Capitol Silhouette © 2010 Bo Mackison
New news from Seeded Earth Studio! I have recently taken official steps to branch my photography into two directions.
I shoot a lot of nature and landscape photography, and these photographs will continue to appear (almost daily) on the Seeded Earth blog.
But I also have a passion for visiting and photographing historical places, and I’ve recently started a new website and blog which focuses on this genre of photographs. The new site is called, quite originally, Historic Places Photography. I feature a historic building (for now, mostly from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Arizona) two to three times a week.
I intend, in the future, to offer architectural photography to the dedicated people who undertake restorations of historical properties, and also to provide downloadable walking tours featuring photographs and information on the architecture of historic buildings in smaller cities and towns throughout the Midwest.
For now, I hope you’ll visit Historic Places Photography and check out the photography.
See the Differences in the Windows' Reflections
One window shows the reflection of the blue sky, the other window shows the reflection of the dirt path.
Nothing Square about this Window
April 1. New month, new season.
Windows. I love how there is nothing quite square about this window. Back in the 1800s I suppose they didn’t have to use rulers and squares when they were building their stone buildings. Eying it might have been good enough. I like that. I like its odd bit of crookedness.
Red Barn and Silo in Rural Sauk County
A little rain would sure help green things up a bit.
A View from the Vestibule
I’m not one for spending a lot of time attending church services, but I do appreciate a quiet space where I can take some time out of my day and sit in quiet.
Often that quiet space, at least for me, is out in the middle of a hardwood forest propped against a tree, or sitting on the giant boulders lining the lakes, concentrating on the waves that never stop washing over the rocky shore.
But sometimes I find myself in the city, and I find myself in need of a quiet place. Occasionally I walk inside one of the many churches that line the downtown streets, and I find a space to sit and spend a few minutes in silence.
I was quite taken by the old world beauty of this church in downtown Milwaukee, and wanted to capture the feeling in a photograph. The half open door provided just enough framing for a part of the interior of the church. I liked the warm colors and the simplicity.
It was another one of those good spaces.
Dusk on Capitol Square
Historic American Exchange Bank Building
The American Exchange Bank is on the Capitol Square across the street from the State Capitol Building. The building is constructed with huge blocks of Wisconsin sandstone. That seems to be the building material of choice for many of the historic buildings in south-central Wisconsin, and the sandstone apparently holds up well. This structure, built in 1871, is still a handsome place.
One of the best things about Madison’s downtown square, however, is the number of benches always available to a quick rest or people watching.
Self Portrait?
Another self portrait in metaphor.
Not quite in balance.
Need a bit of freshening, but an hour’s work would take care of those smudges, straighten the tangled cords of the window blind.
And a bit of sanding and a fresh coat of paint would hide those worn areas.
Like I mentioned before–metaphor.
Historic Quincy Casket Company Building
The Quincy Casket Company, also known as the S J Lessem Building, is a brick and stone, three story building perched on the bluffs of Quincy Illinois, and has a fine view overlooking the Mississippi River. Built in the mid 1850s in the Italiante Style, it was used as a factory and warehouse for its first 100 years. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 due to its architectural significance.
on the Magnificent Mile
The Water Tower on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue has historically been considered the most significant survivor from Chicago’s disastrous fire of 1871. It has become a symbol of Chicago’s revival and fighting spirit to come back from tragedy.
The Tower, built as a pumping station in 1869, was designed by architect William W Boyington. It is on the US Register of Historic Places.
Two other well known, though significantly more modern buildings, loom in the background of the Tower. The Water Tower Place is to the left of the tower, and the John Hancock Center is on its right.
