Very Pink Cosmos

Very Pink Cosmos © 2010 Bo Mackison

We spent a long but enjoyable day at Mt. Horeb’s Art Fair. The crowds were festive and spirited, even though it was hot and humid. We’ll be back again tomorrow for the second day of the art show.

Thunderstorms are predicted in the early morning hours, but hoping maybe the storms will pass us by. We’ll see…

This pink cosmos was photographed last week at Allen Centennial Gardens on the University of Wisconsin’s campus in Madison.

A Curtsy for You

Yellow Flowers at Allen Centennial Garden

A Curtsy for You © 2010 Bo Mackison

Seeded Earth Studio will be at the Mt. Horeb 39th Annual Art Fair, Saturday, July 17, 9am – 5pm and Sunday July 18, 10am – 4pm.

Booth 124 on the Trollway between First and Second Streets. If you are in the area ( about 30 minutes west of Madison) be sure and say hello.

Water Lilies

Water Lilies at the Chicago Botanic Gardens

Water Lilies © 2010 Bo Mackison

There is a new article in my series,  Memoir Space, now up on The Calm Space, an online magazine published by Karen Wallace.

In the article, I share an excerpt of a letter I wrote to a special woman in my life, and show how easy it is to write a bit of your life story. It’s as easy as writing a letter – yes, a handwritten letter! – and including it in a special occasion card. Go ahead. Take a minute and read  Spreading Happiness by Sharing Memories.

The water lilies were photographed at Chicago Botanic Garden. I’ve been working with desaturated photographs, and in this photo, I left only a hint of the original color, while keeping the emphasis on the two sunlit lilies.

Hope you enjoy both the article and the lilies.

Poppy Sunset

Abstract Macro of Poppy Flower

Poppy Sunset © 2010 Bo Mackison

Just before crossing the border from Washington state into British Columbia, Canada, we stopped fora short break at the International Border Park. The park had a small sculpture garden and quite a few beds of flowers including one with a huge stand of blooming poppies. I took a few photographs before getting back in the car and joining the stream of cars heading through customs.

Today I worked with several of the poppy images, including this macro shot of a poppy interior. When I desaturated the colors, the photograph of the poppy  reminded me of the sunset I had just watched through my studio window.

Tiny Fountain

Fountain at Chicago Botanic Gardens

Tiny Fountain © 2010 Bo Mackison

This fountain is in a very long straight line, but the individual water spouts are very short – only a few inches high.

Did you see the fountain in the photograph when you first glanced? As you looked for the fountain, did that encourage you to look deeper into the photograph?

That is what photography – the actual act of taking a photograph – does for me. It makes me take a longer look, a deeper look. It allows me take the time to make meaning from what I see.

Photographed at Chicago Botanic Garden.