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 …
A little more than one week ago, on Friday, May 20, 2022, an EF3 category tornado touched down in Gaylord, Michigan. It caused two fatalities, numerous injuries and widespread destruction due to the 150 mph wind speed it reached. It’s extremely rare that such a natural disaster would strike in northern Michigan. Tornadic activity has …
The season right after winter and right before summer is a strange one indeed, especially when it comes to photography. Of course, depending on where in the world you are, springtime has different meanings and styles. In the Midwest of the U.S., it’s a time when the snow is melting—not that a snowstorm won’t hit—revealing …
This is a travel story about Louisville, Kentucky, and how we found a dinosaur. Life is too short and discovering new places is too important. So, as summer was winding down in Michigan we discussed plans to take a fall trip. Not for leaf watching, but something else. You know when you begin to get …
Ansel Adams had the majestic views of Yosemite Park. Henri Cartier-Bresson had the picturesque streets of Paris. Vivian Maier had the gritty and people-filled walkways of Chicago. If you’re like me though, places like that are not nearby. I learned long ago that there are amazing photographic opportunities right in your backyard if you’re willing …
Early springtime in Michigan is a strange season, when everything takes on the color of a brownish gray hue. It’s torture for the vivid color seeker. Photographically though, drab colors allow other colors to pop. Also, there’s an authenticity to drab colors, even if vivid colors are absent. Many photographers try to capture the best …
Fog is some of, maybe the, best light. They—or at least, someone—say that bad weather makes good photos. This is true. But, foggy weather makes the best photos. It’s subdued and moody. Colors pop and objects in the distance disappear in fog’s cloak of precipitation. Combine fog’s ability to enhance any photographic situation, with my …
There’s an unforgettable scene in the movie Jurassic Park, when Dr. Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), among others, first see a jaw-dropping vista of dinosaurs roaming along as they would’ve millions of years ago. Watch this scene if you haven’t viewed it, because that’s about how it felt to unearth my Canon …
Camera Review: Why the Canon 1D Mark II Still Rocks Read More »
A perfect storm descended upon our house, directly into the recesses of my eyes and heart and all other parts of a being used to create. This was a good storm though—a creative storm. Things were calm and good, before it. Things were busy, productive and wonderful after it. My partner had given me the …
Film photographers rejoice! With film stocks continuously going the way of the dodo, Kodak has recently made photo headlines worldwide with their latest photography offering. Last week my Instagram-scrolling thumbs were halted in their tracks when I came across the announcement that Kodak was coming out with a new medium format film: Kodak Gold 200 …
Why Kodak Gold 200 (35mm) is One of the Best Films Read More »