Life Saver
Chi-Cheemaun Ferry, Tobermory, Ontario
photography
Yuengling Traditional Lager
I had a co-worker that was Pennsylvania, and she told me about this goofy-sounding beer from her home state that I just had to try. On her next visit home, she told me, she’s bring me a six pack.
And so was born my obsession with Yuengling.
I hear-tell it’s coming to Michigan (but I’ve been hearing that for years now). Previously, it was only available on the east coast. Then it moved to Ohio. And now maybe, someday, possibly my home state.
It’s good. Not great, but a good all-around beer. Part of me feels like the fact that you can’t get it in Michigan makes it taste better – like that lost love you could never get (except on trips to Toledo).
MacCready Reserve: Buzzing
On a hike through the MacCready Reserve in May. Had these wildflowers growing up just about everywhere.
Processed using VSCO Film 05 Kodak UltraMax 400 Vibrant.
Red Door
Albion, Mich.
As a photographer, and as a designer at my former job, I find color to be tough. I love color, and I make sure that color is a big part of my work. But I’ve always had trouble getting color – understanding it intuitively.
So I’m trying to do more color studies like this one. Pick color as a subject. It started as a daily Instagram project for one week, but now I’m trying to do more of it.
Here’s to color.
Wilcox Red Bard
Concord, Mich.
One of my favorite sites in the morning is this red barn. The way the sunrise hits it, and the shadows, the deep red – it’s lovely.
Dappled Sunlight Golden
I originally stopped off the side of the road to grab a few photos of sandhill cranes. But the cranes were not cooperative, so I had to work with the sunrise on the side of the road.
Sunset on the Georgian Bay
Lake Huron – Tobermory, Ontario
That sliver of land way out there on the horizon? That’s Manitoulin Island.
The Lodge
The lodge at Tobermory, Ontario, offered a perfect view of Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay off the back patio. The way the light came into the main sitting room was perfect.
Red Top Motor Inn
You want a great place to stay along Highway 17 in Ontario, along the Georgian Bay in Lake Huron? Give the Red Top Motor Inn a try.
It’s classic motor lodge, with vintage decorations, Centennial design, and a great dining area.
That’s what’s great about these roadside motels in Ontario: a ton of them have little restaurants attached, with great food.
Waking Light
Horton, Michigan
It’s getting to be that time of year where the sunrise is perfectly timed to my morning commute. From now through early September it will be great for photo making, like with this little shed on my neighborhood street.
This was one of those photos that I screeched to a halt in my car, pulled over, and crept through the trees to get the shot.
Ramshackle
Sure, there’s a bit of bravery needed to pull the car over and climb into an abandoned and nearly-collapsed shack on the edge of an overgrown tree farm.
And then you see the creep-tastic shrine someone made out of a skull and carcass bones.
But there’s also adventure, and the gnawing desire to see what’s inside the thing.
So it was that I climbed into this ramshackle little building, probably no more than 15 ft. by 30 ft., after passing if for many years along M-60 just east of Spring Arbor, Mich.
Cruise Night
Selections from Cruise Night in downtown Jackson, Mich.
This was one of the first times I took the Canon EOS M for a spin (ha!), shooting these fantastic classic cars. I came back that night and was super impressed. The level of detail and richness of the images was appealing.
But it was also a chance to explore things like chrome flourishes, and car colors you don’t see anymore.
Seasons: A Year in Four Parts
Earlier this year I told myself, “You have to print more of your work.”
And after learning about MagCloud (now owned by Blurb) from Patrick LaRoque, I decided to try printing a book of my Instagram photos that represent seasons through the year.
Here we have Seasons: A Year In Four Parts.
It was mostly an experiment to try self publishing. MagCloud offers very nice templates for InDesign (and other publishing platforms), and I got to do the design, layout, and typography myself.
Square format, 80 pages measuring 8″ wide and tall, with perfect-bound binding.
I purchased two copies – one for myself, and one as a potential gift. MagCloud stores the book for me, in case I want to give out another copy. And boy, the prices are super reasonable for this kind of thing. It makes me want to try to do these little photo books a few times a year.
My next experiment will be with Mosaic – printing a photo book right from my iPhone. I’m thinking about doing something with my Cloud Atlas series.
This is the dream of digital, DIY publishing: make your own thing, with your own stuff, at a reasonable price…and maybe make it available to others on demand.
So I’m making Seasons available for purchase. $20 for the physical edition and a buck ($1, cheap!) for the digital edition.
80 pages, published 6/5/2014
‘Seasons: A Year In Four Parts” is a collection of Instagram photos representing winter, spring, summer, and fall.
