This week’s project was a test of infrared film in a pinhole camera and a photo tribute to Earth Day founder Governor Gaylord Nelson. Governor Nelson State Park is named after him and  is located on the north shore of Lake Mendota in Madison. From the lakeshore in the park you can look across the water at the State Capitol where he served two terms as governor before he went on to serve two terms as a U.S. Senator. He was an advocate for the environment his entire life. It’s fitting that a State Park within sight of the capitol is named after him.

An oak tree stands alone in the prairie in Governor Nelson State Park.

Four and a half miles across the lake is the state capitol building. The infrared film proved to be a challenge for use in a pinhole camera, but I got it to work in the end. I like the dreamy look to it, but I’m not sure I’m going use it too often. It was a learning process anyway.

On top of Frederick’s Hill in Pheasant Branch Conservancy there are several Indian burial mounds. The reason this location was chosen by the Native Americans thousands of years ago is probably the same reason it’s now a popular park trail to the top of the hill. It’s a beautiful peaceful place to experience the view.

I took some pinhole photographs there this week. One thing I love about pinhole photography is the images capture a passage of time during the long exposures.  The movement of the trees and grass captures time passing in this ancient place.

The movement on a windy day and lighting really gave this photo an abstract look to it.

The tree bark on the old oak trees show their age like wrinkles in a face.

Another pinhole photograph from the small chapel on top of the hill in Indian Lake County Park northwest of Madison. It’s a wonderful park with lots of great trails, one leading to the small hilltop chapel built by a German Immigrant in 1857. Small is an understatement, three people in there would be crowded. I just love the peaceful setting surrounded by huge old oak trees.