To drive into Houghton, Michigan—a small college (Michigan Technological University) town in Michigan’s upper peninsula (U.P.)—is to be welcomed by a tidy, small-business-filled-main-street downtown. It had been years since I’d been there. It didn’t look like a lot had changed, but that’s a good thing. Change is too frequent for me and a lack of …
Why are abandoned buildings so interesting? It’s because they have stories to tell. They’ve lived lives and been around. But, sometimes they can’t tell the complete story. It’s up to the imaginative viewer to decipher the clues. At one time—before the motel rooms were void of people and the wood was rotted—abandoned structures, like the …
Northern Michigan can receive snow from about October through April. It can actually receive snow any month of the year in these parts, but we’ll deal with weather generalities for now. Being from Michigan, one learns to enjoy all the excursions and variety that each season provides. When winter arrives in all it’s glory, it …
Why Winter in Grayling, Michigan is Amazing (and what to do there)! Read More »
Making Images Again in Vehicle City When someone brings up Flint, Michigan, the conversation usually revolves around the topics of lead-tainted water, low income and crime. Flint has had—and continues to have— highs and lows. But, here’s the thing about Flint: the people who live in that storied city are incredible. Most of the folks …
The Story of Photos Over Time As often happens, I sat down at my computer one morning—on the desk, a hot coffee to my left and Harriet, our 16-year-old Maine Coon, looking out an open window to the right—and decided to revisit photos I’d taken. It’s a rabbit hole I look forward to traveling down, …
Tip #1: Have a Camera On You This should go without saying; but I must say it. If you don’t have any type of camera on you, something amazing WILL happen. A beautiful vista will present itself; an extinct species will be revealed; and/or the moment of a lifetime will transpire. I’m not sure why …
3 Tips to Improve Your Everyday Photography Right Now Read More »
An Epic Race Returns Let me tell you about Wilco Road: It’s a narrow, tree-lined road with high banks and a bevy of turns that connects the village of Empire to the Empire Bluffs trailhead at the top of the hill. It’s steep and short—I’ll say it’s a half a mile from start to finish. …
Normal Isn’t Boring When the temperatures start dropping and the plaid starts popping, it’s a sure sign that it’s fall in northern Michigan. Areas that are eye-catching with the green-leaved trees of summer, turn into Claude Monet’s Autumn Effect as the maples and oaks put on their finale show before the raindrops freeze and fall. …
Hello Color It’s autumn and as much as the sultry temperatures of summer’s months—and the greenery associated with it—will be missed, it’s an absolutely perfect time to grab our favorite image-making device and head out into the world for fall photography. The colors are changing every day so it’s important to make the most of …
4 Tips for Making Excellent Fall Images with an iPhone Read More »
Exploring Small Towns in the Thumb My first job as a photojournalist was at The Times Herald in Port Huron, Mich. Port Huron is located where Lake Huron meets the St. Clair River, in the southeast of Michigan. Look at the palm of your right hand and Port Huron would be at your right thumb …
Voyaging: A Photo Excursion on the Tip of Michigan’s Thumb Read More »