Artists In Jackson: Audra Lockwood
“My favorite thing to hear is people laughing. As long as people are feeling something, then I’m doing something right. My work is quirky and a little bit out there.”
Read Audra’s profile at Artists In Jackson.
make portraits
Artists In Jackson: Ashley Smith
“Every little snapshot reminds me of something. It reminds me of the music playing that day, or something we did earlier. It helps me remember and relive my life. It’s a sensory thing.”
Read Ashley’s profile at Artists In Jackson.
Artists In Jackson: Andrew Hall
“I don’t want to be a ‘company.’ I want to be underground.”
Read Andrew’s profile at Artists In Jackson.
Artists In Jackson: David Flack
“It’s a good outlet for depression. I’ve always been able to show myself something solid and tell myself, ‘You’re not a bad person. Look at what you can do.’”
Read David’s profile at Artists In Jackson.
It’s Here: Artists In Jackson
Today I’m releasing my portrait project Artists In Jackson to the world. Since June, I’ve interviewed and photographed 15 Jackson-based artists about their talent, their challenges, and their hometown. The final product is a beautiful, 100+ page book featuring stories and portraits from the artists.
You can learn about the project at artistsinjackson.com. And the book makes a great holiday gift!
Thank you so much to the artists who participated. Through painting, or photography, or metalworking, or tattoos, they’re making my hometown of Jackson, Michigan, a more beautiful place. Support them!
And thanks to all of you who have supported and shared this project.
Engagement Shoot with Chris and Rebecca
Much like improv, it’s when things go wrong that I feel like things really go right in photography. And that’s why I love grabbing these behind-the-scenes-type shots during photo sessions, like with Chris and Rebecca (and their dog Lacey) here.
Totally beautiful fall day, fun couple, and lots of adventure (like climbing trees!).
Schweizer Family
Had a blast making family portraits for my good friends, Nate and Kelli, and their kiddos Sophie and Evan.
A lovely night in the park, a giant lollypop as an incentive, and fun family get-together.
Trains: David
They call David “The Conductor.”
He joined the Central Michigan Model Railroad Club at 16. A wunderkind who became the club’s treasurer.
He’s also a bit of a jokester.
“I still live in my childhood home,” David says. “I just kicked my parents out.”
David is the first one in on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights, and usually the last one to turn out the lights. The club meets in a second story loft in downtown Jackson, Mich. The hours come from the club’s old location at the local mall. It used to be they’d meet on Mondays and Fridays, but David says they started using Wednesday as a “work day.”
Though “work” is always code for “social.”
“It’s more social than anything. This is my social club,” David says.
Trains: Craig
Craig grew up across the street from the Pontiac rail yards. He’s been watching them for a lot of years.
When he was 18, he got into model trains, but never really had a place to run them. In 2002, he moved to Jackson, and found the Central Michigan Model Railroad Club.
“Then I had a place to play with them,” Craig says.
Before then, Craig studied geography in college. He also collected stamps and license plates. “It’s an OCD thing,” he says, with all the colors, symbols, and numbers. Organizing. Categorizing.
Craig works in the travel industry in Novi.
Trains: Blair
Both sides of Blair’s family has worked on the railroad. He has five family members riding the rails.
“I love seeing my brother drive by on the train,” he says.
Blair’s been collecting train memorabilia since he was young. He has an O-gauge train set at home, and the GTs are his favorites.
He’s grateful for the Central Michigan Model Railroad Club.
“I can’t personally work on the railroad because I’m deaf, so this is the next best thing.”