Saturday Snowday with Christmas Wreaths

So last week Wisconsin received it's first real taste of winter and I was deciding whether to head out for pictures or to stay in my jammies.

The snow won.

Donned in my snowpants and every bit of skin snugly wrapped as what you are supposed to in Wisconsin if you are smart and not fashion conscious.  Imagine Ralphie and brother Randy from A Christmas Story.  

Attractive, I know.

Today's post is really just a follow up with my winter adventuring.  Because of the weather I had taken careful precautions to protect my camera, which had the unintended effect of poor focusing due to my autofocus being hampered by a hair band or the edges blurred by the edges of grocery bag.   The lens hood I thought was firmly attached flopped off into the snow not 50 feet from my front door.  Not the greatest start but I was determined to press on.

Today's scene is what I consider a whimsical composition to celebrate the contrasts of harsh snow and Christmas cheer.   In real life the streetlights were not lit and there are no lighted wreaths hanging joyfully.  This largely stark scene at Menominee Park has been dressed up as I carefully tread into the world of creative compositions using Photoshop Elements.  

If you look at my compositions you will see that I really am a minimalist at heart.   I love trees, silhouettes and simple sunrises. So I was happy that this scene turned out as I'd hoped; highlighting the blowing snow,  This area is the only stretch of parkway that is free from the wires and frames of the Celebration of Lights displays.  So really in order for me to get a Christmassy feeling it would have to be in post production.

A lot of really neat compositions can be made just by throwing together different scenes, adding textures, custom brush effects and with a lot of patience and perseverance they can be on par with original paintings.   On my Flickr account I follow the work of Cheryl Tarrant.  She seems to make it look so easy and after a handful of years I really haven't made a dent in my creative works.

Today's composition is just a beginning for me.  The next week or so I'll be staring at this from time to time to determine if any further tweaks are needed.  Maybe boosting some contrasts or remove the opacity levels of the wreaths so they stand out more.   All in all it was a fun exercise.   The lights added to the streetlight and wreaths were done by using the steps outlined by Bitesize Business School.  

Path to Asylum Point - Oshkosh Wisconsin

This small patch of oak trees is part of Asylum Point Park, leading the adventurer to what in 1871 became Northern Asylum for the Insane.   Today it is Winnebago County Mental Health Institute though the area continued to be recognized as Asylum Point/Asylum Bay which is also a county park.  I realized that I have not given this a proper Wheretogo post and am amending this today.  

Standing at this point, if you turn around to face the south there will be the restored Asylum Point Lighthouse, which I am sharing from my Fine Art America page.  This relatively small park has been a great source for many of my favorite photos.

Note:  This same path (facing north) will also lead you not just to the the rest of the park but to a LETTERBOX. Continuing from that cache will be several trails, some part of the mental heath property and if patient you will stumble upon the old Asylum Cemetery.


Where to find:   See the location link included in the post.  If you are in Oshkosh, this is E.Snell Rd, on the east side of Bowen Street (Cty Rd A south from Neenah on Commercial St).  If you follow E. Snell all the way East, turning right on Sherman Rd which is the entrance road to Asylum Point County Park.  Continue on to the patch of woods and on to Asylum Bay Lighthouse.

What to expect:   This is a popular fishing area at all times of the year and some visitors will bring their dogs.   It's not an overly impressive park but people are keen  on lighthouses and enjoy wandering the small island.   The mental health property has a few picnic tables and in all honesty may actually be part of the Asylum Point Park.  There was never a sign found so I just assumed I was trespassing and was happy to have found a secluded area to rest my bones. LETTERBOX LOCATION!

Jesuit Retreat Center - Fahrnwald Farm

Taken June 2013

One of my favorite compositions, the exposure, depth of field were just perfect which doesn't happen too often.

While working on this upload, I discovered that there is some history surrounding this unique barn originally part of a community known as Perryville which existed from the 1850's and was a ghost town by the Civil War after the passing of widow Ruth Swift The property was then passed around the local farmers until purchased by Homer and Ezra Fahrney who developed a tonic remedy Alpen Kraüter, who owned the land and planted thousands of trees. By 1910 it became known as Fahrney's Woods and would eventually become what we now call The Jesuit Retreat House.

By 1918 a 30 room brick mansion was build on the grounds north of this barn, now known as the Jesuit Retreat House.     I've been on the grounds of the retreat and cannot recall a brick mansion although a published history last updated in 2015 has it still standing.  Another excuse for a Road Trip I believe!

Pictured here is a prayer room. Unfortunately, the full sized RAW file is resting somewhere in a hard drive and the uploaded file was one that I took from my facebook page and has suffered some degradation as it is a smaller file size. Lightroom has really helped but will probably need some TLC through Photoshop.  This is sad, really, as it's one of my best work.


Where to find:
From Oshkosh travel south along the lake on Highway 45 about 15 minutes, approximately 7 miles.
There will actually be a sign for The Jesuit Retreat House on the corner of Hwy 45 and Fahrnwald Road where the historic Farnwald Barn can be seen.


What to Expect:

Probably a no trespassing sign.  I've driven the grounds when it was closed.  There is a winding asphalt drive that is lined with several religious pieces including the Stations of the Cross. There is also a small ornate bridge and several resting places.


To learn more about this property's history on the Jesuit Retreat House Historical Narrative,
and Legends of America.   Or learn more about the Jesuit Retreat House.