Photography to Explore
A Very Quiet Town When an itch to explore a place quivers my shutter-button finger, I know it's probably because I haven't been to that place in a bit. Such was the case when I aimed my steel steed toward the village of Kalkaska, Mich, about a half hour away. As with most trips lately,…
Continue reading ➞ Voyaging: Kalkaska, MI—a.k.a. Trout Town, U.S.A.
Street Photography in Cadillac Situated in the lower eastern section of northern Michigan's Wexford County, you'll find Cadillac. It's unofficial claims probably outnumber the official ones, but I'll fill you in with what I know. In 1975, the rock band KISS performed there for the high school's homecoming, which is memorialized on a giant stone…
Continue reading ➞ Voyaging: Walking Through Cadillac, MI in Spring
Let's Roll The Cadieux Cafe in Detroit's east side serves up an impressive selection of Belgian beers along with mussels and other specialties. It's a unique place, not just for the food and drink though. Walk through two doors at an end of the bar and you'll be encountering a game rarely played anywhere, let…
Continue reading ➞ Feather Bowling: A Bygone Belgian Pastime Is Revered in Detroit
Search for the Color There was an evening recently, that I'd made the decision to travel downtown to make images. It was an easy decision: The light was nice and it'd been a while since I'd last photographed. There was something about this trip though that was different from the many others. After making a…
Seize the Vertical With 35mm film cameras, DSLRs, mirrorless...MOST cameras, it takes some extra maneuvers for the vertical frame. Horizontal photos are easy: You hold the camera, right hand at the right and left hand at the left. For verticals though, do you put right hand over the left? Or do you hold it the…
If you're like me, it's a commitment to venture out and make pictures. It's a commitment in time, money and resources. We do it because we love the craft and art of it...unless you have a different reason, which you could. For now though, I'm going to assume these reasons are why most individuals love…
Continue reading ➞ Voyaging: Boyne Falls, MI—Photography in Midday Sun
My camera bag is loaded with rolls of 35mm film and my lodging for LeDuc's Creekside Motel in Cheboygan, MI is booked; let's do some street photography. Mackinaw City was my focus on this photo excursion and weekend of village voyaging, but to maximize my exploration, I decided to kick my boots off about a…
Continue reading ➞ Voyaging: Quiet Street Photography in Small Towns (in this case Cheboygan, MI)
Look at the palm of your right hand; that's Michigan, the lower peninsula. Follow your middle finger to the tip and that's where Mackinaw City is. Now, look at the palm of your left hand, that's Michigan's upper peninsula. Connect the tip of your left hand pinky finger with the tip of your right-hand middle…
Continue reading ➞ Voyaging: Mackinaw City, MI—Crossroads in the State Made with Hands
Big Pro Tip: Use What You Have A photographic bowling ball of wisdom fell into my lap and I almost missed it. It was during my first internship as a photographer at a daily newspaper in Michigan. My photojournalism degree obtained, my college days behind me for the time being and a coveted photography internship…
Smallest Post Office in the U.S. Situated between Naples, FL and Miami, FL is a 7 foot by 8 foot structure in Ochopee (pronounced O-Chop-ee), FL. It's small but visible as its white color stands out from the surrounding southern-Florida greenery. Driving past it for the first time, heading toward Miami, I applied light pressure…
