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Wisconsin

Unpretentious Beauty

Flowers, Wildflowers, Daisy, Daisies

A bunch of wild daisies that bloomed annually and self propagated liberally every spring. I love the simplicity of white petals and bright yellow centers standing out against a blur of green foliage.

These are from a patch of daisies that we welcomed every spring in our yard.  Every year the main patch would expand a little and other little patches would pop up in the lawn nearby.

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All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Wisps of Grandeur

Sunrise, Lighthouse, Algoma, Lake Michigan

A tranquil sunrise casts warm hues across the sky behind the Algoma, Wisconsin lighthouse and pier. The calm waters of the harbor offer a colorful welcome to fishing boats as the day dawns.

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All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Misty River Reflection

River, Mist, Fog, Sunrise, Kewaunee, Reflection

A calming sun rises over a bend in the Kewaunee River in northeast Wisconsin. warm light pierces the morning mist hugging the banks of the river. The calm water reflects the trees and sky, creating a symmetrical balance between nature’s elements.

This spot was a half mile down the road from our rural Kewaunee home. Most times, in search for a sunrise, I would pass by this spot on my way to the Lake Michigan shore to catch the sunrise along side the lighthouse. I believe the morning mist on the water caught my eye and garnered my attention.

You can view a larger, more detailed view of this scene by clicking on the photo.  When you do, the image will open in a new browser tab.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Prepare for Flames

Sunrise, Lighthouse, Kewaunee, Beach

A serene sunrise casts a warm glow over Lake Michigan, highlighting the Kewaunee, WI lighthouse in the distance. On the sandy beach, two pyramids of firewood are prepared to provide warmth on shore.

This is an HDR image that was taken in May of 2020.  As I was processing this, I was tempted to swap out the sky because the original looked like it didn’t belong.  (But, of course, it does belong.)

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All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Lake Awakening

Sunrise, Lighthouse, Lake Michigan

A serene sunrise casts a warm glow over the water, with the sun hovering slightly above the horizon. The Kewaunee, WI lighthouse is silhouetted against the bright sky at the end of the long pier.

This is an image I resurrected from my archives. This scene was captured June 6, 2015.  It’s the sky that makes this an appealing image for me.  This was taken from the beach.

You can view a larger version of this image by clicking on the photo.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Siberian Squill

 

Siberian Squill, Blue, Flower

This tiny blue flower is one of the earliest spring bloomers.  This is Siberian Squill. You will find it low to the ground and you have to look quick, because they don’t bloom long. It’s one of our favorite flowers in our rural Wisconsin the flower bed.

You can get a larger, more detailed view by clicking on the image.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Moment of Reflection

Wasp, Yellow Jacket, Water, Reflection

These common wasps seemed to be admiring themselves in the water’s reflection.  Actually, they were getting a drink at the birdbath in our yard.

I happened to notice a few wasps at the birdbath one day and keep watching.  I found a steady stream of wasps visiting the birdbath all day long.  Shortly after, I discovered a steady stream of wasps flying up into a corner of our house. They obviously they had built a nest there.

I also found a couple of wasp nests in the ground of our yard. It must have been a good year for wasps in our area. On a good note, they were never bothersome to us; a little worrisome when one found its way into the house, but no stings. (Ironically, my wife was stung by one while hiking during our vacation in South Dakota.)

You can get a better, more detailed look at these by clicking on the photo.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Shaggy Ink Cap Mushrrom

This is an interesting growth I noticed in the newly-harvested field next to our home. A quick search revealed that it is a Shaggy Ink Cap Mushroom.  Apparently, they are edible and quite delicious when fresh.

Mushroom, Shaggy Inc CapThis is a rather large mushroom and it caught my eye because it was standing tall in the field of stubble. This mushroom is also known by the name, “lawyer’s wig.”  They don’t last long, as you can see in the photo on the right. This is a view of the same mushroom just two days later.  As far as being edible, they are one of the “fool proof four” along with giant puffballs, chicken of the woods, and morels.

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All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

It’s a Trap

Spider Web, Flora, Plants

When the flowers began to fade and summer was being pushed out by autumn; an opportunistic spider was taking one last shot at securing a store of food before winter.

As I’ve mentioned before, when people ask what kind of photographer I am (as in, Landscape, Wildlife, Portrait, etc.) I tell them I just capture whatever catches my eye. This is one of those photographs. I’m not sure if any will appreciate it but the more I look at it, the more I like it. I like the variety and depth of colors and the near-perfect symmetry of the web.

You are looking at a spider web that was prominently placed in a large flower pot. The flower pot occupies a corner of the cement pad in front of our garage.  I captured this on an early morning walk around my yard, while the dew was still clinging to the web.  The spider was nowhere to be found.

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All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

The Wild Bunch

Guinea, Guineafowl, Guineas, Bird, Birds

These guineafowl remind me of gang of miscreants looking for trouble. While out on a drive in our area of rural, northeast Wisconsin we turned around in a small farm yard at the end of a road and these birds were quick to check us out.

The guinea is a bird that emanated from Africa. I hear they make a good pheasant-like meal, but I’ve never attempted to eat one.  We used to have a number of them on our small rural homestead in Missouri. We enjoyed them for the variety they added to our flock of fowl (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, etc.) and ease of care, because they pretty much take care of themselves. They are prized for eating ticks and other insects. They also make good “watch dogs” because of their tendency to make an annoyingly, loud racket when something or someone new is entering the yard.

You can get a better view of the beautiful polka dot plumage below the ugly heads by clicking on the photo. When you do, a larger version will open in a new browser tab.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.