Pops Photos
Fire Above
A unique effect, created by the sun highlighting the bottom of the clouds above the Kewaunee, WI lighthouse and pier. This was just moments before the sun would breach the Lake Michigan horizon. If you look closely, you can see fishermen on the pier, hoping for a bit of early morning angling action.
I take a lot of sunrise photos from the shore of Lake Michigan. I live a couple of miles from shore so I’m in the habit of looking to the sky a half hour or so before sunrise. If the sky shows any promise, and it’s a day when I don’t have to be somewhere else like work or church, I head to the beach.
You never know how it’s going to turn out. There are days when things look promising but the sky never makes good on that promise. But, on other days, it can be breathtaking.
I take a lot of sunrise photos because no two sunrises are the same….except those with no clouds at all. It’s the clouds that make a sunrise worth capturing. When I look to the early morning sky, I’m looking for cloud….usually light wispy ones. These weren’t wispy, but the effect was well worth the trip.
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Beauty in Red
But friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Botanists have classified around 400,000 different flowering plant species in the world. Many are very beautiful but, in any judgement of floral beauty, I believe all must be compared to the rose.
This beauty was not photographed at our home. Nor did I find it a the botanical gardens. This one was photographed one morning at the Yellow Rose Motel in Branson, MO. – which had a variety of roses and other beautiful flowering plants on the grounds but, ironically, I could find no yellow roses.
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All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Christ of the Ozarks
On a recent trip to Eureka Springs, we stopped to see a popular tourist attraction. This is Christ of the Ozarks.
According to Wikipedia…
Christ of the Ozarks statue is a monumental sculpture of Jesus located near Eureka Springs, Arkansas, atop Magnetic Mountain. It was erected in 1966 as a “Sacred Project” by Gerald L. K. Smith and stands 65.5 feet (20 meters) high. The statue was primarily the work of Emmet Sullivan, who also worked on nearby Dinosaur World. He had assisted in the work at Mount Rushmore. The statue is modernistic and minimalistic; there is little facial detail or expression, and the lines and forms are generally simplified. The arms are outstretched straight, suggesting the Crucifixion; however the cross is not overtly depicted.
It shows up as #6 on the list of 10 Most Famous Jesus Statues In The World
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Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Colorful street musicians entertain visitors to Basin Spring Park in the heart of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
I rarely engage in “street photography.” This couple offered themselves as easy targets and the resulting image, in my mind, is priceless. I realize, most people wont find anything special here – it doesn’t reveal the awesome light of a landscape sunrise, the intricate design of a floral macro or the wonder of a well crafted nature photo. Still, it is special to me because, within its frame, I find so many interesting elements. The more I stare at it, the more I see. Let me start a list…
The musicians, themselves; an interesting couple to say the least. I find their expressions and attire intriguing. I wonder if they are romantically engaged or simply musically engaged. (By the way, as musicians and singers, they were quite enjoyable.)
Then there’s the instruments. These something highly appealing to me about an aged, well-worn guitar. Zooming in, I couldn’t tell the brand, but the fret board has “125th Anniversary” printed with pearl inlay.
The upright bass shows comfortable wear, but what grabs my eye is the rosette (made of terrycloth, or some similar material) on the head.
The gal’s knee brace reveals something about injury and personal struggle.
Her boots are an interesting match with the Under Armor knee socks.
The banjo on the bench. An interesting accessory.
The banjo case at their feet – a collection point for appreciative patrons (a couple dollars visible) with the “Hobo Knife” bumper sticker.
Both have some interesting tattoos on their arms.
That’s a good start. I purposely left out a few other items that I find interesting, to give you a chance to point them out. If you see something that catches your eye, leave a comment below.
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Down by the Creek
Early Morning Oats
Ladies Dancing
In my mind, the blooms of this fuchsia plant remind me of beautiful ladies dancing – arms raised, skirts twirling and a wry smile on their faces.
I discovered this fuchsia plant (and a few other varieties) at the West of the Lake Gardens in Manitowoc, WI. The fuchsia is a very unique plant species.
According to Wikipedia…
Fuchsia /ˈfjuːʃə/ is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. The first, Fuchsia triphylla, was discovered on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (present day Dominican Republic and Haiti) about 1696–1697 by the French Minim monk and botanist, Charles Plumier during his third expedition to the Greater Antilles. He named the new genus after the renowned German botanist Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566).
There are currently almost 110 recognized species of Fuchsia. The vast majority are native to South America. The fruit of all fuchsia species and cultivars is edible, with the berry of F. splendens reportedly among the best-tasting. Its flavor is reminiscent of citrus and pepper, and it can be made into jam. The fruits of some other fuchsias are flavorless or leave a bad aftertaste.
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Rare Atmosphere
Life of the Party
This fireworks burst certainly provided a festive atmosphere. It was part of the fireworks show that is the traditional finale of the Shanty Days celebration in Algoma, WI.
This year’s event was added fun because I was joined by a other photographers, sharing tips and techniques. All came away with some great shots.
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