Birth of an Obsession
July 7, 2017
Kendal at Oberlin publishes a literary magazine, called Eureka!, three times a year. All the artwork and writing is by residents of this retirement community. I’m lucky enough to live at Kendal at Oberlin, and to have had an article with photographs published in the latest issue. The piece reveals the origins of my fascination with the iron bacteria. Since many of you have seen on this blog my photographs of the iridescent film that Leptothrix discophora creates on the surface of water, I thought some of you might be interested in reading about how my engagement started. Just click on the link below to find out. And please forgive my crude post-production edit on the next to the last page. I thought it made the story easier to understand. Below the link to the article is a photo of Leptothrix discophora film that I took last month at Schoepfle Garden.
Birth of an Obsession in Eureka!, Spring 2017
Romancing Reality 
A fascinating article and so interesting to hear how you became interested in these colourful surface water films – they are so beautiful.
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July 7, 2017 at 4:04 AM
Thank you so much, Jessica. I’m pleased that you found the article interesting.
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July 7, 2017 at 9:15 AM
Interesting read. It’s always good to read how someone else’s obsessions started. I might add that the beautiful (and artistic) photos are more than just documented evidence of the iron bacteria.
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July 7, 2017 at 8:29 AM
Thanks, Ken. Yes, others’ obsession stories—perhaps of cosmic cookie sheets?—would be interesting to read. I try to make the iron bacteria (and dumpster) photographs more than documentary, but since I’m obsessed, it’s often hard for me to know if I’ve succeeded. I leave a lot of these photos on the cutting-room floor, but still . . .
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July 7, 2017 at 9:25 AM
Loved hearing your personal story of how it all began. I’ve enjoyed your pictures of that beautiful stuff from the beginning. Hope you’re able to find more soon.
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July 7, 2017 at 12:45 PM
Thank you, Patricia. I hope so, too. I’m probably the only person in Ohio who wishes for a drought, so that I can walk across the river and get to the really good stuff.
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July 7, 2017 at 1:19 PM
What an amazing story, Linda! Thank you for sharing it. I am really enjoying your photos.
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July 7, 2017 at 1:49 PM
Thank you, arbolamiga (tree friend?).
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July 7, 2017 at 4:15 PM
Hi Linda! Arbolamiga (tree friend) = Alice Steinicke Lynch. For some reason, this site uses my Yahoo name.
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July 8, 2017 at 10:04 AM
OK, Alice. I’ll remember that! Happy you liked the story and are enjoying the photos.
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July 9, 2017 at 9:43 AM
i loved reading this. i learned a lot of new things about you.
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July 13, 2017 at 10:03 AM
Glad you liked it, Leslie.
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July 13, 2017 at 10:43 AM