Running Home from the Ice Caves

Running Home from the Ice Caves

Off of the Wisconsin shores of Lake Superior, you will find a protected National Shore Line of the Apostle Islands.  And during the winter, if you are lucky enough, you will find Ice Caves.

I guess this blast of cool weather ushering in October has given me a longing for these cooler days.
But I digress...

This area forms some beautiful ice caves when the winter has been hard enough and long enough.  During these just right conditions, and as the winter is coming to a close, the National Park Service will give the OK for the public to travel to these islands and observe the caves covered in ice.

If you are insane enough, you will stay out past sunset.  Allowing you to capture all the 'smart' people running home before it gets too cold.  When you are this far north, the sky glows orange from the dimming sun. This is nicely contrasted by the deep blue ice and snow of Lake Superior.  Makes you want to sleep next to your best friend and partner to stay warm.

Purchase this as a print, greeting card, or even a nice Duvet Cover at Fine Art America: bit.ly/1FJeUCG

Sunset on the Upper Mississippi

Sunset on the Upper Mississippi

A great way to enjoy the late summer early fall life on the water.  Enjoying the sunset, feeling a slight breeze, and listening to the radio.

Pretty soon you'll be dropping anchor and sleeping under the stars. Fall will be in full swing with cooler nights and color changes.

Can I live off of Photography?

Can I live off of Photography?

As I feel my photography skills growing I'm realizing that I am truly outgrowing my equipment.  However, this is equipment that was given to me because I couldn't afford it to start with.  So I'm looking for my next step in photography... Monetizing.  Cash.  Income.

I've been looking for inspiration from many different sources.  Photographers that are way up there, such as JaredPolin.com, JasonLanier.com, Tony and Chelsea Northrup of NorthrupPhotography.com, and Lauri Novak of LauriNovakPhotography.com (whom I've had the pleasure of meeting).  Additionally, 2 other people I look to in this adventure to monetizing my art: my wife, Nicole and my twin brother, Adam

First, about the inspiration that I live with every day, my wife.  No, this isn't a sappy post for me telling Nicole how much I love her (and I do).  But it is because she has made the transition from doing something that is a part of her into doing it for love... and doing it for income.  Nicole is a Figure Skating Coach.  She loves figure skating.  But to feed this love, she started coaching.  She is a constant voice in my life advising me how something is worth in an economy.

And I have my brother, Adam.  I blame him.  I blame him for the camera he gave me.  I blame him for showing it is possible to make even a little bit of money at this thing.  I also thank him for the conversations we have bouncing ideas off each other.

And now I will go back to the order I started with.  Most of whom are on my youtube list...

Jared Polin.  This is what I love about Jared, even though he is a Nikon guy, he could care less what camera you are using.  When he is going through critiques or answering questions during 'flying solo' bits he is showing his passion but also channeling what he went through.  He started young (he is only a couple of years younger than me) and has since made a great name for himself.  He is also a team photographer for the Philadelphia Flyers, so he understands an environment I have been shooting in... Ice Rinks.

Jason Lanier.  Jason is a cool guy.  Sure, he is a 'Sony Artisan' but he too could care less what you are shooting with.  Some of what I love about him is that he makes photos that look like they could be HDR from a single shot.  He does this by bringing a flash and knowing how to use it.  But, he doesn't get crazy with his equipment.  Jason Lanier makes amazing work with usually one flash and a remote.  Sometimes he has 2 flashes or the rotolight neo.  But it represents that slightly next step that I want to get to.  Additionally, he shoots in abandoned properties.

Tony and Chelsea Northrup.  This husband and wife team are idyllic. Their weekly youtube live videos are a mishmash of photo news and people entering their photos and web sites for critiques.  They are always instructional.  Also fun when you have an adult beverage!  Probably the greatest strength I get out of them is the display of pros vs cons.  I also get some opposing viewpoints on things that Jared Polin has said about showing what your pricing points are going to be. And I still have to weigh that opinion as well.

Lauri Novak.  Folks, check her out.  I've met her during a photography trip out to Chicago.  You might say she has arrived as a photographer.  But she is very gracious individual and is also a student of this thing called The Arcanum.  During the brief encounter I've had she talked about some of the ways she is marketing her photos.  And, I dare say it was the nicest kick in the ass I ever experienced.

I've found that there are people out there that really make use of 3 major things. Google Search, FaceBook, Twitter, and Instagram.  This means making sure I have my blogsite here updated, and that it is some how in sync with what I have on the other three services.  Since I do not have my own online store, I'm using a suggestion from Lauri Novak and my brother, FineArtAmerica.com (FAA for the rest of this posting).

What this means is there are 4services out there that I now have as a way to direct people to purchasing my photos as a print or other merchandise. Twitter is going to be tricky, however.  Since you only have so many characters in each twitter post I'm trying to see if Bitly.com will be a good way to shorten my links between my blog and FAA.  But I think this will mean more posts to twitter to show people my photos... specially the photos that are available at FAA.

Next up (in some future post), finding an hourly rate.

Skaters Grow Up, Not Out

Skaters Grow Up, the the Skater doesn't Grow Out

I've known how ice skating becomes a passion for nearly everyone that is able to skate into their freestyle lessons.  Adults that are able to continue skating have begun skating more and more.  Weather for exercise, release of stress or to learn what their child is going through, you can see more and more of these types of skaters.  Eau Claire, WI has had adult events as part of their yearly competitions.

So, get your skates on!  Time to hit the ice!

Figure Skater's Finish

A Figure Skater's Finish

I'm on Fine Arts America! (More on that below.)

Photography is a life long enjoyment.  Even if you only just recently start taking good photos, it was probably always inside of you.  Being married to a figure skating coach, I always have a challenging environment for taking photos.  

I took this photo realizing it was the moment a skater gave their final presentation to the audience.  Of course, everyone focuses on the face or the whole skater.  But I remembered a theme most photographers tell their students, "Don't do the same thing everyone is doing.  If everyone is in the 'pit' then don't be there."

Being honored with a figure skater's willingness to present, I thought about the feet and blades.  The punishment they endure as part of the show.  Making it 'look easy' through all that pain and hard work, these feet, boots, and blades were begging for attention.

And you can now honor them, too.  I now have a profile started at FineArtAmerica.com.  Purchase this image on some greating cards, through pillows, prints, etc.  

Goto:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-figure-skaters-finish-anthony-dooley.html

Park, People, and the Monument

Park, People, and the Monument

La Crosse, WI has a summer music series called Moon Toons.  It is a local Rotary effort to raise money for a new and upgraded bandshell.  These are free concerts that normally attract a good sized crowd.  And with beautiful weather, being right up against the Mississippi River with great music, crowds just happen. 

In this photo, you see people looking at the concert off camera to the left, but for the ladies in the center looking at the monument.  It is an American Bald Eagle, erected by a local business in honor of their workers.  Appropriate because this business was a sponsor of this event.

#dayofrest   #lacrossewi   #citypark   #monument   #freedom   #workers  #philanthropy   #goldenhour   #endofsummer   #people   #trees  

Baby Owl peeking out into the world

Baby  Owl peeking out into the world.  Found this guy with the help of some La Crosse area Birders this spring in Myrick Park Marsh.  You had to look really hard or you would miss it.

#birds #birding #birders #birder #lacrossewi #peekaboo #Discoverwisconsin #chick #owl #who #owlsofinstagram

La Crosse Soup

Last August 26th, behind the Root Note, your donations and vote helped 1 of 4  people bring a project to life.  A project that Makes La Crosse a Better Place.  

Here is the manifesto of La Crosse Soup.

The next #LAXSoup event will be Sept 30 -  https://www.facebook.com/events/455303707975281/

La Crosse's Steam Locomotive and Old Time Caboose

For anyone that drives into Downtown La Crosse from the direction of Interstate 90 will see Engine 4000  and Caboose 0359 over at Copeland Park.  At this location, The City of La Crosse has a min-train museum.  You will find an old Control Tower, a Steam Locomotive, and the oldest known Caboose.

La Crosse has a rich history regarding the railroads.  Several rail road companies crossed through this area.  And starting in the 60s, La Crosse wanted to make sure people could be reminded of that connection.

On Saturday, August 29th, I stopped by this display on a whim.  It just so happened that there was going to be an 'Open House' for this little museum and they were just opening when I got there.

I got invited to walk into the caboose and check it out.  I was advised, however, that I could walk up to the engine cab, but since a lot of work was still being done no one was able to go into that part.  There were two engineers that came to answer any questions for visitors.

The best thing about the caboose was I had no expectations.  Walking up to it, the guide told me that this was the oldest known caboose in the country.  Built in 1883 at a factory in Dubuque, IA it had been designed larger than most.  Farmers and Cattlemen would use this to accompany their crops and heard for sale.  Sometimes, farmers would also use this to watch their fields, for the farmers lucky enough to have a train go through their property.








This museum informs that the caboose used to be incredibly important to train operations.  The cupola was where you would watch for any issues with the cars on the train.  The caboose held much of the spare parts needed for each job.  All of the financial books were kept.

This was the home for everyone working on the train.  You had stoves in place for heat and cooking.  The desks and booths became beds.  And the conductor and crew were assigned to the caboose, not the train.


In a sense, you could identify the train more by the caboose than you could by identifying the engine.  If you had a shift change, you saw it done with the change of the caboose.

And during the times everyone was in the box at the same time, it must have been a crowded space.  So the trust required must have made everyone into a sort of family.

 The locomotive was #4000, a Hudson 4-6-4.  It was owned by the CB&Q, otherwise known as Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy (now part of Burlington Northern) Railroad.  This engine was built in 1930 by Baldwin Locomotive Works.  The wheels were 78 Inches and allowed the train to be capable of speeds between 90 and 100 miles per hour.  You can see the Timken brand all over this engine.

La Crosse had it's Grand Crossing terminal and Control Tower.  This location was where people would control the switches for a very wide operating area.  This must have been an amazing set of levers used for the job.

At one time, this control tower would operate the switches all the way out to Tomah, WI and somewhere half way up the Mississippi to the Twin Cities.  But with computer controls, these days, much of Wisconsin and Minnesota are operated out of Minneapolis.