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.

~~~~~~~~~

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

~~~~~~

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

Holiday Weekend Visiting Milwaukee Art Museum and the Haggerty Museum of Art

Me on vacation in Milwaukee, WI.  Seen here in the entryway of the Milwaukee Art Museum.  Designed by Calatrava, who I hear is a heck of a nice guy.

This was my favorite thing to see at the MAM, and it was even the first thing you see when you enter the exhibit area.

Standing Woman, Gaston LaChaise.

At the Haggarty Museum of Art at Marquette University I was able to see work by photographer Sonja Thomsen. I am a big fan of her Crude

and Churn series and have been following her work.

The work above is from her Lacuna series.  One interesting thing about this project and how it is display, is that many of the pieces are tear-off photographs (which I hope people can keep) which results in each visitor having a different viewing experience than the previous viewer.  Very clever.  It reminded me of a project I saw many years ago by some one I cannot name who created a grid of images of decaying buildings; this person did not fix the photographs all the way so that over time they would fade to a blank piece of paper.  When the image was completely faded, the exhibit was over.

For these two exhibits alone it is worth visiting Milwaukee.  Also, there is a new  Goodwill collaboration with an upscale used clothing store in the 3rd Ward.  It is called Re-tique.  I found some good deals there.

3 May #12 and #17 - Diptych of Crab Apple Blossoms

3 May #12 and #17

Goodbye Crab Apple Blossoms

3 May #33

White Crab Apple Blossoms

May 2 #7-#13

Crab Apple Blossoms with Last Year's Fruit #2

May 2 #30 - #56

Don't you wanna just hug them?

Spring Crab Apple - Flowering Around Last Year's Fruit

May 1 - Crab #111

My previous post showed a crab apple tree in late April, still heavy with crab apples from last year.  I wondered what would happen once the trees began to blossom again.  THIS is what happens!  Spring does not care if the trees are not done letting go of their apples.  It's time to Bloom!

I really enjoy the symbolic combination of blossoms and dying fruit, and I am particularly glad for how beautiful it is.  

Don't forget to acknowledge the beauty of this time of year.  These blossom will be rotting in the grass within two weeks.