Spring in Wisconsin!

 Springtime in Wisconsin!

Last Year's Spring...

Today there is about 4 inches of snow on the ground. It is sad, but I am trying not to think about it. I did manage to get some spring photos though...not! These are from last year around this time. I do enjoy Wisconsin's spring, but right now all I want is for it to be warm. I don't mind if we skip quickly into summer.

 April 22, 2010

April 22, 2010

April 19, 2010

April 22, 2010

 April 15, 2010

April 13, 2010

April 19, 2010. This is actually Iowa, but I am pretty sure it snowed there this past weekend too.

Jessica + Will's Early April Wedding :: Marshfield, Wisconsin Wedding Photography

Last Friday evening I had the opportunity to photograph Jessica and Will's early April wedding. They got married at The Chestnut Center for the Arts in Marshfield, Wisconsin, which was a lovely location. There was tons of cool old furniture and mirrors around, and the afternoon light coming through the windows was beautiful. It was really fun to to be there as the girls got ready and did last-minute wedding preparation. But, my favorite part of the wedding was Jessica and Will's vows that they wrote for each other. It was pretty much one of the sweetest ceremony I have ever been to :) Congratulations Jessica and Will!!! 

"Get out of the office and into the springtime!"

"Get out of the office and into the springtime!"

I  was listening to Belle and Sebastian yesterday while blogging for work and that song came on.  So I thought I would use it for one of my blog titles since I was sitting in the office and wanted to be outside. As it is, I am heading on vacation today after I leave the office and am going to enjoy the springtime.  I am, of course, super excited to go on an adventure, but a little sad that I am missing the rest of the Wisconsin springtime. By the time I get back most of the trillium will be out of the woods and the blossoms will be off the trees. 

Trillium at Wildwood Park in Marshfield

Fishing for trouts in Clark County. Fishing season opened up this past weekend, but we haven't had a chance to get out there yet.

A canoe ride in the afternoon sun on Rock Dam Lake

New marsh grass on Rock Dam Lake. The grass looks so soft, especially at the top where it kind of wisps off the frame.

A double exposure of blossoms. I love the depth that this photo has... sometimes double exposures have depth and sometimes they just look like a jumble.

I am leaving my computer at home and just taking my cameras on vacation, so I won't be blogging for a bit. But when I come back, hopefully I will have a lot of photos to share of our adventure driving out to and exploring the Pacific Northwest. If anyone knows of some sweet single track mountain biking trails, let me know!

Spring through Glass and Plastic

I went to Neillsville High School on Tuesday to talk with a photo class about being a photojournalist. It was pretty fun and I found a whole host of new websites while researching. On my way back I stopped along the street and the Black River to take some spring photos. The light was lush and I am not usually up and out with a camera that early to capture it. I took my Canon 40D and my Holga (now loaded with 120mm film). I never know which one to use, so I used them both!

I drove down by the Black River and took some photos on some island/backwaters where people fish a lot. It is nice that it wasn't buggy yet.

Glass

Plastic

Blossoms on the main street of Neillsville. I am not sure what street, but as you drive in the whole road is lined with flowering trees - it looks so pretty!

Glass

Plastic

Plastic

New leaves near the Black River

Glass

Plastic

This is a different day along a road near Withee. It was a gravel road and I kept the "Bulb" function open and slowly moved. I loved how the light just caught the white birch trees.

More and more blossoms on the main street of Neillsville. I hope folks weren't thinking I was 

weird.... probably :)

Glass

Plastic

Conclusion: Spring is pretty and fun to shoot no matter what camera or lens I use. I don't think you can take a bad picture when there are flowers and the light is out. I do think I have been shooting a bit too many spring shots, I should break out of the "pretty flower rut".... Or, I will wait until next week when the blossoms turn brown and keep shooting pretty pictures till then.

Here are some flickr groups with more spring shots:

The Colours of: Spring

Spring and Summer Around the World

Four Seasons

Oh! Here is an interesting NYT article that is unrelated to photography: All the Obama 20-Somethings

Holga Loaded with 35mm FIlm: Take Three

I finally had time to scan my 35mm film from my Holga. I shot most of it at Little Bull Falls on the  Yellow River last week. I am still not sure how the effects "happen" on the sprockets.  Here are the results!

 I shot this on a gravel road with the "bulb" function. I love the colors on the bottom and the exposed sprockets on the top. I am not sure why they are exposed. I do think though, that I would like this photo better if It were just a Holga shot and not on film.

 This photo is the same situation. I may have double exposed this, but I don't remember. I am wondering why the sprockets are double and not fully exposed. That must be because it is a double exposure... right? I really have no idea. I should keep notes.

Green grass growing by the Yellow River.

A log by the Yellow River. It was so huge about a month ago and now is pretty much running low to normal.

I really like the faintness of the first layer of trees and the exposure at the top. I wish the bottom were better though and the overall negative was darker.

Field

A double exposure of branches. I think I stopped along Highway H to take this for my 365.

Trees along the road while I was looking for a fire. Mapquest was SO wrong. I liked how the light hit these trees and illuminated the bright new green leaves. Now why is the exposure not around the sprockets on this one? It isn't double exposed.... mystery.

I spoke to a high school class today about being a photojournalist. I searched for a bunch of links to give them for inspiration and ideas, so here are some links to sites I found.

Photo District News

Foto8

David Burnett

Andrew Moore

Trip to Iowa

I'm back at work after a weekend jaunt to Iowa.

After flying over the hills of southwestern Wisconsin, we crossed the Mississippi. I get kind of obsessed with photographing the patterns that the water makes as it cuts through the land.

 Mississippi River, Iowa/Wisconsin border

 And flew into Iowa, my home state. I used to think it was boring, but now I love to count the grids and the miles of roads.

It was spring in Iowa! They are about a week ahead of central Wisconsin.

There was much relaxing and talking with my friend, it is nice to have relaxing girl weekend with no agenda. It did me much good to see her and it makes me happy to see their new family and home!

Of course we took photos of new baby, Gabe. It is hard to pose a baby! I am not quite sure how to... and they are squirmy and sleep a lot. I did get some cute ones though, it would have been hard not to!

Their sweet dog, Tanner

We made yummy guacamole!

Unfortunately, all good weekends come to an end. I am glad that I got to fly there and not drive, which would have taken almost 5 hours. It is more exciting to fly and fun to take aerial photos. This is Cedar Rapids, IA, where we flew in. I had an internship there a few years ago and I think this was my first time "back."

We landed back in Wisconsin, safe and sound. I am already looking forward to next weekend though... it will be nice to be home for a weekend and spend some time, hopefully, mountain biking!