I was watching the parent and then discovered what she was working so hard for.

These three houses have always caught my eye, over the years they have slowly transformed from dodgy houses into funky little businesses. I really have to round up some of my freelance friends and go hang out there during rush hour and watch the traffic.

The Spoonbridge proudly shows off it’s shiny new Cherry, just back from Earl Scheib with a fresh coat of Cherry Red. This Minneapolis landmark was sadly separated over the late winter while the Walker Art Center had the Cherry repainted. It’s a much deeper red than it was before, either it had faded and this is the original color or they decided to make it less “pop” and more cherry. None the less, I’m happy it’s back and doing it’s job: the two ladies in the picture later asked me to take their picture with it behind them.

Oh, by the way, see the duck family in the pond? They’re the stars from the last few days.

They’re just so cute! This series of duckling photos were taken under a famous landmark, tune in tomorrow to find out where!

These little guys live with their family under a famous landmark, can you guess where?

He seems  to be out in the lake country, but this lil’ guy is living the good life right here in the big city, can you guess where?

I just finished designing and building a new website for Olive Salon on Nicollett Ave in Minneapolis. It’s visually very flat, the owner, Carolyn, has a very distinctive style that is reflected in the design of the salon, her choice of artwork (they have a regularly rotating collection that actually sells well) and even in her fashion.

The site picks up this style and communicates what the salon offers. We intentionally did not put pictures on the site like so many places do; the objective of the design is to seporate Olive from the fray by being clear and forward. It’s a hip, fun salon without all the pretense of so many others.

This is a photograph of Joe Paquet’s Oil Painting “AM Bacilica”that was painted from Loring Park. I have studied with Joe for years and have never had a better teacher. Joe practices Plein Air painting which is painting outside, drawing from life itself. The concept was developed by the French impressionists and allows the artist to really learn to see his subject. Nature has patterns that you can only see with patient observation.

Joe is teaching a workshop next week and I thought I’d let you all in on it. Learning to paint is an amazing experience, it’s not so much about the painting as it is about seeing. My photography is highly influenced by Joe and I enjoy just seeing clearly what is happening as light dances across a landscape.

Also, I built Joe’s Website and photograph all his paintings. Oil Paintings are very tricky to shoot, they have an astounding ability to glare and the color has to be spot on, or the whole experience can change. Pop over and take a look, his compositions are fun to study, check out the industrial landscapes, the are especially instructive for us city photographers.

Our perennial nemesis, more virulent than the piggy sniffles, pours over the fields — like short Mongolian hoards with puff-ball heads.

Summer is returning to the great midwestern prairie! I took this while riding my recumbant down the Cedar Corridor towards Minneapolis. The Trail follows the BNSF mail line into town and this little siding just east of Hwy 100 frequently has unusual things parked on it. I think the section crews use it for their repair equipment. There are three flat cars there with what appear to be bridge sections on them. I’ve seen all kinds of odd stock there from the full track repair caterpillar to beatup gondolas full of track.