Postcard from Chicago

The name of this photo is, “Where Trees Meet.” It was taken in a small park on the south side of the Chicago Institute of Art, on Michigan Ave. in downtown Chicago. The white wall you see in the background is the Institute.

I just love the way the tree branches come together above the walkway from each direction. And, in fact, there are two other walkways on either side of this one where the trees also meet. Somehow, they were able to train the tree branches (cock-spur Hawthorne trees) to create this effect. How they did it is beyond me.

I assume these tree branches have a tendency to grow straight out rather than up and by planting them at the proper distances from each other, they were able to make the branches meet in the middle. What is even more interesting is that the branches bend downward, giving a concave appearance above the walkway.

Believe it or not, this was not an easy scene to capture. I took photos both on an April visit and an October visit, trying to find a way to capture that concave look. What you see is the best I could come up with, thanks to a little post processing magic in Photoshop.

Not visible in the photo is the famous bronze “Fountain of the Great Lakes,” which adds to the sights and sounds of this lovely little park. It is a great place to eat one’s lunch or sit and read during one’s lunch hour…which of course, local residents often do. So do tourists, including me.

Postcard from Sedona

This is Thunder Mountain at sunrise, a spectacular piece of red rock that rises high above Sedona, AZ. You can see part of the city in the lower half of the photo. 

This was photographed in December, so it was well below freezing on the mountain top where I took this picture. But it was worth it. Capturing the early light of sunrise can be tricky…or it can be thrilling. It all depends on the light. And you never know how good or bad it will be until the sun peeks its head over the horizon.

The day before this photo was taken, the light was terrible and no photos were taken. But, being the persistent cuss that I am, I went back the next morning and got lucky. Such is the life of those persons who want to make exceptional photographs…you gotta work at it!

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Utah

This image was taken at a small, unnamed lake in southern Utah, just north of the Arizona border and the town of Kanab, UT.  I looked on both Google Maps and Google Earth, trying to find a name for this lake. No luck. One person on Google Earth referred to this as a pond. Too big for that designation. It is quite easy to get to as it sits right on Highway 89.

Northern Arizona and Southern Utah are a smorgasbord of beautiful scenery and an endless supply of photo prospects. Even when they don’t have a name they can be beautiful. 

My photographer friend Dave Forster and I are planning another trip into southern Utah in the first week of November. First we will spend a few days capturing the beauty of Zion National Park in Autumn…then head into the back country of the Escalante Region…well off the beaten path. I am really looking forward to this trip. It’s an amazing place to be sure.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Sedona

It’s an oldie, but a goodie. This image goes back four years ago to my very first trip to Sedona. While huddled inside during our long Arizona summer heat wave, I’ve been going through photos and upgrading my Web site. Recently, I came across this photo and discovered I never shared it here before. I think it is a good one.

I recall most of this day was without any clouds, but as late afternoon approached, some storm clouds approached from the east. As it happens, I was in a good location and got some nice photos of red rock formations with sunlight on the rocks and storm clouds in the background…always a good combination for a photographer.

There is not much else to say about Sedona that I have not already shared here before. So just enjoy the photo.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Tumacacori

I photographed this image on a late afternoon visit to the Tumacacori National Historical Park…about 50 miles south of Tucson. I have shown you a couple of pictures of the the old mission in past editions. This image was shot outside the mission on the wall that surrounds the property.

When I drove up, I was blown away by the shadows being cast on the walls by a few very old trees. As it was in the middle of winter, there were few if any leaves on the trees. It was an artistic shot just too good to past up. I spent several minutes shooting here before I even went in to see the old mission. The cactus and other desert flora in the image give a strong hint that this was taken in the Southwest. Even the old window adds to Southwestern flavor.

Tumacacori is an old Spanish mission church whose actual name is Mission San José de Tumacácori. It was established in January 1691 by Jesuit Father Eusebio Francisco Kino and is located on 310 acres at the town of Tumacácori, Arizona, about 50 miles south of Tucson (and 18 miles north of the Mexican Border), off of Interstate 19. It is a National Historical Park, run by the National Park Service.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Chicago

This photo shows part of the Osaka Japanese Garden located in Jackson Park on the south side of the city. To give you an idea where it is, if you follow the lagoon straight ahead, you would very quickly arrive on Lake Michigan.  If you turned to the left, you would see the back side of the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, which has been featured in these pages before.

If you turned around and started walking west, in a few blocks you would come to the University of Chicago. Walk a few miles south of this point, and you would be in Indiana. If you walked 62 blocks north, you would be in downtown Chicago. OK, got it figured out now?

Jackson Park was the site of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, a sort of world’s fair of that time. After the fair’s run was completed, the 600 acres was returned to parkland. Only two structures remain from the World's Columbian Exposition, one of which is the original Fine Arts Palace…now the Museum of Science and Industry. 

The Japanese Garden sits in the exact same place as the original Japanese Garden built for the fair. It was destroyed by vandals during World War II and was rebuilt several years later. Like most Japanese gardens, it is a place of peace and contentment, which I tried to capture in this image. I hope I succeeded. 

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Red Canyon

Red Canyon sits near the beginning (or end) of Highway 12 in Southern Utah. It is Utah’s most beautiful highway, so Red Canyon is your first introduction to this amazing scenic drive. It is also just a few miles west of Bryce Canyon National Park.

While Red Canyon is not a national park, it is part of the Dixie National Forest. So it has a more liberal approach to exploring the magnificent scenery. You can hike, ride horses, bicycles, and even ATV’s. And there are lots of trails to explore.

Most people driving Highway 12 just pass through Red Canyon on their way to Bryce Canyon. Trust me, take some time to explore Red Canyon if you are in the area. While Bryce is a more intriguing and beautiful destination, you will not be disappointed by what you find in Red Canyon. And here is a tip you may find very handy: Bryce Canyon campgrounds are nearly always full…camp in Red Canyon’s campground. It is less expensive and a far more beautiful campground. In fact, it is one of the nicest campgrounds I have ever been in. Last time I was there, I stayed there four days and used it as my base camp for my photo expeditions to the entire area.

This photo gives you an idea of some of the beauty of Red Canyon. I got lucky with the clouds that day. And some of its other intriguing sites are an easy hike from the visitor center or a short drive down the Casto Canyon Road. At the visitor center, you can learn more about the park and get more info on horse trip and ATV rentals.

I hope I’ve given you something to think about for your next vacation. In fact, not only should you stop at Red Canyon, but consider doing all of Highway 12.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Prescott

Prescott, Arizona is a small town (not real small) about 95 miles northwest of Phoenix. Of course since  North and West of Phoenix, that means it is in the mountains. In fact, it sits at an elevation of around 5,300 feet. What I learned on my last visit was Phoenix area residents flock to Prescott in the summer to escape the Phoenix heat.  In fact, as I write these words, it is 106 in Phoenix and 75 in Prescott. Of course, at that elevation, it gets quite a bit of snow in the winter.

The original city is built around the very large courthouse. Downtown is quite charming and fun to explore. There are many old Victorian homes in the hills and some great beautiful parklands all around the area.

Just west of downtown is a beautiful rose garden built among some very old settler cabins. It is here that I found this old wagon. As you know, I often focus in on a small part of an object or place to go for something more artistic. I was intrigued by the shape of the wheel and the wildflowers growing over the lower part of the wheel. To me, it symbolizes that the era of the horse-drawn wagon is over, which, of course, it is. This is one of those images that tells a story without any words.

And that should be the goal of most every photo you take. Even portraits should tell you a story or a least create an atmosphere of time and place. I think I achieved that here. And by focusing on only a small part of wagon, I let the viewer’s imagination fill in the rest.

Ah…the joys of art!

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.

Postcard from Chicago

Well over a year ago, I showed you this image as part of a series of images about my day in Wrigley Field. In looking at it the other day, I decided to improve the original photo by doing some additional post processing. What you see is result of this work. I encourage you to click on the image to see a larger version. I like this image so much more now…In fact it is shortly going up on my wall.

Every time I look at this photo and others from Wrigley Field, I think about that very special day when I took a three hour tour from top to bottom of that great sports landmark. The baseball and football history that fills the place is overwhelming, especially to a fan like me. I grew up loving both sports and never in my wildest imagination could I see myself being at this place…but I eventually did. Somewhere in the top 50 moments of my life, this day is in there.

The light that day outside was terrible, so most of my images of Wrigley are just so-so. But they do make for great memories. But this picture, inside the Cubs dressing room is, by far, the best from that day.

And to think I came within a cat’s whisker of not getting in here. Wrigley Field tours are only given when the Cubs are on the road. They were due back the next day, which is why the locker room looks ready to go. However, if any Cub player is in the dressing room on tour day, you are not allowed to go inside.

At the start of the tour, which began in the right field stands, our guide announced that there was a player in the dressing room, and if he was still there by the time our tour was ready to visit there, we would not be allowed in. Turned out the player was being sent back down to the minor leagues and was there to clean out his locker…and the good news was that he had left by the time we got there. Otherwise, I would have missed this photo opportunity. Whew!

Anyway, it was a great day, and even if you are not a baseball fan, I hope you like this image. Have a terrific Labor Day weekend.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com.