Notes from the Woods

seeing · environment · exploration · photography
Blue Spruce

Blue Spruce

I've been finding pieces of blue spruce trees around my backyard a lot lately. I am not sure what animal is responsible for breaking off these healthy portions of the tree, but I wish they would knock it off. Blue Spruce trees here in Michigan have enough pressure on...

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Leave the Leaves – they may bite

Leave the Leaves – they may bite

Thoughts about individualism and community weave in and out of this Leaf Creature series. While their individual characteristics manifest from the physical isolation of the black backgrounds and unique shapes, they will always be connected functionally to the mother...

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Leaf Creatures – Season 2

Leaf Creatures – Season 2

As a recap of "Season 1," I started a project photographing leaf creatures in my yard last year. It was an attempt not only to see the individual character of each of these leaves but to let your imagination run wild to see them as something else. I really wasn't sure...

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Fern studies

Fern studies

Matteuccia struthiopteris, or Ostrich Fern, is a fern we have in abundance in our yard. Every year they seem to find a new spot to pop up. They are quite prolific. It doesn't seem to matter sun or shade as they are a forest understory native species, though I suppose...

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Agatized Fossil Dinosaur Bone

Agatized Fossil Dinosaur Bone

This is a piece of dinosaur bone I purchased a while ago when I was going a bit crazy with seeking out interesting patterns for my Stonescapes series of images. I was attracted to the unique pattern and colors, something I was completely unaware could happen with...

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Amethyst Sage Agate with dendrites

Amethyst Sage Agate with dendrites

Sometimes I wish I had a more systematic way of mining my archives. The logical assumption would be to simply go through month by month looking for photos that I haven't developed yet or forgotten about. But the reality is I usually do it much more serendipitously,...

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Leaf Creatures, part five

Leaf Creatures, part five

With our first snow arriving yesterday, I am sensing my subjects for this project will soon be retreating into the soil for the season (with or without the help of our electric mulching mower.) 🙂 I have basically completed them over 4 different sessions outside,...

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Leaf Creatures, part four

Leaf Creatures, part four

As I have been accumulating photographs of these strange little beings in my yard, I have been thinking about a good way to group them together. So here is a brief slideshow of some of my work to date. I hope you enjoy it. (Best viewed in HD - you can even turn your...

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