Bayfield, Wisconsin, the gateway to the Apostle Islands, wasn’t  on my bucket list.  Not that the town isn’t charming, but it is similar to the sweet towns and scenic drives in Northern Lower Michigan that are much closer and easier for me to get to.  

My reason for going is a combination Photo Workshop and then a gathering with friends.  I’m so glad I did.  

Described as an  Arts and Health Retreat, Wild Rice is set on lovely woodsy grounds on the shore of Lake Superior.  The people were friendly. Our “nests” as they called them were Scandinavian in Design. Comfortable and simple.  

https://www.wildriceretreat.com/history

The three and a half day photo workshop was intense. The topic  “Transcending the Ordinary” was a tough one for me to grasp. As I move from my more documentary style travel photos and portraits of grand children into creating more abstract images,  I am challenged and sometimes flummoxed.  What is art? How can you tell if it is good?   The questions go on and on.   

At the Workshop we attended lectures, went on photo walks and reviewed each other’s work.  The group was small and interests and abilities were varied making it fun and  interesting.  

I often thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?” when looking at a class mate’s work. 

 One day we went to a town called Cornucopia on a photo shoot, visiting a waterfall, an old marina and a cute store–all subjects for our cameras.  I looked up and the last time they did a census in Cornucopia was 2010 when the population was 98.  Probably worth noting is that the tiny post office is the farthest north in Wisconsin.

Another day we were sent out into the grounds with the assignment of “expressing our creative voice.”  Mine apparently got lost.  I wasn’t very happy with the images that I came back with.  

But things got better the next day. We worked with a model and were encouraged to try techniques like ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) and double exposure.  My creative muscle started working.  

We found inspiration poking around in Ashland, a has-been kind of place filled with huge street murals. We didn’t see many people, but l had lots of opportunities for creativity.  As usual I did reflections in the windows and the cars parked nearby.  Nothing straight on for me.  

Here’s one where I inserted myself into a classmate’s image.  Can you find me?

On the way home, we stopped at a vehicle graveyard, marveling in the textures and tones of rusted out vehicles.  Nothing like a bit of broken glass to get a photographic heart racing.  

It was a great experience.  My only complaint was that it wasn’t long enough. It took me a couple of days to find my voice.  But, lucky me.  I got to stay on at Wild Rice for four more days with my husband and long time friends.  Come back to DesignDestinations.org for more about the beautiful part of the country way up on Lake Superior.

Workshop Instructors:

EILEEN MULDOON + OLAF WILLOUGHBY

Transcendent Photography: Ignite Your Creative Spirit

The instructors were creative, fun and very encouraging.

Their web sites are:

https://eileenmccarneymuldoon.photo

https://www.olafw.online/my-story

Note from Susan

I’m out and about, traveling with no time to post.

Hope you enjoy effort from a year ago