Landscapes & Nature

Forest Stairs

"The world's a forest, in which all lose their way; though by a different path each goes astray." --George Villiers A staircase rising out of a small ravine along the Seven Bridges Trail in Grant Park, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Copyright 2017 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Ice Age Trail Near Lapham Peak

I am blessed to live so close to such a wonderful hiking trail known as the Ice Age Trail. This part of the path is in the Kettle Moraine State Forest Lapham Peak Unit in southeast Wisconsin near Delafield. Day 227 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Dark Footbridge

"Faith is a footbridge that you don't know will hold you up over the chasm until you're forced to walk out onto it." --Nicholas Wolterstorff I am always intriqued by small wooden footbridges such as this one. Especially when I cannot see where it leads. Is there danger on the other side? A paradise? An never ending trail? The only way to know for sure is to place one foot in front of the other and walk across. This photograph was shot on a hazy, humid, overcast morning along a path next to the Milwaukee River near Riverside Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Copyright 2017 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Frozen Stillness

"The near stillness recalls what is forgotten, extinct angels." --Georg Trakl An old abandoned and forgetten home sits in the frozen stillness of a mid-winter Wisconsin morning. Copyright 2017 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Gnarled Old Tree

"Love is a naked shadow, on a gnarled and naked tree" --Langston Hughes An old and twisted tree stands on the shore of an icy pond on a cold and dreary morning. Veterans Park pond near the Lake Michigan shore, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Copyright 2017 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Shadow Leaves

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves." -- Buddha The shadows of leaves on a hot summer day at Mauthe Lake Recreation Area, Kettle Moraine North State Forest, Wisconsin. Copyright 2018 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Frozen Dreams

"Hold fast to dreams, For when dreams go, Life is a barren field Frozen with snow." --Langston Hughes Copyright 2018 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

The Silent Woods

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." --Henry Van Dyke This digital peice started as an 8-frame panorama photograph of the woods around Parnell Tower in the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest in southeast Wisconsin. I wanted to make something surreal and somewhat abstract out the autumn forest scene. Copyright 2015 Scott Norris Photography www.scottnorrisphotography.com

Paradise Springs Dam and Turbine House Ruins

Water flows through the concrete dam past the ruins of the turbine house at Paradise Springs. Located near Eagle, Wisconsin in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit, the dam and ruins are part of the Paradise Springs Nature Trail. The area once had a resort hotel with a tennis/shuffleboard court, a small horse track, a spring water bottling plant, and a copper domed fieldstone spring house. Once stocked with brook trout, the pond drained due to a structural failure beneath the dam in 2015. The dam was repaired and, at 500 gallons per minute, the spring has refilled the pond and it is close to capacity once more. Copyright 2017 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

The Dying of the Light

"Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light." --Dylan Thomas An abstract macro photograph of a dried dill flower. Copyright 2019 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Black Leaves

I don't have much to say about this image other than I love the texture on the leaves. As I've said before, any type of leaf fascinates me. This particular tree is growing in my in-laws backyard and I've had multiple opportunities to capture something. Yet the "keeper" photo has always eluded me. My goal today was to get something that showed off that great texture and kept the composition simple. And after around 40 shots, I finally grabbed this one. The final photograph is not perfect by any means, but it's a keeper and I'm happy with it. Day 320 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Soft Grass

When you take the time to really look at something, even a single blade of grass, it becomes something mysterious and awesome. Day 267 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Mirror Lake

I spent this past weekend camping in Mirror Lake State Park near Lake Delton, Wisconsin. The leaves are changing colors but probably a week or two away from peak autumn color. However, we had perfect fall weather. Temperature in the mid 50s during the day and dipping down into the mid 30s at night. Great camping weather for sure! Mirror Lake is a long narrow lake and it certainly lives up to its name! It was very cold the morning I took this 13 frame panorama. There was actually a bit of frost on the the grass and the boardwalks! But those cold temps and the relatively warm water created some awesome mist over the smooth as glass lake. I had hoped to get a shot with the trees in full sunlight and the lake in the shade, but the mist was burning off to fast for that. Plus there were the folks in their kayaks and canoes disturbing the stillness too. So while I wish there had been a bit more sunlight and perhaps a few clouds, I am quite happy with this shot. Mirror Lake State Park, Lake Delton, Wisconsin October 8, 2016. For more information on Mirror Lake State Park, visit http://mirrorlakewisconsin.com/. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

The Road to Somewhere

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." --Sharon Begley A road to somewhere at the Pinewoods campground in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit, near Dousman, Wisconsin. Copyright 2018 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

That Lonesome Road

"If I had stopped to listen Once or twice If I had closed my mouth And opened my eyes If I had cooled my head And warmed my heart I'd not be on this road tonight Carry on Never mind feeling sorry for yourself It doesn't save you from your troubled mind Walk down that lonesome road All by yourself" -from That Lonesome Road" by James Taylor Copyright 2019 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com