photography and musings from a Midwesterner
From the category archives:
Variations on Lily Pads © 2010 Bo Mackison
“No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.” ~~ Taoist Proverb
I stopped by the garden pond shortly after a storm had moved through the area. The water was still, but the lily pads were still spotted with rain drops. I never realized how many different colors the lily pads turn, as autumn draws near. Photographed at Allen Centennial Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin.
{ 2 comments }
Early Morning Dance @ 2010 Bo Mackison
Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. ~ Albert Einstein
These delicate branches of tiny white star flowers were dancing lightly in the early morning breeze. They presented such a gentle, encouraging picture, I wanted to capture it to enjoy the memory of its dance in the early morning when I am given the gift of another new day.
{ 4 comments }
Lupine Abstract © 2010 Bo Mackison
While looking through my files for a few photographs to print for my upcoming art show, I accidentally popped open the catalogue of the photos from the Pacific Northwest trip I took earlier this summer, and this abstract of a blue lupine opened on my screen. I was rather taken with the deep purple and blue botanical abstract on the green background.
It seems like only a few weeks ago I was knee deep in bright blues and greens, and now, suddenly, the world is shifting, taking on different shades – more muted, warmer colors — yellows and oranges — replacing the brightness of summer’s peak. So I wanted to share a reminder with you of this past early summer as we pitch headlong into autumn.
Blue lupine photographed on the side of the road in North Cascades National Park, Washington. Mid-June, 2010.
{ 3 comments }
Daisies, Desaturated © 2010 Bo Mackison
After those photographs of that shockingly bright red zinnia, I thought I would offer a little eye relief. Here is a stand of daisies I photographed from my backyard garden, using a de-saturation technique to decrease the color tones and force focus on the shapes of the flowers.
The Shasta daisies in this perennial patch have bloomed in record times and have grown to record heights. Daisies always bring a smile to my face. I’m reminded of the fake plastic daisy plants of the 70s – the ones that had happy faces painted on them and danced in their plastic psychedelic pots when the battery was switched on.
Anyone remember what tune those potted daisies always seemed to play? (Obviously not “Tip Toe through the Tulips!”)
{ 7 comments }
Zinnia Petals © 2010 Bo Mackison
Fourth in a series of zinnia photographs. Photographed at the Allen Centennial Gardens on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison.
{ 5 comments }
Red Bridge Reflection @ 2010 Bo Mackison
Interesting colors towards the end of the day while visiting Allen Centennial Gardens on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison. Love the mix of bright colors – yellow-greens from the trees’ reflections, the bridge’s reflection in bright red, and the blue-green tinted lily pads.
{ 7 comments }
Sunlit Grasses © 2010 Bo Mackison
Sometimes simple is good. The last bit of evening sunlight on a few prairie grasses.
{ 6 comments }
'Radical Red' Lily © 2010 Bo Mackison
Another day lily. Red. Very red. As they call it, ‘Radical Red’. One in a set of lily photographs titled “Hot Summer Lilies.” Photographed at the University of Wisconsin – Test Gardens.
{ 12 comments }
Desaturated Coneflowers © 2010 Bo Mackison
A pair of purple coneflowers, photographed at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison Wisconsin. I often see personification in my botanical photographs. To me, it looks like the two flowers are holding hands, you know, the way you might casually intertwine fingers with your lover or child as you stroll along…
{ 4 comments }
Wabi Sabi Dahlia © 2010 Bo Mackison
This photograph is the last in the series of dahlias I’m posting on Seeded Earth (though there are many, many more in my treasure piles). I showed you ‘Esther’ as a new bud with the light from the setting sun giving her a warm glow. I showed you ‘Esther’ with her petals just beginning to fully unfurl. I gave you a peek of ‘Esther’ from a vantage not often seen – the undersides of the dahlia, softly lit (and one of my favorites). I posted a photograph of ‘Esther’ close up, so close you could almost see her heart. Today we say good bye to ‘Esther’ the dahlia, as she is on the wabi-sabi part of her journey.
What is wabi-sabi? As defined by architect Tadao Ando:
Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It’s simple, slow, and uncluttered-and it reveres authenticity above all.
Seems fitting that this is the photo for today. Today is one of those wabi-sabi sorts of days.
{ 6 comments }
