New Wisconsin Endangered Resources License Plate

On Wednesday April 7th I attended the release of the new Wisconsin endangered resources license plate in Madison. The photograph featuring the badger was one of my photographs taken from the Wood County Wildlife Area. This badger photograph is one of my most important photographs; creating an emphasis on endangered resources in Wisconsin. It is projected that the new plate design will generate over one million dollars of extra revenue for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; protecting important land and wildlife throughout the Wisconsin wilderness.

Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate

During this past week I received word that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources selected one of my badger photographs to be installed into the new Endangered Resources license plate running. Until October 19, 2009 the public is welcome to vote for their favorite plate designs. There are four total, the red headed wood pecker, great blue heron, blue bird and the badger are the selected species with a potential to be the next Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate. I find all the plates to be wonderful and each has a great purpose -Protect the Endangered Resources in Wisconsin!

Click here to read article at on Milwaukee -Wisconsin- Journal Sentinel's web site.

Spring in central Wisconsin

Journal entry: Wednesday April 28, 2004 - Wood county wildlife area

The credit to the photographs made during spring goes to the singing wildlife in the wetlands. The music around the wetlands is near deafening. All spring songs are composed to perfection. The spring peepers in rhythm, the air pump base of the American bittern is deep and throaty, the Sandhill cranes call coarse and raspy, an occasional clap of thunder causing the wild turkey to shock gobble, in the fare distance the drumming of the ruffed grouse, overhead the whisper of the woodcock. The annual live spring performance in the Wood county wildlife area is purely unequalled.

The portfolio below was selected from several photographs that were taken during the spring of 2009.

Bad wetland weather - Wood county wildlife area

Canada geese with goslings - Necedah national wildlife refuge

Spring light - Necedah national wildlife refuge

Spring shore - Wood county wildlife area

Wetland prairie - Wood county wildlife area



Wetland rainbow - Wood county wildlife area


Forest in down pour - South wood county park, Dexterville Wisconsin


Rainbow and bloom - South wood county park, Dexterville Wisconsin


Lilly pads - Sandhill wildlife area


Water drops and tree reflection - Sandhill wildlife area

Birch reflection - Necedah national wildlife refuge



Moore road - Wood county Wisconsin


Black river - Black river falls, Wisconsin


Sandpiper - Wood county wildlife area


Hooded merganser - South wood county park, Dexterville Wisconsin



Muskrat - Wood county wildlife area

An evening around Wisconsin Rapids

A night in the Wisconsin Rapids area can be very beautiful. I love photographing the area's industry as well as the city scenes. Perhaps my subject interest is peaked from the historical societies from around the area. The vintage of pre 1930 photographs are simply amazing. It's amazing how much the areas industry and communities have changed. I can only wonder how the area will look in the year 2109.

New Page paper mill - Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Domtar paper mill - Nekoosa Wisconsin

Lights under the bridges - Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Winter impressions

Sometimes my vision is all but clear. Perhaps, the overwhelming beauty of a scene makes it difficult for me to totally comprehend and express whats before me as a photograph of great detail. During these moments I like to create abstract photographs that are expressive to what I feel within. Below are a few of those moments that I envisioned during the winter of 2008/2009.

Forest with dappled leaves

Dogwood stand

Red oak

Red pine needles

Mixed forest

Birch

Wind in forest

Winters passage

Here's a few photographs that were taken during the end of winter of 2008/2009.

White-tail deer and Bear bluff

Power poles on Cranberry Road

Spring is nearing

Visions of a layoff "Portfolio 1"

Due to the slowing economy my workplace was forced to lay all hourly employees off for a week. During this week I created "Portfolio 1" Visions of a layoff. One of my primary focuses of this project was to document the local paper mills of central Wisconsin. It was and is a frightening reality to see a local paper mill "Domtar - Port Edwards" close their doors and the remaining mills of the area in a pinch, fighting to keep the doors open.
Though I prefer nature photography, I had a need to document a few of the remaining mills in an artistic and photo-journalistic manner. But as expected, I found myself chasing ducks and eagles along the Wisconsin River attempting to create a meaningful image of nature.

To view a special article of this project you can visit the link below.
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090312/WRT10/903120341/0/OSH&theme=

Down town Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Ducks on ice - Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Prescribed burn

Church steple relection

Mallard transit

Ducks under bridge

Steam stacks

Plant power feeds

Star gazing

Moon over mill

Coal cars at mill

Dam warning during icy season