Crab Apple Blossoms - Chicago - Thorns

2 June #192

3 Weeks after the last blossoms can be found in the Twin Cities, Crab Apple Tree Blossoms can be found blooming in Evanston, IL.

Notice the Thorns hovering over the blooms.

Crab Apple Tree with Thorns - Chicago

June 2 2009 #169 - #174

Crab Apple Tree with Thorns seems to be the most popular search term that brings strangers to my site. If you are one of these strangers, welcome. Hope you likes the pics.

I took my annual summer trip to Chicago, er, Evanston, and head down to Clark Square and Elliot Park every morning to take in the beauty of these trees. Minneapolis does not seem to have crab apple trees with thorns. Equally beautiful, but more dangerous to climb.

Unidentified Bush with Red Leaves and Little Baby's Breath-Looking Things

Chicago/Evanston

2 June #29

I almost didn't shoot this because it was a bush instead of a tree. Right now, I'm shooting trees. I must work harder to remember that it is okay to take a photograph even if it is not part of a project.

The next picture may be tomorrow's project.

Diptychs: Tell Me What You Think of Them, Specifically and in General

Crab Apple Blossoms (What's Left of Them)

3 May 09 #35 / #33

I like diptychs.  Hard to spell, but I like them.   I like how they force me to compare the two images.  I like how I am drawn into an analysis of the images due solely to the fact that the two pictures are really close to each other.

I don't always like the result of the pairing of images.  Often the connect seems forced, and maybe even a little pretentious.  I am interested in reader input on my images and on diptychs in general.  Scroll through the site and see what you find.

I'll wait right here.

Dirty Water - November 2007

Illness and Recovery

(A little of both)

Russian Olive Trees in Bloom

1 June 2009 #38 and #65/2

Russian Olive Tree In Bloom

1 June 2009 #38 #75

(Click to Enlarge)

I never realized that the Russian Olives bloomed.  They don't even seem to drop their leaves over the winter, so why would they bloom?  Driving around Minneapolis, I noticed that these scrubby little trees seemed bushier and more yellow/green.  Check out the new growth!  All of the Crab Apple trees stopped blooming 2-3 weeks ago, so I was excited to see another of my favorite type of tree blooming away.

Again I am aware of how much of a challenge it is to photograph the Russian Olive tree.  There is no clear center of focus.  It is hard to know if I can crop the image to create some sort of compositional pleasantness.  These are okay.  I'll keep shooting.

Palette Cleanser - Some tree that is not a crab apple

5 May 2009 #81

Coloplast Displays Local Artists in US Headquarters

My photograph, New ICE, on display in the Coloplast employee entry.

Local artists displaying their work during the Coloplast Grand Opening.

Hallways overlook the Mississippi River.  There are a balcony that runs the length of the building which seems like a great place to take a lunch break.

Notice that all along the hallway are pieces of framed are.  All work is either from artists belonging to the Northside Arts Collective in Minneapolis, or on loan from the Denmark headquarters.

There are 3 or 4 exhibit spaces in the commons areas on each floor which will have quarterly exhibits from employee and local artists.

View from the top floor balcony.

Almost the last of the crab apple bloosoms

4 May 2009 #47sq2

I like how the blossoms seem like highlights at first.

Chinese Elm - May 2009

5 May #36 - #33

This Chinese Elm does not seem to be doing so well this spring.  By this date nearly all of the trees have their full leaves.  Not this one.  I have photographed this tree in the past and it seemed fine, so I hope it is just a slow-growing tree.  It takes all types, right?

Birthday Pics

4 May #20 and #35

Today is my birthday.  I'm 43.  Having a birthday makes me think about myself.  Who am I? What am I about?  What's going to go on the birthday mix I make for myself each year?

I would say that I define myself through photography.  I take tightly composed photographs of trees in an urban environment, exploring pattern, color, and composition in subjects that are often overlooked as beautiful, or even acknowledged.

The reason that my photography defines me is because of my intent when photographing. I want these photographs to be a representation of me.  If I can show a unique perspective, If I can photograph trees in a way that is singular to me, then I will have succeeded in sharing with the viewer a piece of me.

There are other ways to define one's self:  I am a husband to Sally, son, employee, male, Minnesotan, North Minneapolitan, democrat-bordering-on-socialist, fan of the Mountain Goats--these areas are all good and important, but, for me, are not how I want to be defined.  Not that I want anyone to actively define me.  But the photographs are the one thing that is unique to me since no one would take the exact same photograph as me.

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Today's diptych is about growth.  See the little round things silhouetted between the leaves?That's future fruit right there. 

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I'm putting some Mountain Goats on the birthday mix.