations in the Dark

What an incredible morning I've been having. Author Matt Geiger, his daughter and I went on an artistic adventure into Cave of the Mounds. He needed a photo to go along with an article that will soon be published in Northerly Quarterly. The title of which is 'The Cave,' and I highly recommend reading it when it comes out soon. No spoilers from me. I just happened to be off today, and also work in a cave so naturally it all came together. Getting to be artistic in a place that has effected me in such significant ways was a true delight. I cannot even begin to express how much I enjoyed setting up and taking this photograph today. Some people go golfing on their days off, me, I want to spend time creating. Something. Then I go back to work where I find I am drawing on that which shapes me as an artist. As I told Matt today, when I get to do what I do, and then sink back into this amazing place that is Cave of the Mounds it is as if fresh waters flush out the sediment in the caverns of my soul. And in those dark places crystals are now growing formations. I am truly a blessed man.

#caveofthemounds #stalactites #bluemounds #wildwisconsin #naturalwisconsin #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutthere #naturelover #cave #cavern #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #naturalwisconsin #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #formations #formation #stalagmites #adventure

Molt

How do I write about the intangibles of my own self when the very nature of the trees mesmerizes me? How is it that parts of my very soul are becoming "textured?" Life surrounds me and even the "lifeless" stone changes, not only eroding away but also growing. I stand on the east facing lookout tower. My eyes closed. My mind settled. My feet connecting me to the tower as it ever so slightly moves in the north wind. The entire top of the Mound is covered in a low lying cloud. There is no view of the sun but the morning light causes the blanket of mist to glow. As I stand there just breathing I can feel the water build on my cheeks. When the wind slides past my ears it's as a whispered song I've known from so long ago I can't recall the words, or name. Suddenly the wind stops and only the birds and the water dripping from leaves is all I hear...



#oak #bluemoundsstatepark #bluemounds #wildwisconsin #naturalwisconsin #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutthere #naturelover #prairie #prairieland #oaksavanna #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #naturalwisconsin #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #redditig

So I Was late 5 Minutes? Worth It.

Gamera! Gamera!
Gamera is really neat!
Gamera is filled with meat!
We've been eating Gamera!
Shell!
Teeth!
Eyes!
Flames!
Claws!
Breath!
Scales!
Fun!!
Dr. Forrester is kind of a jerk,
And Frank is really dumb, too
We have to take part in these lame experiments
But do we complain?
No!
No!
Yes!
Huh?
So we hi-keeba all over the place
And talk of a thousand wonderful days
Gamera is really sweet!
He is filled with turtle meat!
Now we have commercial sign!


#mysterysciencetheater3000 #gamera

Love on the Square

Yesterday I had an amazing Sunday afternoon photographing these two on their wedding day. It was a 1920's themed celebration of love on Capital Square here in Madison! At the end of the night the Bride told me, "Just so you know, we feel that we've made a friend in you and you're not just a contract to us." I cannot tell you how much that meant to me! They're affection for each other was so apparent that it made it super easy to take fun portraits of them after the nuptials.















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The Wisconsin Dells Singers

Elliott Funmaker, Sr. and his family conducted a cultural demonstration of Ho-Chunk Nation traditions at the Driftless Historium in Mount Horeb. They shared their rich heritage with many details about the regalia that they wear, as well as the significant meaning of the songs and dances. They also explained the symbolism of objects and actions, such the drum itself and the beat they played on it. It was an informative peek into the culture of the native people of this Driftless Area. One that will help ensure their traditional heritage is not soon forgotten.



#wisconsindellssingers #funmaker #Ho-Chunk #HoChunkNation #HoChunk_Nation #Historium #Driftless_Historium #DriftlessHistorium #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #naturalwisconsin #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #redditig #culture #heritage #traditional #traditions

The Driftless

Early this morning I followed a whim and grabbed my longest zoom lens and headed out as soon as the kid was off to school. I ended up at Brigham Park, just past where I now work at Cave of the Mounds. There's a view there that simply tickles me. You can ​see around sixteen miles from the top of the smallest of the two "Blue Mounds." That's the Wisconsin River Valley you see off in the distance. Not long after shooting this a man came riding up to me on his bicycle, I could tell he was a distance rider and hailed him. He was up from Chicago, and was scouting out the area. Having seen that view earlier I helped him map out a bike quest from the Cave. He passed by this view, which is a nice meandering ride down the Mound into a charming little valley. I told him how to also find a scenic restored Prairie, and the best trout stream in the area. His route then brought him back full circle through Stewart Lake, past my house and to the local brew pub. From there he could take the Military Ridge trail to his camp in the nearby state park. It made my day knowing I'd sent him off to see things I knew he'd really enjoy. By the end of the day I received an email thanking me and letting me know he's bringing his scouting troop up over the summer to explore, come to the Cave and asked me to guide their tour. God, I love my job.

#brighampark #brigham #brighamcountypark #danecountyparks #travelwi #explorewi #wisconsin #wisconsintrails #wisconsinparks #wisconsinwildlife #wildwisconsin #naturalwisconsin #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #explorewisconsin #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutthere #naturelover #redditig #landscape_lovers #landscape_lover #landscape #landscapeart