Badger Bizarre Episode 20: The Fond du Lac County Jane Doe

March 11, 2023  •  Leave a Comment

Badger Bizarre Episode 20:  The Fond du Lac County Jane Doe

 

The 2008 gun deer season was unlike any other in recent memory, with 3 human bodies being found in the woods by hunters throughout the state.
 
Two of them were rather quickly identifed, while one, found in a frozen creek in Fond du Lac County, would lead investigators on a murder mystery they are still attempting to solve yet today.
 
Hear the heartbreaking tragedy of the young girl who came to be known only as the 'Fond du Lac County Jane Doe.' By the end, a name and a face will be added, but her story - who she truly was and what happened to her - is yet to be told.

 

 


Lost Fox Cities

March 09, 2019  •  Leave a Comment

#LostFoxCities

Stay tuned for short outtakes from my first book, "Lost Fox Cities" leading up to its release on April 1st.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Lost Fox Cities Short #1: The Valley Inn

March 08, 2019  •  Leave a Comment

The Valley Inn circa 1920 and the modern hotel that replaced it.

 

The Valley Inn in Neenah was built in 1916, designed by a native son, George Edwin Bergstrom. 

 

Edwin Bergstrom was the son of George O. Bergstrom, co-founder of Bergstrom Stove Company and nephew of D.W. Bergstrom, founder of Bergstrom Paper Company.

 

The majority of Edwin Bergstom's career was spent in Los Angeles, where he helped build that city's skyline in its early days. Edwin Bergrstrom's work is still prominently displayed in Los Angeles today in his buildings such as the Pasadena Civic Auditorium (where Michael Jackson immortalized the Moonwalk,) and in the Los Angeles County General Hospital, setting of the fictional but iconic daily soap opera.

The Pasadena Civic Auditorium Los Angeles County General Hospital

In 1916, Bergstrom returned to his hometown to build his only local structure, the Valley Inn.  The hotel was billed as the "finest building of its kind in the state" upon its Grand Opening on September 11th, 1916. For over half a century it was the hub of social and civic gatherings in Neenah and one of the area's most prominent first class hotels.

 

Decades later, Bergstrom was chosen to be the architect with the daunting task of consolidating all of the contractors for the U.S. Department of Defense into one structure, as they were scattered all over the greater D.C metro area at the time. As challenging as such an undertaking must've been, Bergstrom came up with the design for the Pentagon in just five days.

 

Construction of the Pentagon began on September 11th, 1941, 25 years to the day after the Grand Opening of th The Pentagon. 9/11, 2001 e Valley Inn in his hometown, and, in a striking coincidence, 60 years to the day prior to being attacked by hijacked airplanes on September 11th, 2001.

 

By the mid-1960's, the Valley Inn had been surpassed by more modern hotels in the Fox Valley area and it was time for redevelopment. Wrecking balls came in 1967, and a new, more sufficiently modern hotel was built in its place.

 

 


This Is The Shot!

May 08, 2014  •  Leave a Comment

This Is The Shot!

 

Random reflections of my favorite photographs throughout my career. Why I shot them, why I love them, why I think they work, and the stories behind them. Here are the images that, when I looked through my viewfinder, gave me that “This Is The Shot!” moment…

 

Port Review HartfordPort Review HartfordWisconsin, Photographer, Model, Wedding, "Wisconsin Wedding Photographer," "Appleton, WI Boudoir Photography"

 

Utilizing the psychology of color is a common thread in my work.  Scientisits discovered a long time ago that color has a definite effect on our emotions, moods, and perceptions.  Advertisers spend millions of dollars every year simply testing color because they are well aware of it's attributes. 

 

In the shot above, the color and shade of green utilized was carefully calculated.  Green is the most calming color to the viewer.  The goal of this shot was to portray confidence in beauty, but on a more soothing and refined level.  If red was chosen for the backround and wardrobe, the feel of the photograph would be much different.  The skin tones and gold accessories accentuate the gentle, natural, holistic healing power symbolized by the color green, as does her hand and finger positions around her face.

 

The rest was up to the model to complete the goal with the right facial expression and attitude, which she pulled off flawlessly.

 

 

What do you think? Do you think this is "The Shot?" Why, or why not? Feel free to comment.

 

If you would like to explore the opportunity for me to capture these moments for you, feel free to contact me through www.scottwittmanvisual.com, or at 920-205-4181. You can also like my new Facebook page and follow me on Twitter for the latest in updates and special offers.

 

 

 


This Is The Shot!

April 14, 2014  •  Leave a Comment

This Is The Shot!

 

Random reflections of my favorite photographs throughout my career. Why I shot them, why I love them, why I think they work, and the stories behind them. Here are the images that, when I looked through my viewfinder, gave me that “This Is The Shot!” moment…

 

 

Model Port Update 1Model Port Update 1Model Port Update Hartford

 

While a student in art school a phrase I repeatedly heard my photo instructors emphasize was that before one could become a photographer, one has to learn to see.  Seeing, photographically speaking, is recongizing scenes compositionally, interactions between light and shadow, subcontexts of colors patterns, textures, etc. 

The person who most taught me to "see" was George Hurrell, in my mind, the greatest glamour photographer we've ever had.  I studied his work extensively as a student; his masterful manipulations of light and shadow, his tedious attention to detail, and his exceptional ability and understanding of how to portray mood and emotion to the viewer - unmatched to this day.

I do not, save for rare occurrances, emulate Hurrell's photographic style in my work, but traces of Hurrell's inspiration are alive in every shoot I do.  Loretta Young once commented, “We thought we were gorgeous because by the time HURRELL finished with you, you were gorgeous.”   I think of this quote everytime I view my subject, whether I'm shooting a family portrait, a model, or a wedding.  They all deserve the same.

The above shot is but one result.

 

What do you think? Do you think this is "The Shot?" Why, or why not? Feel free to comment.

 

If you would like to explore the opportunity for me to capture these moments for you, feel free to contact me through www.scottwittmanvisual.com, or at 920-205-4181. You can also like my new Facebook page and follow me on Twitter for the latest in updates and special offers.

 

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