Summer Pleasures

I found myself on a beautiful piece of land over the weekend. It's in northern Wisconsin, near the little town of Clear Lake. A creek runs through the area - I'm pretty sure it's called Hay Creek. I spent a couple of nights in a tent there, and the first morning I woke up just after sunrise, and naturally, my thought went to "Beautiful light on the creek." I had pitched the tent up against some tall brush leaving only one of the two tent doors available. Between me and the door was my slumbering wife. While she is tolerant and indulgent of me and my need to capture light-just-right, it seemed a shame to wake her. So, sneaking as quietly as Gollum, and talking quietly to myself as well so I didn't forget anything and have to come back, I zzzzzipped open the screen and the fly, set all my camera gear out and climbed out. Mission accomplished (no, really)! She snoozed on and I was mosquito bait. The stream was only about a hundred yards away, so in moments I was rewarded with just what I expected: Sun dappled creek.


Morning Bluff

Using the tripod and the 18-55 mm lens that came with my camera, I stopped it to f/22 at ISO 200, and used timed exposures to capture as much of the richness as I could. This also gave me the bonus of slowing the water down to a nice, silky foam as it burbled across the rocks. I got the feeling as I stood there looking at the bluff and the creek bed, that this creek had been here for centuries, perhaps longer, while I was the most temporary visitor. Even the 'squitos were generational. So I used my remote trigger to insert myself into the photo in a way that expressed what I was feeling.


Temporary Visitor

I made a loop of the area, taking photos as things caught my eye. I've always been fascinated by this sort of segmented grass, which I understand dates back to prehistoric times.


Ancient Grass

After an hour or so, the temperature was beginning to rise noticeably, and the day promised to be hot. Since there were no showers to be had, and I was mostly alone, I decided to brave the decidedly chilly creek and splish-splash and pretend to get clean without any soap. Here then, is a photo of a Common Skinny-Dipper in Summer Plumage...


Common Skinny-Dipper

As I typed that title, I was reminded of a delightful painting by Wisconsin artist Hugh Mandelert, which I believe was titled "Common Skinny Dippers in Summer Plumage". I saw the original in Madison at the Fanny Garver Gallery, but this painting must have been done either at the same time, or by request for someone who loved the other. Thinking of you, Mr. Mandelert. RIP.