Until the Sun’s Reborn
Until the Sun’s Reborn – Pulaski, Michigan
Make Local
Over the summer, I worked on a portrait project with local artists in Jackson, Michigan. I talked with them about their craft, how they got started, and why they stuck around our hometown to do creative work.
The project is called Artists In Jackson: Make Local. The kicker was each artist had to be from Jackson, and had to still be doing their thing in Jackson. And the project focused on visual artists, but that could be anyone from graphic designers to painters to videographers and photographers.
This fall, I’ll launch the project to the public. But for now, you can sign up for a newsletter (of sorts) to get updates when it’s ready to roll, including fun behind the scenes shots and announcements about the project.
Stay tuned!
Film Photography Collection
It seems I’ve become the “Dave Will Take Your Old Film Camera” guy.
To be fair, I did pick up the Canonet at a yard sale. The film, too (all of it expired), was a flea market grab.
I’s been a fun way to stretch the photography hobby into new areas. Yes, it’s expensive, and yes, there’s a learning curve. But what else do you do with a hobby but spend money and pick up new skills?
Missing from this photo: a Yashica Mat 124 TLR camera a friend from high school gave me. My first foray into medium format.
Stay tuned.
A New Adventure
More film photography is in my future. I nabbed a box full of expired film at a flea market. That, plus a few film cameras, puts me in good shape to shoot.
Top Prize
Booya. Not only first place in the “Michigan Lighthouse” category, but top prize for color photos overall at the Jackson County Fair photo contest.
“Hand In Hand” has certainly been a crowd pleaser, earning both Radar recognition on Tumblr, and an Explore nod from Flickr.
Thanks very much to the judges. Honored to earn that purple ribbon at my first fair competition.
I’m slowly creeping into the “show more of my work in public” zone. This fair photo competition was my first bit of outreach, besides a few local shows here and there. There are lots of local artists who have done shows, exhibits, and contests, and I’m starting to chat with them about how they go about it, and what advice they have for someone like me.
The fair’s competition was tough. The list of rules and regulations was about three pages long, and I had a mix up picking up my prints after the fair was over. I don’t think I’ll go hog wild (10 photos) like I did this year. Maybe next year I’ll pick one or two that I think will do well.
Printing the photos, preparing the photos, delivering the photos – this competition, like many exhibits and shows, took a lot of work. And treasure. Something to add to the “now I know” list.
Here’s to showing your work in public.
Taking the Red Line
Taking The Red Line – Chicago, Illinois
Agfa Vista Plus 200 with a Canonet QL17.
Chris + Rebecca
I don’t do weddings, except when I do – for good friends like Chris and Rebecca. They had a great ceremony and reception at an old Christmas tree farm near Port Huron, Michigan.
Behind the scenes photos are some of my favorites, so here are a few from the two day trip.
Good family, good friends, and good fun. What more do you need for a wedding?
Four Guitars, Barely Enough
Head to 1:40 for a better version of “Shine” than the album version.
Lord, the ‘90s, when four guitars was just barely enough.
Bending Light On The Wall
Bending Light On The Wall – Jackson, Michigan
Great light in a studio space in downtown Jackson. I was there for a portrait project, but the way the light was coming in the windows was too great not to grab.
In Praise Of The Coney Island
I’ll tell anyone who will listen: I’m a fan of the coney island hot dog.
You have chili dogs, and kraut, and brats, and Chicago style, and whatever NY happens to be bragging about, and all the rest – and I love those, too. But to me, the coney island is the hot dog style.
When I worked in downtown Jackson, Michigan, I had two coney islands across the street from my office. Every Friday, I’d hit up the Virginia Coney Island and, every week, order “the usual”: two coneys, fries, and a diet Coke.
I miss that. So I try to grab a coney for lunch wherever and whenever I can – even a Detroit-style coney, like the ones above from Lafayette Coney Island across from Campus Martius in downtown Detroit.
