A Hawk's View

I took the "long way" to work this morning. There's so much to enjoy visually all around Mount Horeb. I noticed the way the rocks were reflecting on Stewart Lake and wanted to get a shot with my gear. The dim, cool and wet spring morning gave me a slight challenge in sorting out my camera's settings. As I continued to seek for a vantage through the trees I'd take test shots, adjusting as I went. After a few minutes I couldn't find just the right viewpoint. And then a Red-tailed Hawk landed just uphill from me. Taking my cue I slowly moved to just below it, knowing it was in the canopy above me, though I couldn't see it. And there it was, the viewpoint I sought. As I began to snap a few frames the hawk let out a series cries. It set the tone for my entire day.

#reflection #wildwisconsin #naturalwisconsin #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutthere #naturelover #prairie #prairieland #oak #oaksavanna #findyourpark #travelwi #wisconsin #wisconsintrails #wisconsinparks #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #pinerelictforest

Stephen's Falls Session

I usually don't include taking family portraits as part of my business. When this family contacted me out of the blue though I decided, "Why not?" They'd planned a trip to a nearby town and where coming in from all directions. We'd chosen Stephen's Falls as our initial location and a spot on the trail down stream as the secondary. This session also gave me a chance to give my transportation system a shake down. I took about 80lbs (37kg) of gear. For the paved section I was able to use my converted Bob stroller. Once we hit the steep, stony trail I had to wear my backpack, carry my flash bag and two 11' C-stands. It wasn't that bad, even coming out and having to climb up a steep rocky set of primitive steps wasn't an issue. So not only did I get to work with an interesting and lovely family, but I also know I can now set up a studio shoot anywhere.

#midwestisbest #midwestliving #wi #travelwi #discoverwisconsin #wisconsin #wisco #onwisconsin #wisconsinphotographer #travelwisconsin #driftlessarea #governordadgestatepark #governordodge #dnr #wi_dnr #widnr #naturalwisconsin #wildernessculture #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutstayout #getoutthere #naturelover #lifeoutdoors #optoutside #loveoutdoors #outdoors #nature_perfection

The Wicked Witch of the West!

Freja was so excited to be playing the Witch in her school's 4th grade play. Called "The Wizard of Us" it was basically the classic story of Dorothy's adventures. In this telling of the tale instead of melting the witch with water they defeated her by learning that being proud of who you are, having compassion for others and trying to be mindful of the present moment. What the Wicked Witch learned I'm not so sure...

#wizardofoz #wizardofus #moho #mounthorebintermediatecenter #mounthorebschools #witch #wickedwitch #wickedwitchofthewest #wisconsin #wisconsinlife #schoolplay

The Patience of Eagles

I marvel at these predators. I shot this during a brief respite from the harsh arctic dry-freeze we'd been enduring in January of 2018. The eagles become confined to crowding around a nearby damn on the Wisconsin River. The constantly flowing water ensure they can find an easy meal there. After weeks of fish this one had other plans for dinner. The sudden "warming" (and I use that term very loosely) gave it an opportunity to go patiently hunt in the Driftless. Since it's too cold to soar on thermals it simply waits for something tasty to meander into it's sight. That happened to be me, only I'm too big to eat.

Bald Eagle, juvenile

#eagle #baldeagle #birdofprey #conservation #wildlifefriend #wildglobe #wildgeography #featured_wildlife #marvelouz_animals #animalelite #ig_shotz_animal #nature_perfection #nature_brilliance #wildlifeplanet #live_love_wildlife #bd_pro #splendid_animals #fog #foggy #lax_parksandrec #lacrossewisconsin #lacrossewi #wisconsin #wisco #discoverwisconsin #mississippiriver #travelwisconsin #explorewisconsin #driftlessarea #midwestmoment

Playing with Light

Another new beginning for me. A unique creative opportunity to simply relax, play with camera gear, do fitness stuff and teach has begun. Not only do I get to learn more about yoga, pilates and mobility training from Jessica Baak, but I also get to play with my lighting techniques. Not only that but I am also teaching her how to create promotional imagery for herself. Explaining how I light a scene was a lot of fun for me. Basically it's the mythical "Win-Win" situation. I get to learn more fitness stuff, get a model to practice lighting techniques with and get to teach techniques for something I love to do. She gets to learn a useful promotional skill and gets some fun photos. By happenstance one of the places she trains folks at is a short walk from where I work! So expect some fun imagery to be posted soon.



#bluemoundsdharmacenter #pilates #pilatesbody #reformer #fitnessjourney #fitness #martialartslife #limber #training #fitnessaddict #dharma #namaste #feeltheyogahigh #yogafit #igyogafam #meditation #yogaaddict #yogaeverywhere #yogaeveryday #yogainspiration #yogagram #practice #fitnessgirl #yogagirl #yogajourney

A Natural Darkness

The Cave's natural environment is total darkness. A darkness so devoid of natural light you can only find it deep underground and leagues under the sea. It feels like a thick, black woolen cloak on a foggy night's stroll. The weight of it presses down on your back gently. It's warmth off setting the drooping gravity of it as it tries to slowly envelope you. I find I am being drawn into it, carrying only my tiny shielded flash light as I hum my way along the passages alone.

#speleothems #limestonecave #galenadolomite #cave #activecave #Stalagmite #Stalactite #calcite #caveformations #caveofthemounds #jewelbox #nationalnaturallandmark #usdepartmentoftheinterior #nationalparkservice #nps #usdi #nnl #usinterior #NationalPark #naturelover #travelwi #wisconsin #wisconsintrails #wisconsinparks #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin

A Learning Experience

After shadowing tours and reading material for a couple of weeks today I began to feel ready to conduct a tour on my own. How I want to present this amazingly still growing "active cave" has been brewing in my head ever since they told me I'd be giving tours. I know the only real issue I may have is when it comes to timing. The allure of covering all the fascinating details is very strong. In caverns that began to form nearly a million years ago you can find evidence of an ancient ocean that predates any (as of yet known) land-based ecosystems. That was 400 million years ago. You can see fossils of shelled Cephalopods and other life that flourished around ancient coral reefs. And then there's all the chemistry, geology, history of discovery, cave culture nomenclature, learning the nature of the elements and how they combine, the Collembola, luminescence and the list goes on and on... My brain is happy.





#speleothems #limestonecave #galenadolomite #cave #activecave #Stalagmite #Stalactite #calcite #caveformations #caveofthemounds #jewelbox #nationalnaturallandmark #usdepartmentoftheinterior #nationalparkservice #nps #usdi #nnl #usinterior #NationalPark #naturelover #travelwi #wisconsin #wisconsintrails #wisconsinparks #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin