Hanging by a Thread: A Kite’s View of Wisconsin

Leave it to Maddy

34 hanging by a thread leave it to maddy It was one of those beautiful October afternoons with little white puffy clouds floating across the sky and fall colors in full glory. That crisp, brilliant kind of day that you get only a couple times each year here in Wisconsin. I asked Madeleine if she would help me make a photo out in the front yard. The trees were golden, the sun angle and the wind were just right, and the yard needed raking. Perfect! After some negotiation she agreed to pose with the rake, but not actually do any raking. I couldn’t argue; I would be flying a kite. I headed up to the open greenway at the end of the cul-de-sac to launch the kite and camera and then maneuver it back to our yard. Madeleine put on a sweatshirt, found the rake, and waited for me in the front yard. The cool breeze was steady, allowing the camera to float at treetop level. I positioned the camera to capture the treetops, still holding their golden leaves, and Madeleine below with her rake. I walked back and forth moving the camera between the trees. Madeleine didn’t say much; she just seemed to be putzing around with the rake. I shot a dozen images and decided we had done all we could. Next day I looked at the slides on the light table and burst out laughing as I discovered that Madeleine had raked a happy face of leaves. I had walked across it several times without noticing the pattern she had created. It was the kite’s view that revealed her subtle, clever humor. (right) Recycle—Fall Colorfest race, La Grange, Walworth County • (a la derecha) Carrera de bicicletas “Festival de los Colores de Otoño”, La Grange, Condado de Walworth • (rechts) Recycle - Colorfest-Rennen im Herbst, La Grange, Walworth County • 36 hanging by a thread A Kite’s View of Wisconsin 37 (left top) Neighborhood colors • (arriba a la izquierda) Colores del vecindario • (links oben) Farben eines Stadtviertels • (left bottom) Bus load • (abajo a la izquierda) Montándose en el autobús • (links unten) Busbeladung • (above) Rock climb • (arriba) Escalando una roca • (oben) Felsenklettern • ...