Barbara J. Miner, Photographer and Writer

Hanging out

2010-07-05T13:03:00.002-05:00

One of the pleasures of summer: just hanging out. Here, Brian and friends in their old Buick, near ML King Drive and Burleigh St.

My niece Tamma ...

2010-07-01T13:40:00.003-05:00

... on a recent Sunday afternoon during a family gathering, with the adults in the living room and the kids scattered in various places waiting for dinner. Somehow, Jane Austen came to mind.

Scenes from the Central City

2010-06-29T18:01:00.002-05:00

Juneteenth Day celebration, ML King Drive and Burleigh St.

One thing I love about street fairs. You're never quite sure what you'll see.

I'm a sucker for shoes ...

2010-06-22T11:49:00.002-05:00

... so of course I thought it was terrific that organizers of a rally to defend MPS jobs decided to display hundreds of pairs of shoes as part of a rally at the Federal Courthouse in Milwaukee on Monday June 21.

There wasn't enough space on the courthouse steps for all of the shoes, so organizers got creative.

(The shoes represented 700 laid-off educators, with the question: "Who will fill the shoes of the laid-off educators and teach MPS kids next year?)

Alto Arizona!

2010-06-18T13:26:00.003-05:00

Yea, it’s easy to use the MPS school board as a whipping boy — but last night they taught an important lesson to our city’s children.

Take a stand against injustice.

A board committee approved a resolution Thursday calling for MPS to participate in the growing movement for an economic boycott of Arizona.

For those who have been sleep-walking in the last month, Arizona recently passed an anti-immigration Gestapo-like measure that allows police to stop anyone who looks like an immigrant, immediately demand papers — and arrest people if they don’t have the necessary documents on their person.

A question to Mayor Tom Barrett and his alleged commitment to progressive politics: Why the hell did you oppose the school board resolution? Are you trying to out-Walker Scott Walker?

In this picture here, a young boy waits for the MPS hearing to begin.

A Global Force for ...

2010-06-11T07:04:00.002-05:00

U.S. Navy Blue Angel fighter jets are out in full force along Milwaukee's Lakefront this weekend, along with an equally impressive show of Navy marketing, such as this mobile billboard.

I wonder what people in other parts of the world — Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia — think of the U.S. Navy's branding as "A Global Force for Good."

Hope Fades ...

2010-06-09T10:45:00.003-05:00

Today's New York Times front page: budget cuts will take precedence over stimulus funds for jobs.

This picture reflects my current feelings about both the Obama presidency and the progressive movement's failure to sufficiently organize for change. And yes, my mood is certainly affected by the fact that I spent 10 hours in a cold, consistent rain yesterday, going to a funeral.

Wasting time ...

2010-06-07T15:38:00.003-05:00

... Is one of the pleasure of life.

Here, two seasoned veterans spend the first Saturday in June lawn bowling at Lake Park.

When pigs fly ...

2010-06-07T15:36:00.001-05:00

... That means Summer Magic is at hand.

Canoe rides, bicycling, hanging out, impromptu walks with Bob at the Lakefront (which we did Friday evening, when I took this picture at Veterans Park.)

Trying to remember sunlight ...

2010-05-11T20:34:00.005-05:00

The rain was so cold and dreary today that I went back to my sun/reflection photos from a few days ago to remind myself that yes, the sun will return.

The Magic of Light

2010-05-09T20:36:00.004-05:00

I walked through my study, and saw these amazing light creations on the ceiling. I tried to figure out exactly how the sunlight through the window blinds made such patterns — but didn't want to move a thing for fear of destroying such a serendipitous moment. So instead I took some pictures.

And no, I don't think it's a likeness of the Virgin Mary. Although perhaps of Garfield.

Color or black and white?

2010-04-19T14:49:00.002-05:00

Sometimes, the answer is clear before you even ask the question.
(Photo taken on a recent Saturday afternoon at Dep's Hall of Fades barbershop at 27th and Lisbon in Milwaukee.)

The party season is upon us

2010-04-16T10:15:00.005-05:00

Summer is just around the corner, students are getting restless — and Locust Street is about to burst into full-party mode. Here, the morning after, outside a Locust Street bar last fall.

I have the good fortune ...

2010-04-15T12:39:00.008-05:00

... to have won 1st and 2nd place in the juried photography exhibition, "Takin' It to The Streets," sponsored by Light Ideas Gallery in Milwaukee.

The winning photos are black-and-white prints from "Anatomy of an Avenue," my photo essay on North Avenue in Milwaukee.

The folks at Light Ideas are very supportive of emerging photographers — please support their efforts and stop by their gallery if you live in Milwaukee (207 E. Buffalo St., in the lower level of the Marshall Building). The "Takin' It to the Streets" exhibit runs until May 18.

Three of my photos, color prints from "Anatomy of an Avenue," will also be on display this weekend and next weekend as part of the annual membership exhibition by the Coalition of Photographic Artists. That exhibit is at the P.H. Dye House, at 320 E. Buffalo St.

Finally, a broader selection of photos from "Anatomy of an Avenue" are on my website: BarbaraJMiner.com.

Above are the two winning photos.

Outside Hall of Fades

2010-04-11T13:52:00.003-05:00

One of the central city's premier barbershops, at 27th and Lisbon.

Inside Hall of Fades

2010-04-11T13:50:00.003-05:00

Haircuts, shaves, fades, and a de facto community center.

How I spent my spring vacation...

2010-04-11T12:51:00.025-05:00

... at my brother Mark's new cabin in the U.P., along the Menominee River. With a great cast of characters, including:

• Mark, aka my brother, a slightly eccentric man last seen wearing a yellow rainsuit.

• Kiley, the ever-faithful dog, here seen standing guard at one of Mark's valuable out-buildings.

• Bob, my vegetarian husband, attacking a plastic deer.

• Tamma, my 13-year-old niece driving a tractor trailer for the first time.

• My nephew Brady, masquerading as a Zapatista.

• My nephew Jacob, masquerading as a turkey.

• And lots of dead bugs, so disgusting they did not need to masquerade as anything (and last seen nesting in a garage windowsill, until Mark and his power tools got the best of them).

A great time was had by all.

A Sure Sign of Spring

2010-04-04T20:57:00.001-05:00

Bob drinking tea and reading the morning newspaper on the deck.

A Hopeful Sign of Spring

2010-04-04T20:55:00.003-05:00

Crocuses breaking through long-fallen oak leaves along the Milwaukee River.

Outside Greenfield Motors

2010-03-23T22:27:00.002-05:00

At 95th and Greenfield Ave. in West Allis, Greenfield Motors is your classic car place: lots of big equipment, fat tires, rusting chains ...

Inside Greenfield Motors

2010-03-23T22:24:00.004-05:00

And inside are beautiful flowers and colorful fish-tanks. Here, Steve, head honcho at Greenfield Motors, shows off his flowering plants. They were a sight to behold during the grey days of late March.

Bob as a young man

2010-03-15T20:39:00.004-05:00

Bob Peterson, my husband, who is now 56. This photo was found while going through old slides from the 1960s.

Young Prince

2010-03-15T20:28:00.004-05:00

Selections from my North Avenue photo essay, "Anatomy of an Avenue," went up at the Milwaukee City Hall today. In honor of the exhibit (which runs until April 1), here's a picture of "Young Prince." A vertical shot, it never made it into the 60 horizontal photos that are the heart of "Anatomy of an Avenue." But I've always liked the photo.

The Young Prince photo also reminds that it is almost spring, warm temperatures are only a few months away, and it will once again be great weather for street photos.

When you live in Wisconsin, the promise of spring and warmer weather becomes oh-so important.

Night comes to Riverwest

2010-03-10T21:44:00.003-06:00

Holton Food and Liquor just off North Avenue, at dusk on Wednesday March 10, 2010.

Watching

2010-03-04T15:56:00.004-06:00

Taken near Kandy Galore on Holton Ave., Milwaukee.

Outside Kandy Galore.

2010-03-03T16:49:00.004-06:00

I've gone past Kandy Galore countless times as I've driven down Holton Ave to Burleigh St., and I've always wondered what it was like inside. But I always feared the place might be a bit too sketchy. Today, however, I decided what the hell and went inside.

Inside Kandy Galore

2010-03-03T16:42:00.007-06:00

Not surprisingly, inside was the usual assortment of candy and chips, from suckers to Doritos. There were also food basics such as cereal, rice, hot chocolate and canned corn, and a random selection of shampoo, plastic flowers, flip flops and alka seltzer.

The owner's brother, Cesar, couldn't have been nicer. And the two fifth-graders hanging out and listening to songs on their iPod were more than willing to have their picture taken.

The van is gone but the detritus remains

2010-02-24T11:02:00.002-06:00

After 13 years and some 141,195 miles, the van died.

After we took out the two ladders, jumper cables, tool box, Goodwill boxes and gym bags, there's was still an amazing amount of stuff. It's amazing what can hide under car seats and in glove compartments. We immediately threw out the styrofoam coffee cups, old newspapers and empty gatorade bottles, but put everything else in a post office bin (doesn't everyone use those?) so we could go through the stuff and sort it.

Here it is, on our kitchen table.

Seen on the Street

2010-02-21T20:40:00.003-06:00

Hall of Fades

2010-02-21T08:42:00.003-06:00

A barber shop, and de facto community center, in Milwaukee's central city.

9 p.m., 3rd and Center.

2010-02-19T09:48:00.003-06:00

The sun!

2010-02-16T09:24:00.003-06:00

As it shines on my favorite deer, forever standing guard on our deck.

(It's also a wonderful planter in the summer and perfect Christmas decoration in winter, when it magically transforms itself into one of Santa's reindeer.)

Lisa's

2010-02-15T21:23:00.002-06:00

Bob and I went all out for Valentine's Day: Sunday night dinner at Lisa's — where the decor (and the music on the jukebox) haven't changed in decades.

St. Ben's

2010-02-14T13:21:00.005-06:00

On cold winter evenings, the doors open early. Waiting for the meal program to begin.

Sacred or Profane?

2010-02-09T15:55:00.008-06:00

It depends, in part, if you are the fisher or the fish.
(The fishers were along the Menomonee River near downtown Milwaukee on a recent morning. The pictures were in response to photography class asignments on sacred and profane. )

Night Descends

2010-02-07T14:53:00.002-06:00

On Pay Less Market, on 27th Street off Lisbon Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Waiting ...

2010-02-07T11:53:00.002-06:00

... At the Badger Bus station in Milwaukee, Saturday Feb. 6, 2:45 p.m.

Grey Day #35 at the lakefront

2010-02-04T18:11:00.002-06:00

Or at least it seemed like Grey Day #35. Only 23 days left until March.

Just Because ...

2010-02-04T18:09:00.002-06:00

.... I felt like taking this picture. It made me think of the possible, on an otherwise grey grey day at the lakefront.

Joe, 19 ...

2010-01-31T21:32:00.003-06:00

... homeless in Milwaukee, during a January cold spell.

The United States of Plutocracy

2010-01-24T19:24:00.002-06:00

"By means of two legal fictions, that corporations are people and money is speech, the Roberts court has turned America from a democracy to a plutocracy." — Norman N. Holland, letter to the New York Times Jan. 23.

Yet another grey day in Milwaukee

2010-01-20T20:01:00.004-06:00

We went to the port area in search of a snowy owl that had been sighted. No owl but lots of grey. I resorted to taking photos of textures and shapes.

At last, some color

2010-01-20T20:00:00.003-06:00

The railroad cars were also pretty dreary, but luckily I found this piece of colorful wood on an old car.

And some nice graffiti

2010-01-20T19:56:00.002-06:00

I'm always a sucker for graffiti, especially with nice colors.

Sacred

2010-01-18T21:48:00.004-06:00

The assignment: Take a picture of something sacred.

Sacred, as seen through the eyes of fifth graders at La Escuela Fratney

2010-01-18T21:40:00.008-06:00

Fifth graders at La Escuela Fratney, after discussing what the word "sacred" might or might not mean, brought in objects that to them were sacred.

Tatiana (left) brought in a water baby that her parents gave her when she was one year old. "It's very special to me," she wrote, "because it's a memory of when I was little and because my dad and mom gave t to me and I could practice how to be a good mother like my mom."

Myesha (center) brought in a teddy bear. "It's very special because I have had it since I was a baby," she wrote.

Savanah (right) brought in a stuffed animal to represent her kitten at home. "This is very sacred to me because my mom got me the kitten when I was eight years old," she wrote. "Kittens are very sweet, calm and active."

After the party's over

2010-01-07T20:38:00.000-06:00

Bradford Beach, Jan. 6, five days after the New Year morning's Polar Bear plunge into the freezing waters of Lake Michigan.

And the sky is a hazy shade of winter

2010-01-07T20:15:00.003-06:00

You can't really understand the lyrics until you suffer through a few Wisconsin winters.