original photographers

Through The Windshield

Cool nights, warm mornings – this time of year offers a foggy windshield for the commute into work, especially since I haven’t been able to park in the garage lately.

But the light, and the scene just outside the window – it made for some fun abstract shots.

More and more, I measure the passage of time when the seasons change, and what the light looks like, and where. These days, the sun rises just as I leave the driveway. Soon, it won’t show up until I’m halfway to work.

And then, it’s gone completely.

These transition months tell me what time of year it is. The students are going back to school, the morning is chilly, and the light is fantastic.


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

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.


In Praise Of The Coney Island

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.