The Windy City

The Windy City

What a day in the Windy City!  After well over 10 miles of walking, photographing everything along the way, a couple of great meals, a few tasty beverages, and lots of sunburns and blisters, we ended our day sitting on the breakwater near the Adler Planetarium watching the sun go down behind the city of Chicago.  …… Continue reading The Windy City

The Chicago Skyline

Chicago at Sunset

The Chicago Skyline from the Adler Planetarium.  Since I am spending this day shooting with friends in Chicago, I thought I’d share an image I took the last time was there last August.  I was there for the Trey Ratcliff Tour Across the USA photo walk along with a couple hundred of my closest friends.…… Continue reading The Chicago Skyline

The Chicago Elevated

The Elevated II

It has been a couple of years since I’ve taken a ride on the Chicago Elevated.  And a bit longer than that since I took this photo. (July, 2011)  But tomorrow I will be back in old Chi-Town to meet some great friends and spend the entire day shooting the city.  It is interesting that…… Continue reading The Chicago Elevated

First Steps Toward

First Steps Toward

“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

Frowning Alien Head

Frowning Alien Head

There is at least one alien from outer space among us here on Earth.  He can be found living in an back alley in the East Side neighborhood of Milwaukee.  While he doesn’t seem to be dangerous, he does seem to be in a foul mood as evidenced by his perpetual frown.  Why is he sad or…… Continue reading Frowning Alien Head

New Addition

The New Addition: Milwaukee Art Museum

I find structures like the new addition to the the Milwaukee Art Museum so fascinating.  The combination of harsh lines and solid rectangular shapes with the floor to ceiling glass atrium and metal facade is so…well, so damn cool.  Buildings like this just beg to be photographed! Who am I to  ignore what the building wants? Completed…… Continue reading New Addition

Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Memorial

For Memorial Day, where we honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country,  I visited the Southeastern Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  The three Wausau Red Granite columns stand 22, 26, and 30 feet high and represent those killed in action, POW/MIA(s), and those returned home.   There are five granite benches (not pictured)…… Continue reading Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Hidden Stairway

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

The Armchair in the Attic

The Armchair in the Attic

“The past is an old armchair in the attic, the present an ominous ticking sound, and the future is anybody’s guess.” –James Thurber The two-flat in which we live has two units – one on the first floor and one on the second.  The third floor/attic, open to the rafters high above, is mostly a…… Continue reading The Armchair in the Attic

Lighting the Way

Lighting the Way

A dual street light, lighting the way to…who knows?  There is something compelling and yet sad and lonely about a man-made structure like this lamp post isolated and removed from it’s normal environment.   Framed like this, reality is hidden and the imagination takes over.   Is this the top of a high-rise parking structure?  A…… Continue reading Lighting the Way

Dead End Alley

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

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