A Perfect Autumn Leaf

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Katherine Wikoff

A Perfect Autumn LeafUsually I am looking up and noticing things like clouds and reflections in office windows. But lately I seem to be looking down and noticing things like the sidewalk moss last week and this leaf today. I don’t think there’s any sadness or depression metaphors going on there. Just a slight shift in perspective, I guess😄

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As my half-caff patiently waits . . .

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Katherine Wikoff

Starbucks cup on sidewalk casting shadow

. . . I’m crouched down on the sidewalk with my iPhone trying to get a close-up of this plush stripe of moss growing in between the cracks.

moss stripe in sidewalk crack

I’ve tried several times to capture the lush, jewel-like green, but somehow it always looks more drab in photos than in real life. Today I tried standing on the opposite edge of the sidewalk, with the sun to my back. It seemed to make a difference.

Sorry I’ve been gone for so long and that all I have to offer today is moss. My job has kept me really busy the past month. Plus we had to put down one of our dogs in August, and as every pet lover knows, that’s like losing a member of your family. RIP, Sammy. You were a good boy!

Sam

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Sensing Sunset

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Katherine Wikoff

That moment of transition when outdoor light fixtures switch themselves on, anticipating the darkness.

sunset and parking lot lights

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Hour Marti: Free We Deliver Ask Inside

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Katherine Wikoff

image

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Grohmann Museum, Morning Sun Through Clouds

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Katherine Wikoff

Grohmann Museum, Morning Sun Through Clouds

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Grohmann Museum, Reflected

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Katherine Wikoff

Grohmann Museum, ReflectedSaw this reflection of my building in a puddle from last night’s rain while leaving work this afternoon.

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Public Restroom in Black and White

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Katherine Wikoff

 

Public Restroom in Black and White

I liked the lines and decided to go with black and white because in color the brown door was a distraction from what I saw as the main point of the photo. Plus I kind of like how in black and white you’re not quite sure why a chunk seems to be missing from the top of the frame. The original picture is below. Do you agree?

image

 

 

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Birch bark texture

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Katherine Wikoff

Now that I took a photo of one tree’s bark, I’m looking more closely at bark everywhere. This older birch has a very craggy-textured outer bark, which then peels itself away in curled loops to reveal the smoother, cleaner-looking “new skin” underneath.

birch barkpeeling birch bark

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Bloom Where You’re Planted!

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Katherine Wikoff

My equipment is no fancier than A) my older-model iPhone (a 5c, not even the 5s, which apparently had a better camera) and B) my Kodak Easyshare Z915 Digital Camera, which is no longer supported by the company and which I got on sale for $100 through Amazon about six years ago.

Despite the mediocre technology, I love taking pictures! One of these days I’ll feel flush enough to spring for better gear. Meanwhile, I’m going to make do and start setting myself up with “assignments”—sort of my own personal photography school 🙂 —and just see what I can learn . . . about the cameras I have and about taking better photographs, period.

So here is a photo from my first (self-imposed) assignment, “Texture.” It’s the bark of a honey locust tree on State Street in downtown Milwaukee, taken with my iPhone 5c.

texture #1

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Sing it, mystery girl!

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Katherine Wikoff

This little critter was warbling away up on the power lines this morning.

bird singing on power lines

bird on power lines

bird on power line

Is this a robin? It has a reddish breast but also a fair amount of white lower down. A female? The bill is yellowish with a black tip like what robins have. But I’ve never heard this exact song before. Here is some video (low quality, sorry!) I shot to capture the sound. If you recognize the bird from its song, can you please let me know what it is?

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