Symmetrical River Songs
Symmetrical Variations on selected straight photographs
published in the River Songs blog project
Introduction These four-fold symmetrical photographs were constructed from single images I had made for an earlier project (1988-89) entitled River Songs. I encourage you to visit the project, see the original single river images, and perhaps see how the images I have made here relate to the straight photographs. To see my other symmetrical photograph projects visit this link: The Complete Collection.
My subject was the Milwaukee River which runs through various neighborhoods outside of the City proper, and then through the city and then merges with Lake Michigan. My family and moved to Milwaukee in 1975, just six blocks or so from a bridge we crossed often. I had always seen the River it from a high viewing point, but when I went down to the river itself, and got close to its flowing water, it was like I had entered another, magical world. I love the original straight river images, so romantic, so idealized which serve as a homage to the English Pastoral music I was listening to at the time I worked of that project; and, for me, these symmetrical transformations amplify my experience of the magical in a wonderfully different, elevated and most satisfying way.
The Four-fold symmetrical photographs are made by duplicating the selected original image four times and collaging them together such that the images mirror each other vertically and horizontally. Of course, the original river photographs are in many ways about reflected or mirrored imagery . . . something to consider as you view the work presented here.
I have used a few of these symmetrical photographs in several other projects including the 2012 project Infinite Beauty, and the 2026 project MC Escher & Mannerism. Please take a look.
I have used a few of these symmetrical photographs in several other projects including the 2012 project Infinite Beauty, and the 2026 project MC Escher & Mannerism. Please take a look.
Note: If you are viewing this project with a Desktop or laptop computer, be sure to Click on each
image below Once, then Once again to see a much shaper, enlarged version of the image.
Once in the alternate dark toned viewing space you can enlarge or reduce the image
size using the zoom-in or zoom-out controls.
The Photographs
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Symmetrical River Songs #1 Inkjet Print 18x18"
"Eating the Sun"
Symmetrical River Songs #2 Inkjet Print 21x21"
"Falling Leaves on the River"
Symmetrical River Songs #3 Inkjet Print 21x21"
"River Sprites playing near a water falls"
Symmetrical River Songs #4 Inkjet Print 21x21"
"Hanging Willow branches over a yellow river"
Two fold Symmetrical River Songs #5 Inkjet Print 16"x 21"
"Double open views of the River"
Symmetrical River Songs #6 Inkjet Print 21x21"
"Reflections and tree limbs on he River"
Symmetrical River Songs #7 Inkjet Print 21x21"
"Reflections on the River"
Symmetrical River Songs #8 Inkjet Print 21x21"
"Red light on tree over the River"
(The River's Face)
Symmetrical River Songs #9 Inkjet Print 21x21"
"River Spider"
Symmetrical River Songs #10 Inkjet Print 21x21"
"Circular Winter Crosses"
my blog's Welcome Page February 3, 2026
River Songs 1988-89
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