Oskar at One

Met up with Oskar and his parents for a Sunday morning shoot last week. The withering weather has turned Madison's usual green places to shades of yellow and brown, but you can always count on the Capitol to boast an emerald lawn. As it turned out, getting up to the square was half of the fun, as shaded slices of King Street provided relief from the heat, with old brickwork providing ample nooks and crannies to duck into along the way.

Oskar has a serious, confident demeanor I love. He won't be tricked or coerced into doing anything he doesn't want to (ask his godparents, above), for which he wins lots of respect from me. So we hung out while we explored the sidewalk, which he did with a huge smile on his face, alternately brandishing his head gear with swagger and ridiculousness. Once we actually reached the lawn on the Square, we didn't have much time before the sprinklers did a number on us, a reminder of WHY the grass stays green there. Hadn't thought of that.

Door County

There is no better way to suffer through a Wisconsin heat wave than to head straight to Door County. It's hot there too, but not quite as bad, and the water is never very far away. My folks used to bring us camping at Peninsula State Park every summer when I was a kid, and good memories are around every corner. I distinctly remember learning how to hoot like a Great Horned Owl while on a night hike with my dad... eating Wilson's ice cream while watching the parasailers glide back and forth in Ephraim... and not getting a rainbow unicorn lollipop, no matter how many time we asked for one, from the sweets shop in Fish Creek.

We met up with my friend, Lillie, and her kids on Saturday and hit the beach with the crew. I've never seen Sebastian be gentle or cuddly with any of his peers, but the second he sat down next to Anna, his arm was around her and didn't want to leave. I love how serious the gang looks above at left - like angsty, depressed teenagers - and in a flash, it's back to cuteness.

Solstice at the Observatory

The long days of summer create such great opportunities to have a reasonable adventure after a full work day, and we've been doing our best to take advantage lately. To celebrate the looooooongest day of the year, we drove up to Washburn Observatory on campus for a solstice picnic. The views from the Observatory are not particularly photographic, but it's nice to just sit on a high hill and watch the boats skim across the water. And when you're with a 1-year old, you have plenty to photograph already.

Lucas, Six Days Old

Most of the time, I prefer to shoot newborns without many people around... just mom and dad is ideal. But everything in Lucas's clan is a family affair, and it was fun to have his aunt, cousin, and grandmother around during our shoot, giving us lots of space and quiet as they bustled about the house.

One thing I like about shooting in the country is the closeness of house and field, which we rarely get in Madison. It's so nice to shoot for a while inside, then step a few paces off the back porch to tall grass and large swaths of shade trees. Because who wants to drive around to various locales when they are six days old?

Self Portrait Triptych, Penultimate Draft

Triptych

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I've been taking a class this spring with Tom McInvaille, a talented local photographer with a heartening blend of perspective, humor, and art history knowledge. Our final project for Tom's class is a self-portrait triptych, with a twist. The idea is to make a self-portrait group that is metaphorical, rather than literal. So not images of me, or of things I like, etc., but rather images of objects that are about something more than the objects themselves... something that reflects my Self. A stiff assignment, one worth digging into... Tom excels at devising such challenges.

I have difficulty with vague conceptual assignments, but they help open up my brain and stir things around. After struggling with more socially acceptable material, I returned to a warehouse shoot I did a few weeks back and found some provoking grist for the self-portrait mill. I asked, "Why am I drawn to these images so strongly? What of myself do I see there?" And I find that when I get beyond the objects - the disgusting toilet, the misplaced tire, the broken boards - there is so much to love. Organization amidst chaos. Detailed craftsmanship, built to stand the test of time. Subtle, changing light and shadow, with each turn or step or change in perspective. And above all, process of finding peace and perfection in the unlikeliest places. I see all these things in myself, and it brings great comfort to know they are out there, in everything, should only I look and see.

Corona Heights Park, San Francisco

Maya and Sebastian gave me TWO days off in the City, so I took off this morning to explore. After walking the length of Bryant Street from downtown, I found some great Mexican food near my brother's place on Portero Hill, then headed through the Mission toward the western hills overlooking the Castro. Stopped in Mission Dolores Park, which was lovely, except for the construction work stirring up dust and making lots of noise. I pushed on west, enjoying the fantastic views the ups-and-downs provide, and eventually reached Corona Heights Park.

Have you ever seen a city park that looks so much like a prairie dog colony? Seems like the result of a city that LOVES to be outside, but simply doesn't have enough room to roam about in. The views up here were first-rate - downtown SF, the Bay, the Oakland/Berkeley Hills beyond were all in view - and the park feels like a fortress, somehow holding off the city's advance at its feet.

Bryce + William - A Beach Wedding in Santa Cruz, California

This is my idea of the ideal wedding: Rent a house in a beautiful place and have a party that lasts a few days. It just works. A big house can keep all your closest loved ones together and takes away so many logistics hassles. You eat together, snack together, read the paper and hang out together... and that leaves room for spontaneity, which so many planned events don't have much room for.

Heather + Becci - Married in Iowa, Toasted at Memorial Union

"Should we wait to get married until it is legal in Wisconsin? Or get married immediately because we just want to be married, damn it?" It is ridiculous that gay couples here have to have this conversation. But at least for now, they do. Heather and Becci had been discussing this for a while, and ultimately decided to make the trip to Decorah, Iowa (the closest county seat to Madison where two gals can get a marriage certificate) to seal the deal legally. They decided to make the ceremony an intimate affair... I was the only invitee... and follow up with a party at Memorial Union in Madison.

We had a great time shooting in Decorah; it is a LOVELY town I will sure to revisit. The girls brought their dog to the ceremony, Becci wore her Chucks, and we hit up the local ice cream parlor for post-nuptial treats. The reception bash happened a couple weeks later, with perfect weather. The Main Lounge at Memorial Union is a great reception venue... it offers impressive privacy, while adjacent to the exciting energy of the crowded Terrace hum. Guests can hang out on the balcony and take in some fresh air and music, then come inside to a the private party. Couldn't be better.