Lighted Spaces and Landscapes

Excerpts from a Geographer's Photo Archive

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  • Prime River Spot for Fonzie

    Milwaukee's "Bronze Fonz" statue as a notable example. They intend to photograph more city statues, noting that such sites attract visitors. The content reflects a celebration of local culture and tourism in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2026.

    I love hokey things. When TV Land was putting up statues of 1970s television characters (Mary Tyler Moore, Jackie Gleason, Bob Newhart, etc) Milwaukee got the “Bronze Fonz.” I plan to do some photos of other statues around the city, but this is a nice place to start. If you do a search online, you will find that these are places people travel to see. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

  • You Can’t Beat a Bungalow

    Our first house was a bungalow with beautiful woodwork and stained glass. It was exceptionally sturdy. The driveway can best be described as an adventure in “narrowness.” Although we have move a lot, we were here for 9 years. (Shorewood, Wisconsin, 1995)

  • Why Use a Cane When You Can Carry It?

    This guy with his cane and headphones just said to me that someone he lives with told him to take his cane when he went out for coffee at La Biela–he complied. However they didn’t tell him to use it. (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2026)

  • It’s Important to Color Coordinate the Truck with Mural

    Classic Pickup Truck next to a beautiful mural in Buenos Aires

    I can’t remember which caught my eye first–the truck or the mural. I have shots of both art pieces. I was also impressed by the parking job and how close the truck was to the car in front of it. (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2025)

  • What Do You Mean the Ferry Sunk?

    The Ferry to Ometepe sunk in January 2006

    For several years I took students to Ometepe Island to work with local medical professionals. One year I found out the ferry we had booked has sunk the day before our return to the mainland. We caught a different boat, but I was amazed to see the crews working to raise the boat we were on just the week before. (Rivas, Nicaragua, 2006)

  • Drugs and Seeds

    It’s an old drug store and I was taking some images of it and I wanted some of the name stone across the top. It’s no surprise that the name of the store and “drugs” are etched in stone. Seeds surprised me. I’m sure they sold them, but putting it in stone also says something about life in the city in the early 20th Century. (St. Paul, Minnesota, 2004)

  • A Remarkable Pie

    Pizza from El Imperio in Buenos Aires, Argentina

    One of the locals I know recommended El Imperio. When i walked in, it had all the earmarks of great pizza. The decor was simple and functional. The pizza kitchen was in the open and set up for high production. We were there early (about 8:00 p.m.) so we got a good table and this magnificent pie. (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2025)

  • With Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

    Great diner sign for meat loaf in Claremont, California

    I had breakfast here but couldn’t resist taking a shot of the sign. Did not make it back for the meat loaf, but always wondered about how it was. (Claremont, California, 2006

  • Back to the Halls

    Sandburg Halls in 1988 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)

    We moved back to Milwaukee and I was the coordinator for this residence hall complex. Our apartment was in the small tower. We were next door to the campus police station. We have never had a safer location. This isn’t my photo–this is a scan of the post card we gave students. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1988)

  • She Also Loved the Poolside

    When you take your dog on sabbatical you need to make them comfortable. Rob the Hound Dog liked the concrete, but Bella required a pillow for her pool time naps. She required a pillow for almost anything. (Punta Gorda, Florida, 2015)