Southern WI | Carl Hartt

Elements of Nature -

Southern WI, Menomonee River Parkway

I enjoy hiking alone, whether in the woods or in the desert; I find the solitude comforting. I also enjoy taking photographs. The photographs were taken in the woods of the Menomonee River Parkway, mostly within Harley Woods on the edge of Wauwatosa, WI. Though the parkway has a lot to offer photographically (water, flowers, birds, deer, etc), I focus mainly on the woods and trees.

Surprisingly, forests are simultaneously orderly as well as chaotic.

Forests also have stories. Brothers Grimm wrote stories, which often took place in the dark, deep woods. There are stories about evil fairies and frightening fables that take place in dark forests.

Some of my photographs may seem “dark” or scary or chaotic or like a geometry quiz, but each image and tree has a story to tell, whether a good story or bad, or maybe even a story that is waiting to occur. That is, I hope that my images portray a story that could have been told by Brothers Grimm.

Moreover, have you ever wondered what trees might say to one another and the tales they tell when no one is around to listen? No, I do not talk to trees nor can I hear them talk (other than the creaking of a tree bough swaying in the wind), but if I look carefully enough, I can imagine the “story” of these trees. Maybe you too can see their story.

Much like life, if one does not have darkness then one cannot understand or see what light or goodness is. For example, if there were no night then one would not know how to enjoy day. My images may seem somewhat dark but they help me find the good in the woods and in the world.

I hope you enjoy my images of “my” woods. And the next time you go for a walk in the woods or in the desert, maybe alone, look around you, carefully. Slowly. Look.

All of these images were taken with a 4x5 inch large-format film camera and processed in my traditional (wet) darkroom.