Jill Kerttula
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150 of 365 - Repetitive Togetherness

5/30/2014

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We are very bus getting ready for our second garage sale. I realized I hadn't taken my photo of the day, I ran out and snapped a zip lock bag of cookie cutters and another of a couple of mixing bowls. You know...together in a bag and nestled together. There. Done. But then I decided to play... here is the result of a little repetition and rotation.. I like this, and must try more!
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Above are the photos as taken and cropped initially. Next, I duplicated and rotated them in groups of four, and did a bit of color fun. Then I repeated that image in groups of sixteen. The result is a brocade like pattern that would make a great fabric pattern.
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And one more from a tree knot pic that I took a while ago.
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149 0f 365 - another glorious morning

5/29/2014

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When I was a small child, and we would go outside in the morning, we would often get grossed out by the "spittle bugs". A bug that forms a bubbly saliva like mass as protection for its for its larva. this 'spittle' would transfer to our legs as we ran through the tall grasses!

This morning I noticed they were out and about during last night, and left their little creations. Now I can appreciate their delicate formation!

The dandelions have reached their zenith, and most have at least partially distributed their seeds. SO time for one last wish and blow of the tiny umbrellas!


And, as always the light through the leaves is stunning.

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148 of 365 - together again

5/28/2014

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Meet one of my many nature friends that I will miss when we move. This tree was was just a sapling when a tendril of a bittersweet vine found it. Since then they have been growing together. The tree supporting the vine and the vine decorating the tree. Seemed like a good subject for this week's "together" theme!

Below are a couple other views of this friend. 

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147 of 365 - Textured potentials

5/27/2014

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I have no idea where I am going next creatively. But, just in case I need them, I have been collecting textures... Somehow I see them in art quilts or maybe art-to-wear garments with my photos printed on them... Still working all that out, but in the meantime I am having fun collecting!

On the right is "debris" from our neglected garden, and below are clouds from yesterday!



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146 of 365 - Emotional togetherness

5/26/2014

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Here is the last of my mannequins and I, together having a reflective moment before she leaves for her new home. It has been a great relationship - even if a bit one-sided! (this photo was softened to add to the tenderness of the moment and my wrinkles! ;-)

Below is the togetherness of shoes. One pair from age 3 months and one pair, on the same feet, about 25 years later...

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145 of 365 - Tech and tummy togetherness

5/25/2014

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Another new theme this week: "togetherness". So went to technology and food for my inspirations today!
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This is the togetherness of technologies! I took the photo with my phone of the display on my camera, which was taking a picture of Jon's phone, wich was taking a picture of my computer!
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Jon putting together all the right stuff for the perfect dinner last night!
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144 of 365 - Farm Window Pairs

5/24/2014

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Noticed a couple of pairs of windows (or are those doors at the top of the silo?) at the farms near us. Thought I would record them for this week's theme. Decided the simplicity of black and white set them off best.

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143 of 365 - windows in downtown Mount Horeb

5/23/2014

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Took a run through 'greater' downtown Mount Horeb today. Thought these were good windows!
Some new, some old, some censored, some ivy covered....
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142 of 365 - Windows and Apple Blossoms

5/22/2014

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We are still on the "Windows and Doors" theme, so I thought I would use the outside of the same window I used earlier this week.

So I waited for dusk and head out. I took this one on the left, which is a WINDOW with flowers. 

Next I took a flashlight to handhold and highlight the flowers, and snapped the bottom one which I see as a shot of FLOWERS with a window!

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141 of 365 Nature's doorways

5/21/2014

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On a wander around the yard, I noticed these "doors". I am not sure who's abode they are, for sure, but I think the above is where our resident opossum lives when he is not checking out the droppings from the bird feeders.

To the right is one of the many large tree stumps. these holes could be homes to many different birds or small mammals... and maybe several sequentially!

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140 of 365 - the Best Doors and Windows in the State

5/20/2014

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It wouldn't be right to try to fulfill our latest challenge of "Doors and Windows" without revisited the best building in Wisconsin; the State Capital. So I headed down yesterday and looked at it just from the viewpoint of doors and windows. What fun and what details.
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The West Washington Street Entrance doors
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majestic doors
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The office doors
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The door knobs that welcome you in.
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Between the pillars; looking up at the offices from the outside.
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An official caught pacing in a conference room while on the phone - caught between the door and the window.
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Looking up never gets old; windows that add both light and beauty.

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FLASHBACK: It was a glorious day in my favorite building. One that I feel both pride and ownership in.

The whole time I was there, with the many school children touring, a whole new batch of lawyers being sworn in, and many international tourists, I couldn't help but think of that day a couple of years ago when an egotistical Governor thought he could take this building from us and call it his own. A day, in 2011 when citizens respectfully left notes to him and legislators had to crawl in through the offices of their opponents.

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139 of 365 - Window textures

5/19/2014

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continuing with the theme of "doors and windows" I looked at the textures created by the coverings we put on out windows. This one on top (morning in our breakfast nook) brought back all kinds of memories of photo shoots long past while working at Springs Window Fashions! The one on the right is the early morning moon through a close-up of the window screen!
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138 of 365 - Doors of opportunity

5/18/2014

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Another new theme this week... windows and doors. This should be fun!
So lets start with some close-ups of the garage door.
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137 of365 - blue bird of happiness

5/17/2014

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It was a beautiful morning again today; so some sun, shadows, and a blue bird for you.

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136 of 365 - one man's trash is a photog's treasure

5/16/2014

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These reels are from Jon's childhood and one was a birthday present when he was ten. They are such beautiful mechanisms, but I guess very hard to use compared to the new ones.
Killing two birds with one stone here. Recording some artifacts of our lives and practicing some low-light photos. We are cleaning the garages for the next sale, and going in there at the end of the day, there was a museum quality to the low natural light, so I snapped some quick ones.
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An oil can from when you had to put oil into your vehicles, when it didn't come in today's handy sizes.
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Tomato basket and various other baskets used for produce and laundry through the years.
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Pulleys and parts of rust and wood.
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The top of an oil space heater... very unsafe, but antique-y pretty!
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135 0f 365 - My herd

5/15/2014

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One night driving around, I came upon this herd of cattle. I absolutely love them. There seems to be one of every possible coloring and they are so sweet. Today I went to check on them, and they were all laying down in the field. I stopped my car and got our, and they all immediately got up to check out who was visiting. SO they gently posed for many portraits...
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134 of 365 - killing an hour at the zoo

5/14/2014

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I had an hour to kill between errands and appointments yesterday. Fortunately that put me right outside the zoo! Madison, WI is one of the few places that has free admission to their zoo, so it is possible to just stop in for a quick peek. Henry Vilas Park Zoo  is a real treasure.

I have always loved the tortoise, and yesterday he was right up against the fence eating some of the new grass that was sprouting there. It took laying on the ground to get eye to eye with him, but it was worth it. While I was clicking away, I a little girl laid down and joined me on the ground to see what I was doing!

The otters were in rare form. They were flying through the water to the rocks then summersalting backwards into the water. Much to the joy of all the school kids watching who would scream with glee at each stunt!

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The elegant black swan seemed particularly disgruntled at being housed with the goofy flamingos. and was watching them and their antics on land as he glided through the water.
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The camels are always good for a laugh. They were busy chewing their cuds, and right after this, both of them laid out flat for their afternoon naps. As a kid, I got rides on these guys on Sundays. I think the Shriners have stopped sponsoring that, but it sure was fun!
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But no visit to the zoo is complete without the big cats. This "kitty" was just taking a moment to "smell the roses" and enjoying the springtime weather!
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133 of 365 - rainy day images

5/13/2014

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Rainy day today, so here are some images inspired by that. Caught in my care during a torrent too strong to drive in - both rain and hail. Here is the view out my car window, while I hope it lets up soon! (taken with phone camera)

Our Tamarack tree has sported its new needles for the year, and the raindrops christened them and made them even greener and more beautiful!

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132 of 365 - Planting hope

5/12/2014

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If there is an embodiment of "hope" (our theme this week) it has to be the farmer. Yesterday I was just going to take some pretty picture of farmland like the one above, but got derailed watching this guy on the left.

When I first spotted him, he was plowing new acreage from this field. I stopped to take a pic, and about that time he got out of his cab (upper right) then went to the front of the implement (lower left). I couldn't tell what was going on, but continued to watch. He returned to the cab and suddenly the entire front of the machine rose up and turned over (much like a transformer!)

It wasn't until I opened the shots on my computer that I realized that he was removing a stone with his crow bar. (lower right)

Not only hope, but strength too.

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131 of 365 - Hope springs eternal

5/11/2014

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There is a new theme in our photographers' group this week: Hope. An abstraction that some in our group were having a hard time concepting how to photograph. This morning at the Farmers Market, I couldn't help but see 'hope' all around. 
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Every seedling bought was an act of hope that it will flower or fruit. This photo is one vendor selling the hope of what the buyer's tomatoes will look like in a few months, if she purchases his seedlings!
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The capital steps are lined with people of hope; advocates of many causes are lined up to spread their hope of a betterment in whatever way they define it. Here is a man looking to become a candidate. Democracy is hope: the politicians hope they will get support; the voters hope they choose the candidate who will help them!
Not photoed was the hope of the new father kissing his child's head, the two year old running to catch the ball he had thrown into the air, the elderly woman hoping to make it through the crowd with her walker, and all of us hoping to find the perfect foods for dinner tonight! And remember...

Every day begins with an act of courage and hope: getting out of bed.

Mason Cooley


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129+130 of 365 - It is all a blur!

5/10/2014

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Just before we left on a 1400 mile road trip I read this article on "Intentional blurring" of photos. Something in that really resonated with me. And the timing couldn't have been better. So now my arm is sore from three days of almost continuous shooting!
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There is something about this technique that I really love. The visual aspects of the final shots harken back to both my painting and my etching days. I love how it relies on my recognizing potential, shooting immediately, and is a record of a moment in time that is even more fleeting than most "normal" photos. Add to that, that it record how we actually see if we are traveling fast! I tend to not like to "mess about" with my photos too much - both because of my lack of knowledge and curiosity about the technical aspects of post work and because making the photo.

This technique is one way I have found that I can get the painterliness and abstraction I want, without relying on computerization in post. Some are cropped, or contrast, color, or brightness adjusted, but no filters or layers are used in these.
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128 of 356 - on the Road Again

5/8/2014

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On the road again, so a couple pics from the interstate! Above is the Indiana ballet of windmills, and on the left is my favorite truck of the day! Just couldn't figure out how to get him to fill my go cup!


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127 of 365 - It must be May

5/7/2014

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Non-theme today; just snaps of Mrs. (top) and Mr. (bottom) Oriole tho have returned like clockwork. He came right to our window and knocked with his beak to let us know it was time to put out the syrup feeder (top right). Today we have been watching two males fight over both the food and the females! Then a misguided Grosbeak joined in. (bottom right)
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It is interesting how different the colors of the feathers are between the sun hitting it and not!
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126 of 365 - I like being in WI in the springtime

5/6/2014

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Today must have been the day to get out in the fields! Driving home I saw several tractors and the farmers working hard. I love the spray of dust that catches the sun behind them. In the above photo I also like the opportunistic hawk up in the tree waiting for the tractor to flush out a bunny or mousey for him.

The cows were enjoying being back in the green grass again, as the woman on the left worked her field.

A beautiful day, that can almost make me understand why some people love farming. Thankfully there are still small farms around to remind us of where our food comes from and the hard work that goes into growing it.


So for the theme this week "were do you like to be?" I say Wisconsin farm country.

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125 of 365 -  the sides of the trail

5/5/2014

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Continuing with the "where do you like to be" theme, I have returned to the Military Ridge Bike trail.

My dad was a highway engineer for the State of Wisconsin during the development of the interstates and major highways. We took many a weekend car ride out to see an interchange, bridge or road being built. One of those highways is just to the south of me, and our road is the "old highway". Across the street is an old wayside. During the time we have lived here I have watched the fight for nature to reclaim it. 

I have been on the bike trail many times, but the old railroad runs parallel to it in areas, so today I bushwhacked down to that area Below is the bridge I usually take as viewed from the old railroad bridge.

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Here are a couple of the spring nature activities happening by the trail. On the left are the May Apples that are lining the ground right now, and on the right is evidence of a murder on the trail. A robin met his demise, and I hope it was by a hawk or other non-domestic prey animal, but it was right by a sub-division, so someone's cat may be to blame...
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And then there are the hazards of nature photography in Southwestern Wisconsin...
Deer ticks.


Found one on my wrist and this one on my foot. hopefully those were the only two who found me. But my skin feels them all over right now!

Creepy guys.

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