Al is a journalism professor at UW-Madison. He is an authority on the psychology of media consumers and how our perceptions of public opinion influence our behaviors.

But you won’t see Al wearing a tweed blazer with leather elbow patches. You will spot him windsurfing, kayaking, or rowing on one of the lakes, rivers and streams across Dane County.

We staged this photo on the shores of Lake Mendota in mercifully overcast skies at approximately 6:30 PM, with Al’s son holding the stern of the boat to counteract the rowing force. As the wind picked up and the water became choppy, it was a challenge to keep Al squarely in range of my off-camera flash units, but it was worth the effort. Easy for me to say, as I was the one standing on dry land!