“Order and simplification are the first steps toward the mastery of a subject.” –Thomas Mann I went on a long walk today from my home on the East Side to downtown Milwaukee. All told, it was about 7 miles. I photographed many buildings, some flowers, a fire station, the river, the interior of city hall,…… Continue reading First Steps Toward
Tag: cityscape
Hidden Stairway
A mostly hidden outdoor stairway at the Milwaukee Art Museum. My goal today was to capture a few exterior details of the newly renovated and expanded museum building. Situated on the lower level below the War Memorial Center, the six-year, $34 million renovation project culminated with the November 2015 grand re-opening. With floor to ceiling windows facing…… Continue reading Hidden Stairway
Dead End Alley
Sometimes I don’t have to go very far to find some really interesting subject matter to shoot. Just a very short walk from my house, this very narrow dead end alley was created by a small space between two adjacent buildings. It is blocked off on the street side with the only access through the larger alley in…… Continue reading Dead End Alley
Alley Gas Pump
It’s a bit strange to find a diesel gas pump sitting in an alley in a residential city neighborhood. It’s not something you see everyday for sure. This one, however, belongs to the fine folks of Milwaukee Fire Department Station 27 – home of Engine 27 and Ladder Truck 5. Situated near the Milwaukee River…… Continue reading Alley Gas Pump
East Side Pay Phone
The public pay phone. They used to be everywhere – at every gas station, market, bar, many street corners, and rest stops along the highway. Now, in the cell phone age, when I see one of these, I usually do a double take. It’s certainly a rare site and brings back a lot of…… Continue reading East Side Pay Phone
Brick and Peeling Paint
Today, I’m just going for a bit of texture. Ok, a lot of texture. This shot of brick and peeling paint was taken on a walk to the store. I’ve passed by this overhead door many times and have never stopped before. And now I think I’ll have to come back with my tripod and…… Continue reading Brick and Peeling Paint
No More Spark
This old Champion sticker rests in a window at Joe’s Super Service, an abandoned service station along state highway 60 in Rubicon, Wisconsin. By the look of the place, I venture a guess that there have been no plugs sold or vehicles serviced there in quite a long time. I shot this on a brief day trip…… Continue reading No More Spark
Metal Bench Against Concrete Squares
A metal bench against a wall of concrete squares taken at the Columbia St. Mary’s hospital on the East Side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I really liked the grid pattern of the wall broken only by this chair. The repeating pattern of the wall really makes it stand out. There shouldn’t be any questions about what the…… Continue reading Metal Bench Against Concrete Squares
The Crumbling Concrete Stairs
“Crumbling between the fingers, under the feet, / Crumbling behind the eyes, / Their world gives way and dies / And something twangs and breaks at the end of the street.” –Louis MacNeice The concrete stairs, leaning and decaying, lead up to a locked second floor wooden door. When dark, the single light above barely…… Continue reading The Crumbling Concrete Stairs
East Side Police Call Boxes
Hearkening back to the turn of the 20th century, these vintage police and fire emergency call boxes still stand all over the East Side neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Once a vital communication link between the policemen on the street and dispatchers, they are now used mostly as junction boxes for streetlights and such. And they are slowly…… Continue reading East Side Police Call Boxes
Streetlight on the 35th Street Bridge
“The hero is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.” –Felix Adler Another random shot from my short walk in Three Bridges Park yesterday in the Menomonee Valley in Milwaukee. This lone streetlight is on the 35th…… Continue reading Streetlight on the 35th Street Bridge
Lamp-Lite Motel
This is the Lamp-Lite Motel (or at least the sign) along US 51 in Portage, Wisconsin. Now, I have to say up front, I’ve done just a wee bit of work on this one (see below). Taken in June of last year and finally processed today, I was driving toward Baraboo looking for a particular…… Continue reading Lamp-Lite Motel