Hello, My name is Cynthia Mackowick – Traun a.k.a. Cyndie, Cyn, or Little Mack. My passion for photography started young as I would watch my Aunt Sandy work her magic. Whenever we would visit her in Colorado, I would spend time viewing the recent photos she would have on her wall in awe. She taught me the basics of composition and some of the rules of photography (some of which I now break for fun as rules are meant to be broken at times). Thank you so very much Sandy. Your service as a teacher, no doubt, taught you that you never know when you spark an interest in a child that would last a lifetime. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
More appreciation is needed. Although my father is no longer with us today, I would like to thank my parents who taught me to see the beauty in the world. You both have always encouraged me to use my creative mind and to view the world with open eyes. Thank you for all of the support you have given me in the past and the support, I know, you will continue giving me in the future. I love you so very much Mom and kisses sent on the wind for you Dad.
Part of what I like to capture in my photography images is what my father and I started doing when I was a wee little one. We would travel around the countryside in southwest MN looking for abandoned houses and farmsteads. To this day, the excitement of seeing these abandoned or neglected properties is beyond any words I could write. He would remind me that there are stories behind these places and sometimes, we would make up our own.
I am fortunate to have found someone who can share the excitement of back-roading with me. Dan always has a way to make me smile and my love for him is beyond what any words can say. The way that he sees the world is captured in his blog at dantraun.com.
Last year, we lost two of our photo buddies – Tindra and Audrey. I am leaving their images in this post as they were a huge part of our daily lives. They may not be by our sides, but they will live in our hearts forever. The two would always become very excited, and somehow know, when they get to go on a photography outing with us.
We are lucky to have found another duo; complete bundles of four legged love- Clover and Lucy who now fill the backseat on our photography outings. Clover was a rescue from New York; she lived 6 years of her life in situations that any dog should not have to experience; thank you Furever Dachshund Rescue for taking her in. She is our shy one, but her adaptability amazes me everyday. Clover. who is now 7 yrs old, is a complete angel and is finding her “inner dog” with every moment of the day. Lucy came is to from a rescue in Illinois; she is younger at 2 years old now and is the life of the party. We kept her name as Lucy since she reminds us of the laughter and quirkiness of Lucille Ball; thank you Dachshund Rescue of North America (DRNA) for taking her in. She is Clovers right hand and our comic relief. We adore our little family and are very lucky to share our home with two adorable, quirky, and lovable Dachshunds.
Yes, we added to our family in 2016 with a little old man named Harley D. I received a call from a family stating that his owner could no longer take care of him due to dementia. Knowing Harley for most of his life, we took him in without a second thought. He settled right in and and quickly became part of our family. On August 11, 2020 (13 months after being diagnosed with prostate cancer) we had to say goodbye to this happy-go-lucky guy. We know that he is in a better place and is pain free, but we certainly do miss him. Until we meet again Harley, RIP little Prancer Boy.
Cynthia Traun (Mackowick)
Red Wing, MN
Email: cynthia.mackowick@gmail.com
Website: Cynthia’s Gallery
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cynthia.mackowick
Find the Beauty 
Really beautiful images here!
~Christy
Thanks. for visiting my blog Ajaytao2010@wordpress.com. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may definitely find something of your interest.
Hello Cynthia,
Thank you for visiting my site and the kind words. I really enjoyed your blog.
soo gorgeous – not that I am biased at all *sniggers behind paw* xxx
🙂 Thank you!
wonderful photos/blog…look forward to more!
Thanks Heather 🙂
Hey Cynthia, Thanks for taking the time to stop by my blog and have a look around, I hope that you enjoyed what you saw. Looking forward to seeing more of your posts, 🙂
Merci de suivre mon blog!!! d–0.o–b Vous êtes un photographe très doué.
Cynthia – thanks for sharing your personal story with us. I love your talents with the camera. It’s a pleasure following your blog! 🙂
Hi Cynthia Your Photogrphy is just wonderful you have a new fan
Mike
Thanks Mike!
Thank you for the follow, it’s very encouraging.
I see from your commenters that we have similar people.
Also…. either you are tiny or your fella is huge…. or maybe both.
I’m not a big bloke but my wife is tiny and we have always looked interesting walking side by side!
Terry
Thanks Terry 🙂 Yes, I am of smaller stature… 5’1″ to be exact. What I do love is the way we “fit” into each other 🙂 I will enjoy seeing/reading more of your posts in the future.
Being a dog person I’m into body language, and you two look great together.
Terry
P.S> my wife is 4′ 10 and three quarter inches
I love your passion for photography, you have a good collection here. I noticed your watermark and I’m really hurt to say: I don’t like the way it looks. Maybe it’s the flamboyant script font, the size of it or the fact that it lacks low opacity. But leaving that watermark issue under the desk, I love your photos and I spent a good half hour browsing through them.
Ty!
🙂 I appreciate the time you took to view my work.
Love your blog. My husband and I always liked to take the “less traveled road” when we vacationed. He was also a photographer, we took tons of pictures. He has passed away now but the memories and the photos are still with me. Look forward to seeing and reading more of your work.
Thank you Betty- The road less traveled is the best route 🙂
Stunning work, such passion is very motivating – thank you for that. All the best Mark
Thank you so much Mark, I appreciate the feedback.
If you’re up for it, I would love to feature your photography on my blog. I am always look for great artists to share with the world, and I’m confident that my followers will love your work.
If you’re interested, shoot me an email (megepatymaildotcom) with your favorite photographs (captions also if you would like) along with a bio. Your work is beautiful 😀
Thank you so much! I am honored!!! I will gather some favorite images and short bio and send them your way… Thanks again!
Sounds great, Cynthia! I’m very excited to share you work. It is always awesome 🙂
these are some beautiful pics. i keep coming back to look at them. so lovely.
You are to kind, I thank you for your comments.
Thank you for the follow. I took some time to look around and I find your work inspiring.
Thank you, I too, will look forward to seeing more of your work!
What beautiful images and a wonderful blog. Love your two little pooches, too. :-). Hello from western Illinois, where there are plenty of abandoned barns and lovely landscapes.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We will have to travel out that way someday.
Hello Cynthia, congratulations for your amazing pictures! If you have time, come on my blog … there is a surprise for you. Have a good day! by Patty
http://angologreen.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/premio-dardos-award/
Just a quick message to say thanks for following my blog. Today I reached 300 followers. i know that’s not much of a milestone for many bloggers, but I really do appreciate every single person who appreciates something about my photos or thoughts enough to follow my blog.
I especially appreciate when someone who takes photographs as well as you do follows! It’s the greatest compliment. Thanks again!
Thank you and congratulations on the 300 readers! It is a great accomplishment! You have some great talent and I am excited to see more.
HI Little Mack 😉 Wonderfully warm bio you have written here. Great to see you like to break the rules and have fun doing so. I enjoy looking through your images and love the way you compose your shots. Keep the great photos coming! Cheers, Kevin 🙂
Thank you Kevin!
I’ve nominated you for the One Lovely Blogger Award! http://makesomethingmondays.wordpress.com/2014/11/07/one-lovely-blogger-award/
Nice to meet you and thank you for the follow!! Lovely explorations and images. I too love to explore and so will be back!
Thank you!
Hello, Cynthia. So happy to see someone from southern MN! We go to Red Wing often! It’s a nice town.
Looking forward to reading more of your blog.
And I look forward to seeing more of yours 🙂
wonderful and sweet dog too ☺️
Hi
You took a photo of my daughter Talia martens at the AISDR in Bayfield last winter. I bought a 4×6 and I want to tale a screen shot of it for our Facebook . She’s doing the Jr Iditarod next winter. Would you allow me to take the screenshot and post it as long as we give you photo credit?
Hello Janet, how exciting for her! Yes, I would have no problem with you using the image on Facebook. I am traveling right now but could get you an image better than a screenshot when I return 😀 send me a friend request on FB and I can message you the image when I return… just need to know exactly which one. Thank you so much for asking! In the mean time go ahead and use the screenshot if you would like.
I see some very fine images here on this blog. It’s always nice to see what other photographers are doing and the places they have been. I see you are from Red Wing. I lived in Woodbury for over 10 years and I really like traveling to Red Wing, especially in spring and fall. A beautiful city. Good luck with your blog.
Thank you for the compliment. I would agree, I love seeing images from another perspective and from places that I have never been. I have lived in Red Wing for 20 years now and I am amazed by how beautiful this area is daily ❤️