Chicago Botanic Japanese Garden

In a Japanesde garden, snow is appreciated for the patterns it makes and for its flower-like appearance when it gathers on the branches of trees.

From across the pond.

This red tailed hawk was enjoying the view, perhaps too early for supper. Wish I had a telephoto along for this visit.

Love the color contrast in this scene.

Scenes of the Menomonee River...

These are some of the images taken during the Plein Air Event earlier this October. This was taken from the 6th Street Bridge at the Harley Museum - looking east on the Saturday afternoon when we had the neat clouds. I procrastinated and started a little late.

Looking west from the 13th Street Bridge.

Looking east from the 13th street Bridge. I liked that cloud above the WE smoke stacks.

The 16th Street Viaduct - Father Groppi's bridge. This was taken from the Hank Aaron Trail behind the Marquette Athletic Fields.

Where the Menomonee River bends under Canal Street at the 27th Street Viaduct.

All images © Richard Bublitz - all rights reserved.

Sometimes I think that every picture that could be taken, already has been taken.

At least by someone. I want to change that.

The art of digital photomontage and its various practices is offering exciting opportunities for expressionism. My work at this stage is quite simple when compared to others who have pioneered with this. The core of my work however, is based on my own photography and handled in a way to present an insight to the image at hand.

Some pieces blend several images that are quite evident, and are combined in a way to provide their own identity. This image is a combination of a late Fall day leading to the Mackinac Bridge connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, and the Mission San Xavier del Bac (White Dove of the Desert) south of Tuscon, Arizona (yep, vacation photos). The brick pattern in the upper right background has meaning to the Matrix movie enthusiasts. I call it "Across This Country".

Most of this work includes an overlay of texture, in a colour that emulates a Rembrandt palette of deep warm colours. This is "Passage of Time" a side of one of the Pabst Brewery buildings.

This image was taken of a store window. It was important for me to remember a message on a poster inside. To make it my own, I added an appropriate portrait of mine over the poster, along with a flower in the corner for colour and contrast. The message is "Free Your Self".

A Third Ward street festival scene with added grunge texture - where someone was taken by surprise. "Invasion of Privacy".

I do a lot of people photography both on the "Street" and with portraits in the studio. I like to work with models for my personal work - preferably those with an education in theatre or dance. While the portrait of this model is excellent on it's own merit, incorporating it with a window form a greenhouse in Racine along with the texture, this gave it a whole new meaning.

This is the type of work I really enjoy doing!

The Chimneys at Chimney Park... within the Menomonee River Valley Project

The chimney images are from a series I photographed in June of 2009. These smokestacks were part of the Milwaukee Road railroad repair shops and were referbished to remain as a monument to the valley's industrial heritage.

Since last winter, bricks have been falling off and preservation efforts are being dropped - because of public safety and the long-term maintenance would be substantial.

The smokestacks were demolished at 9AM on Saturday, September 4, 2010. The demolition was known - but the timing was not published.

The demolition was very well controlled, but rather sad at this point.

View from the 35th Street viaduct

From inside the parimeter

RIP

Link to 2009 posting.

Link to Milwaukee Road Redevelopment

Chicago Botanic Gardens

Tuesday, August 3, 2010.

The lotus flower grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. Untouched by the impurity, lotus symbolizes the purity of heart and mind. The lotus flower represents long life, health, honor and good luck.

Lotus flower seed pod.

The three stages, flower, seed pod and flower bud. Notice the seed pod develops while the flower is in bloom.

The beauty of the water lilies at the Gardens is endless.



Water from a rain shower earlier in the morning.

2010 Brady Street Festival slide show

Brady Street Festival

Brady Street is often associated with being once the heart of Milwaukee's Italian community. In the 1960s, Italians, Polish and other assimilated groups began to leave the neighborhood for the suburbs, while the hippies and other bohemians moved in. The 1980s saw blight, neglect and decay, but now the area has been revitalized and has become a model for New Urbanism. Starting in the late 1990s, gentrification has now forced out most of the bohemian population, many moving to Riverwest and Bay View as another option. But this neighborhood still exhibits a strong, albeit upscale, independent flair. For instance, the Annual Brady Street festival in July brings together the neighborhood in block party fashion.

Trash & Treasure - the streets are kept clean and shop owners present their best deals of the season.

Before and After - Head to Toe - Front to Back.

Making a Point

Water pipes at Casablanca are popular year around.

One with a long history on Brady Street

A pro wrestling exhibition provides entertainment for the young and the old alike.

The annual Drag Show is quite popular.

This event was also the Milwaukee location for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals Worldwide Photowalk. More than 50 participating photographers were on hand for most of the day and evening to capture the flair of the day.

New website dedicated to Black & White photography...

My new website is dedicated to fine art genres of figure, portrait and street photography.

These bodies of work are exclusively black and white. One of the reasons for this is, well that's how photography began, and that has worked for quite some time. But more importantly it is the compelling way black and white photography engages the viewer with the essence of the image - it's very spirit.