Sacred Light: Reflections from Lake Park Lutheran Church

Sunbeams through stained-glass in the chapel at Lake Park Lutheran Church on the East Side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Copyright 2025 Scott Norris Creative scottnorrisphotography.com scott-norris.pixels.com www.etsy.com/shop/ScottNorrisCreative buymeacoffee.com/scottnorris

I love photographing sacred spaces. There is something about the way light filters through vibrant stained-glass windows, casting shifting colors onto the warm wooden pews. The textures of aged wood, the quiet presence of tapestries, the gentle flicker of candlelight—all of it contributes to a profound sense of stillness and reflection. Sunbeams through stained-glass in…… Continue reading Sacred Light: Reflections from Lake Park Lutheran Church

A Little Shameless Self-Promotion

Up in the Air

I’ll be honest—self-promotion has never been my strong suit. But in this digital world, if I don’t put my work out there, who will? So, consider this post my way of saying, “Hey, I’m here, and I’d love for you to check out what I do.” Whether you’re into fine art photography, abstract digital art,…… Continue reading A Little Shameless Self-Promotion

Urban Undulation

I’ve always been drawn to the flowing curves of the Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Women’s Hospital in Milwaukee. From this low angle, the building feels almost alive—its smooth lines and dynamic form twisting and turning like a wave frozen in time. The contrast of light and shadow adds to the sense of movement, giving it…… Continue reading Urban Undulation

What Are You Listening To?

Music plays a huge role in my creative process. It helps me get out of my head and into my heart. It gives me energy, yet it also calms me. It takes me away from everyday worries while keeping me grounded. And I love so many genres—blues, rock, heavy metal, jazz, electronic, bluegrass, barbershop, and…… Continue reading What Are You Listening To?

Finding Common Ground in a Polarized World

Whether or not to speak on the current political climate—it’s a question I often ask myself. It reminds me of an old saying attributed to Buddha: “If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?” Imagine if we all applied this to all our daily interactions, not…… Continue reading Finding Common Ground in a Polarized World

What to Learn First to Be a Better Photographer

This magical troop of tiny mushrooms was captured on a fallen tree in the woods along Wisconsin's Ice Age Tree in the Lapham Peak section of the Kettle Moraine state forest.

For quite some time, I’ve thought about the first things you should learn as a photographer. Is it the exposure triangle? (I’ll cover this in another blog post later.) Is it the rules of good composition? Is it knowing all the buttons, dials, knobs, and widgets on your camera? Or is it having the latest…… Continue reading What to Learn First to Be a Better Photographer

A New Beginning or…

A New Beginning…or a continuation?  Either way, I’m restarting my blog here.  Writing has never been a strong area for me – it feels like pulling teeth. I am a photographer after all – a picture is worth a 1000 words and all that.  However, I do feel that my thoughts and words can add…… Continue reading A New Beginning or…

Leaf Bottle Rocks

A tiny empty glass bottle, three decaying leaves, and three lake stones on a wooden table. This was photographed with a single speedlight flash camera left fitted with a homemade diffuser to soften the harsh light. Processed in Lightroom and Photoshop. Nikon D700, 50mm lens, ISO 100, 1/200, f/4. Copyright 2018 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

A tiny empty glass bottle, three decaying leaves, and three lake stones on a wooden table. This was photographed with a single speedlight flash camera left, fitted with a homemade diffuser to soften the harsh light. Processed in Lightroom and Photoshop. Nikon D700, 50mm lens, ISO 100, 1/200, f/4. Looking for art for your home…… Continue reading Leaf Bottle Rocks

Feather 3

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all." --Emily Dickinson A single white feather shot on a black background with a single light source above. Copyright 2018 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul – and sings the tunes without the words – and never stops at all.” –Emily Dickinson A single white feather shot on a black background with a single light source above. Looking for art for your home or office or something to spice up…… Continue reading Feather 3

The Barrier

"I'm woven in a fantasy, I can't believe the things I see The path that I have chosen now has led me to a wall... ...It rises now before me, A dark and silent barrier between, All I am, and all that I would ever want to be" --from "The Wall" by Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh The sky, a window, and a wall. Taken on the roof of the historic Marshall Building on a warm summer evening in Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Third Ward. Copyright 2018 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

“I’m woven in a fantasy, I can’t believe the things I see The path that I have chosen now has led me to a wall… …It rises now before me, A dark and silent barrier between, All I am, and all that I would ever want to be” –from “The Wall” by Kerry Livgren and…… Continue reading The Barrier

The Road to Somewhere

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." --Sharon Begley A road to somewhere at the Pinewoods campground in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit, near Dousman, Wisconsin. Copyright 2018 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” –Sharon Begley The road to somewhere – a path that leads you to new places or experiences. This particular road is at the Pinewoods Campground near Dousman, Wisconsin in the Kettle Moraine State Forest.  The morning light, the sunlit moss covered branches, and the curve of the…… Continue reading The Road to Somewhere

Marcus Center

A high contrast minimalist black and white photograph of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was struck by how the backside of this building (a performing arts center), was so imposing and sort of ominous. Of course, it didn’t help that the day was cold and overcast. Taken in the…… Continue reading Marcus Center