SpiritBridge

Photography from my travels within Wisconsin, Illinois, and beyond. Featuring imagery of Railroading, Nature, Rural Spaces, Vintage Findings, Drone Photography , and More!

[spiritbridges6]

Support spiritbridge on Ko-fi! ❤️. ko-fi.com/spiritbridge

SpiritBridge on Ko-Fi

I did a thing!

Creator's First Ko-Fi... and crowdfund! No obligation here, just opening up another option for people who might wish to support the project directly. :)

[spiritbridges6]

Burning the midnight oil in an age of electricity.

On my second week as a 2nd Shift Material Handler, the prior employee had personal events that required us to switch shifts.

Still not ideal for getting much done, but I can now sleep when my body believes I should be sleeping. I will take that small victory. It has not helped with overall productivity outside of work, sadly.

Even after acquiring my Ford Edge from the dealership after its flex-plate recall work, driving is still at a minimum as a cost reduction measure. Starting over at the bottom of the ladder again has diffidently put me deeper into a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle. I am still fighting to find the best ways to save money and pay off my debt.

I just wanted to keep folks posted. I hope fellow Wisconsin folks are enjoying this very bipolar weather we have had for the last few weeks. Freezing to Heatwave and back to Freezing. Mother Nature can't seem to decide which she wants.

I updated the Tumblr a bit, it's been neglected as of late. If you would like to help me out & support the project (and the photographer), consider checking out the Shutterstock or Society6 portfolios.

Society6 Portfolio

Shutterstock Portfolio

[spiritbridges6]

Finally getting to posting this photo from my South Dakota trip. 

I had not as itchy of a shutter finger while visiting as I had hoped, but randomly coming across this old abandoned schoolhouse in the rural area outside of Huron was a must stop and capture item. 

The school has been sitting alone for a long time with it’s traditional shake wood roofing slowly pealing off and the old wood floor inside collapsing from the age and wood-rot.  It is an amazing look as how different schooling was in this building’s prime with this school’s walls still slightly adorning the old slate blackboards it once had - albeit small shards that remain.

Of course, You can get prints and products of this image; including digital licensing from the links below. 

· Society6 ( Art Prints & Products) https://society6.com/product/abandoned-rural-schoolhouse-in-south-dakota_print?curator=spiritbridge

· Shutterstock ( Digital Licensing) https://www.shutterstock.com/g/spiritbridge?rid=209094805&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ctrbreferral-link

[spiritbridges6]

A recent addition to the Society6 store and pending in Shutterstock at the moment. Came across this old and sadly dilapidated #School #House ( or #Church) next to a grave yard on the way to Ripon, Wisconsin.  Quietly on-looking Hwy 44 traffic as time passes it by.  Lacking what I can assume is a School builders or identifier block, window panes, and a decent door - still looks amazing to me at least. You can get items and digital download (once approved) of this image in High Quality 300 dpi from the below links.  The image shown here is an 50dpi preview. 

Society6 - https://society6.com/product/old-schoolhouse-of-ripon-wi_print?curator=spiritbridge

ShutterStock Digital Download/Licensing - https://www.shutterstock.com/g/spiritbridge

Share with friends, family, co-workers, random people on your Zoom Connections during breaks!  Sharing helps get eyes to the project and any sales help add a little extra money to my pocket as well.  https://spiritbridge.carrd.co/

[spiritbridges6]

Former Belleville  Illinois Central Depot in Winter Snow.  Taken after a snow storm left half a foot of snow around the historic depot.

Available at the below Product Spaces!

· SpiritBridge Society6 Store ( including a nifty ICR clock face design!)

· Shutterstock Digital Download/Licensing ( with Belleville text Edited out per Shutterstock policies)

[spiritbridges6]

A drone photograph of the Shirland, IL Iron bridge during the first winter storm for the year. 

Prints/Products & Digital Download options available from the below:

Society6 Shop: https://society6.com/product/shirland-winter-bridge_print?curator=spiritbridge

Shutterstock Digital Download/Stock Licensing: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/spiritbridge

[spiritbridges6]

Former Chicago Northwestern Railway stone arch bridge in Tiffany, WI.  One of the few examples in the state of a once self-supporting arch bridge.  The arches since given a concrete support system.

Available on the below product spaces:

Society6 Shop Shutterstock Digital Downloads/Licensing

[spiritbridges6]

History never can be erased. It will always find a way to leave clues.

Myself

[spiritbridges6]

The abandoned interurban line of the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company that once connected Watertown, WI and Milwaukee, WI. This drone imagery of the Rock River crossing in Ixonia, WI shows the remnants of the stone bridge pilings.

Available on the below shops:

Society6 Store Shutterstock Digital Download/Digital Licensing

[spiritbridges6]

Happy Hallows Eve! 

I was hoping to get something more current for the spooky vibe; but wasn’t able to find anything.  Luckily I found these 2003 images I took on Black & White 35mm Film of a statuette found in an old country graveyard.

[spiritbridges6]

Adding a photo from earlier this year; just as I was reminded of this trip as I was cleaning up the tumblr a bit from other older posts that just didn’t fit well anymore or where dated.

This is the old Froelich, IA depot - preserved by a small group with a old wooden boxcar and flat car once used to ship the towns greatest commodity... Tractors.

That’s right, Tractors.  A bit of agricultural history I was unaware of until the fateful evening returning from SD to see this depot from the highway and while not stopping then, which would have had so much better mood, I returned just to investigate and find the birthplace of what we today know as a John Deere tractor.  Yet once known as the Waterloo Gasoline Tractor Engine Company; the founder ( John Froelich) would use this company he founded in his family named village to invent and distribute the first Gasoline powdered tractor to move under it’s own power forward and backward in 1892.  The company created in 1013 the “ Waterloo Boy” tractor that would eventually become a forerunner to the John Deere Tractor Company.

Great history is in FACT hidden at times in the most unassuming spots.  Froelich is also home to a general store for touring - with the depot and a old blacksmith shop that helped develop the Waterloo Boy engines.

This image is currently not on the Society6 or Shutterstock sites, but if you would be interested in images of it on products, let me know in the comments and I will add it to the stores! :D

[spiritbridges6]

The old Spring-house found at paradise Springs near Eagle, WI gives you a glimpse into what once was.  You can get products with the image of the spring-house from the below storefronts. :)

My Society6 Storefront

[spiritbridges6]

In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality

Alfred Stieglitz

[spiritbridges6]

This old orange ambulance wagon was found on my travels today. Bearing an old WA license plate; it still bears original lighting, sirens, and gurney's inside.

Available as Prints and Digital Downloads at the Below Sites!

Society6

Shutterstock

[spiritbridges6]

A forest Waterfall found in Bentonville, AR within the trails at Crystal Bridges.  Sourced by a cold water spring before the stone walk bridge.

Available Now at the below spaces:

Prints and Products: Society6 Store Digital Download/Licensing: Shutterstock

[spiritbridges6]

Butterfly taking a rest stop on a flower near the Crystal Bridges Museum of Bentonville, AR.  Nice closeup shot with great detail - quite pleased with the result.

Available at the below shops as products and downloadable stock imagery!

Society6 Shutterstock

[spiritbridges6]

Travel Not Advised

An overgrown farm road outside of Huron, South Dakota with signage that leaves one to both wonder who would attempt it & a small desire to be that person.

Available On:

Society6, with various products and print options Shutterstock, with digital stock downloads & licensing for your own projects

If your an artist or creator of visual projects - consider signing up with shutterstock to sell your own works as well.  You can use my referral link and help me and the project out.