photography

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal: The Tuk Tuk Photography Tour

Our Lisbon, Portugal trip came in several stages, so let’s start with the first part: our tuk tuk tour.

Our tour guide, João, picked us up near our Sintra guide’s meeting spot: the Hard Rock Cafe, on Avenida Da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue), early in the morning. From there, we took off in his tuk tuk to see some of the cathedrals and grand vistas around Lisbon.

This lower, flatter part of the city contrasts sharply with where a tuk tuk can take you next. Almost immediately, you begin climbing into Lisbon’s historic hills, where streets narrow and the buildings get older.

Sé Cathedral (Lisbon Cathedral)

Lisbon Cathedral stands as the city’s oldest major monument. While the current Romanesque structure dates to the 12th century, its origins go back much further.

It’s old, and dense: heavy stone walls, thick towers, with minimal ornamentation.

Contrast with that age: modern tuk tuks everywhere, trying to pick up tourists.

Monastery of São Vicente de Fora (Saint Vincent Monastery)

Perched above Alfama, São Vicente de Fora is one of Lisbon’s most important religious and historical complexes. Built in the 17th century, the monastery is dedicated to Saint Vincent, Lisbon’s patron saint, whose relics were brought to the city in the 12th century.

Up here, you could understand how Lisbon’s high ground was historically reserved for institutions of power, faith, and defense.

Photographically, this was one of my favorite spots on the tour. Bright white walls, deep shadows inside, and open courtyards gave me lots of room (and light) to explore.

From the Cathedral, we hit our first viewpoint area: Portas do Sol, with its view over Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood (above). This viewpoint showcases Lisbon’s medieval layout: narrow streets, tiled facades, and terracotta roofs everywhere you look.

Plus, we had a great view of the Tagus River.

It was dizzying, traveling up those narrow streets. You lose your sense of direction pretty quickly. 

And then, the city opens out in front of you…

Senhora do Monte Viewpoint and Chapel

The Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is one of Lisbon’s highest viewpoints. From up here, the city opens up in every direction, and João pointed out the old city and where it meets the newer parts of Lisbon (he was, admittedly, not a fan of the newer parts).

Behind us, a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Mount (Senhora do Monte) sits quietly at the edge of the viewpoint.

We weren’t the only tourists looking out from this vantage point, but the space was open and clear enough to get a good view of the city under a bright morning sun.

 

Finishing up, we hit the hills back down to where we started, where João explained some of the history behind his wonderful city.

Pastel da nata - Lisbon, Portugal

We asked João where we could get the best pastel de nata in town, and he steered us to a little cafe not far from our original meeting point.

Together with a cup of coffee, the pastel didn’t disappoint.

Shot on the Canon EOS M6 and a mix of EF-M lenses.

 

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When Light Feels Like Memory

This Christmas, we were sitting with some family and going through some of my annual photo books. 

“I tend to take my camera everywhere,” I told my mother-in-law as she relived the past few years through pictures. Some of those photo albums featured her, either at birthday parties or on a family trip to Wisconsin.

Looking through those photo books, all those ordinary moments feel anything but ordinary when you see them again.

As we turned the pages, I realized how much of what I remember is tied to the light of a place.

Light ends up highlighting how a scene, location, or event felt. Not just how it looked, but how I remember it: the warmth on a Lake Michigan beach. The quiet of a winter afternoon. The way a place said “home.”

In the winter, I always watch for the familiar light to return to the south side of the house. When it’s cold out, the light makes its merry way across the walls and floors again. When it shows up, I try to notice and capture it.

Looking back at old photos, I realize how much I miss the big picture window in our previous home’s living room (above). We made so many memories there. Morning light spilling in. Late afternoon shadows. Kids on the floor or the couch.

Quiet moments that felt small then, but feel enormous now.

Over the years, I knew that old house’s light and followed it according to the seasons.

In this house, the light is different. It arrives at different times, from different angles, and I’ve learned to take advantage of it where and when I can.

That’s part of why it helps to take a camera everywhere, or keep one on me at all times. I try to notice the light when it shows up and grab it while it’s there.

Then, when we look back, we’re not just seeing a photo; we are reliving how that light made the moment feel.

 

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Cabo de Roca, Portugal

Sintra, Portugal Photography

Heading out from our home base of Caparica, we took a day to visit Sintra, Portugal, along the Atlantic coast and a short drive from Lisbon.

We arranged an Airbnb tour and travelled with a mother/daughter pair from Mexico. As the day started, rain clouds moved in, misting over the landscape as we came into Sintra. 

The first stop was the Pena Palace, one of the seven wonders of Portugal. Seeing it was like visiting a real-life Disney castle, but with colors and personality that made it a unique experience. 

We climbed a short way up the mountain, through a grand entry archway, and stepped up to the bi-colored palace with tons of other visitors. 

From up here, we had a great view of the surrounding area – and we could even spot Lisbon off to the East. 

Next, we took a short drive to the Quinta da Regaleira, a 19th-century estate sprawling with chapels, statues, grottoes, and an initiation well that spiraled down into a cave system beneath the grounds. 

We could have spent an entire day here, exploring the property. In between the rain, we climbed up the estate hillside and climbed down the well – over and under and through everything. 

I thought back to what it must’ve been like to live here, especially as a child, and be able to wander around the estate day after day.

From the Quinta da Regaleira, we headed to the seaside and Cabo de Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe. 

After grabbing lunch, we stopped at the cliffside, 100 meters above the Atlantic Ocean, to see the lighthouse and marker noting the end of the Eurasian landmass. To the East were rolling hills and natural meadows. To the west? A long dive into the ocean. 

With a good tour guide (shout-out to our own Giovana!), these kinds of tours are a great way to efficiently explore parts of a new country. 

And even with the rain and inconsistent lighting, the Canon EOS M6 and stock zoom lens were all I needed to capture the day. 

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Costa de Caparica, Portugal

Costa da Caparica, Portugal Photography

First things first on our Portugal trip: Costa da Caparica, the little beach town we stayed in south of Lisbon.

For our 10-year wedding anniversary, we rented an Airbnb condo where, when you stepped outside the building, you were right on the beach. And believe me: coming from the chilly Midwest, we appreciated having easy access to the warm oceanside. 

All of it – the seaside restaurants, the surfers, the golden light at sunset – reminded me of California. The weather was great too, full of sunshine and an ocean breeze.

The bright sun and saltwater haze lent a summer vibe to these photos that I appreciated, especially when visiting in the middle of October. 

We loved the constant waves, too, and even kept our patio door open at night. Think of it as an ocean-sized sound machine. 

I grabbed my Canon EOS M6 and took advantage of the sunshine and summer vibes to capture some photos along the beach walkway.

Whether we were eating lunch at a seaside restaurant or walking through a Portuguese flea market, it was the perfect place to capture the local people and places.

And the light? To die for, especially approaching golden hour.

Just like California, ocean sunsets hit differently.

Caparica was a great launching point into the wider Lisbon area. We were 30-50 minutes (depending on traffic) to Lisbon, and from there we wandered up and down the coast for the few days we were in Portugal.

All photos shot with the Canon EOS M6 and a select few EF-M lenses. 

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Austin, Texas

Austin City Limits

I came back to Austin, Texas, for a conference in November – the same conference I attended last year and had such a productive photography trip, walking around the city.

This year, it was much the same: beautiful, sunny weather, and a great chance to walk around downtown to grab some night images. 

I brought along my Canon EOS M6 and a couple of bright lenses to capture the nightlife around 6th Street and the surrounding blocks.

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Jackson, Michigan Christmas Parade

Christmas Parade

Some scenes from our downtown Jackson, Michigan Christmas parade.

I especially enjoyed the “Greatest Metal Show On Earth” float toward the end. Definitely lent a Krampus vibe, which I always appreciate.

Shot on the Canon 5D mark II and EF 50mm f/1.4.

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It’s Good

Sitting around the house
watching the sun drape shadows on the floor
Searching for signs of life
But there’s nobody home

Better Than Ezra, “Good“

Shot on the Canon 5D (classic!) and EF 40mm f/2.8.

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Foggy October

Foggy October Photography

Have to get out and take advantage of these foggy mornings before they’re gone – only to return in early spring.

Shot on the Canon EOS M and EF-M 22mm f/2 in Jackson, Michigan.

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Hillsdale, Michigan

Hillsdale, Michigan

Another Saturday morning, another small town in south central Michigan.

This time, I picked a sunny fall morning and drove south to Hillsdale, a small town that I haven’t seen in 15 years. I used to travel to Hillsdale for work fairly often. Today, it’s all photography, and a fresh chance to revisit this small city.

Hillsdale is about a 40-minute drive from Jackson, through the rural countryside, and it was a good opportunity to get to see this section of US-12 again.

The first stop? Lewis Emery County Park to watch the sun rise. 

I met this gentleman who was struggling to find a fish.

“What are you photographing anyway?” he asked. 

The scenery, I said, and to watch the colors change as the light came in.

“Well, if you see any fish around, send them my way,” he said.

Driving into town, I spotted this industrial section of town and pulled over to explore. The sun was coming up and lit up these bright white silos perfectly.

On the town square, near the courthouse, I walked around the farmers’ market and bought a delicious selection of apples.

At the farmer’s market, I ran into a co-worker and her friend.

“What are you doing down here?” she asked.

Have camera, will travel, I said. 

Photos shot with the Canon 5D (classic!) and either EF 50mm f/1.4 or 40mm f/2.8.

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University of Michigan - The Big House

The Big House

Back to the University of Michigan’s Big House, the largest stadium in America, this time to watch the Wolverines take on the University of Wisconsin.

My friend, Don, and I started out at Fox Sports’ Big Noon Saturday TV taping, live from the high school across the street from Michigan Stadium.

If you treat these big game settings as street photography, you can capture the fun and excitement of all the fans. I brought my Canon EOS M2 as my light and portable gear, easily bringing it everywhere I went. I even put it in my back pocket and breezed past the security checkpoint. 

The weather was warming up – and quickly – as we headed into the stadium. By halftime, the temperature climbed to the unseasonable 80-85 degrees F.

We had to take a break and drink some water in the shade. We weren’t the only ones.

This didn’t feel like fall football in October. This felt like summertime.

By the start of the fourth quarter, the game was well in hand for Michigan. I grabbed a few final photos on my way out of the stadium, taking advantage of the bright sunlight and all those maize-colored shirts and jerseys.

Let’s go, Blue!

Photos shot on the Canon EOS M2 and EF-M 22mm f/2.

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Family Photography

Monkey in the middle

This New York Times profile on photographer Sally Mann – one of my family photography heroes – is one of those periodic reminders of the importance of making photos at home. 

Sally became well-known (and, sadly, controversial) because of her intimate family portraits. She has since moved on to landscapes and other forms of photography, especially as her children became adults.

I feel that transition happening in my own life, too. For the past 10 years, since my daughter Madelyn was born, family photography has been my main creative outlet: photos around the house, family vacations, and capturing moments as my kids get older. 

In the past year, however, I have had more time for creative projects outside of my family and home. I rebooted my Artists In Jackson project, I’m taking more time to take little adventures around my community, and I’m revisiting projects that I worked on long ago. 

It feels good! And I have a metric that shows my return to other kinds of photography – my Lightroom photo count:

Number of photos taken by year

Over the years, my photo count has decreased. Now, for the first time in a long time, I’m taking more photos than I have in years past – by a lot. That feels good, too. 

But despite doing more photography, I haven’t lost sight of the importance of my own household. The kids are more mobile and active these days, but I still try to steal a shot when I can.

Family photography is still the most important kind of photography. It’s just that now, I have found my way back to other projects. 

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Worthy Successor: Canon EOS M2 Review

There’s a lot of talk in the photography world about “everyday carry” cameras, or fixed-lens compact cameras (like the Fujifilm X100 series). 

You need a portable camera, the thinking goes, to carry with you everywhere you go so you don’t miss out on those moments in between.

When I first purchased the original Canon EOS M, its “everyday carry” potential hit me immediately. “Here’s the camera I can throw in my front seat and take everywhere,” I remember thinking. That philosophy played out for 12 years, and I’ve enjoyed having the Canon M system in my life.

There are issues with the OG M, however: It’s slow to focus, and the screen blackout after taking a shot is obnoxious. Over the years, I’ve learned to live with these shortcomings. But ever since the dawn of Canon’s M system, these issues have plagued the camera line – and understandably so.

We never got the M’s successor, the Canon EOS M2, here in North America. I did hear about it, though, and longed for its faster autofocus and overall improvements in snappiness.

When my M finally gave up the ghost, I decided to upgrade my everyday carry and snatch an M2 from Japan.

Again, I loved my Canon EOS M, despite its flaws. It was the perfect example of “good enough,” and I appreciated the EF-M 22mm f/2 lens, which remained on the front of the camera at all times. In effect, it served as a fixed-lens compact camera for me. The 35mm field of view helped the M serve as my X100 with the benefit of Canon’s comfortable colors and usable interface. 

Since using the M2, I remembered how slow the M was, because this little camera is much better at autofocus and has a dramatically reduced screen blackout after pressing the shutter. In fact, it was startling to go back to an M and be reminded of how pokey it is.

Now, the M2 is not going to win any speed awards. The whole M system is notoriously slow. However, taking this M2 out to Phoenix, Arizona, for a work trip (above and below), the speed benefits were immediately apparent. 

The features I loved about the original M were all still here in the M2: fantastic image quality, body toughness, ease of use, and – this might be a just-for-me thing – the use of the delete button on the scroll wheel to reset the touch screen focus point (something I miss dearly on the newer M cameras). 

To put it more pointedly: the M2 is a comfortable, familiar piece of kit. Just a bit better.

It’s also just a tad smaller and has added wifi functionality that will help if you use Canon’s mobile app. It has the same touchscreen as the M, which can be difficult for some folks to use in bright conditions. However, after using the M for years, I’ve made peace with the lack of an electronic viewfinder or flexible screen. Even in the hot Arizona sun, I can still make this fixed touchscreen work. 

Another cosmetic thing I love about the M2 is its color and style. I grabbed the blue and brown version, which fits in perfectly with my photography aesthetic. The best description of my gear is, What if Indiana Jones had a camera, strap, and bag? That’s the style I’m after. So this little M2 fits in perfectly with the rest of my kit. 

The only thing that doesn’t fit, cosmetically, is the black and silver EF-M lens color scheme. Just as you shouldn’t wear a black belt with brown shoes, the black EF-M lenses clash somewhat with this blue and brown camera body. Silver doesn’t look great either. 

Yes, the M2 is 12 years old. No, the video specs aren’t the best. Nor is it a speed demon.

But if you’re dedicated to the M system and EF-M lenses, and you enjoyed the original Canon EOS M, the M2 is a worthy successor.

All images, except for the camera portraits, were shot on the Canon EOS M2 and EF-M 22mm lens. 

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Phoenix, AZ

Back to Phoenix, Arizona

In town (in July!) for a business trip with the Canon EOS M2 and EF-M 22mm f/2.

First, the airport and my hotel:

Then a quick trip up to Cave Creek, Arizona, north of Phoenix.

Nothing like the Sonoran Desert summer heat. 

But it’s only a dry heat, right? 

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Lawrence and Highland Blvd

It’s not every day a couple of hot air balloons float above the neighborhood.

But when you’re block sits here on Lawrence and Highland Boulevard, on the south side of Jackson, Michigan, you’re not far from our local Hot Air Jubilee launch point.

So: balloons. Floating through a neighborhood.

On this neighborhood walk, I was approached by a guy who was watching me from his porch. He saw me taking a photo of a shadow and asked me why I was taking a picture of a license plate.

I tried to reassure him I was only taking photos of light and color around the street, but I think he was still suspicious. 

“Didn’t you see those balloons?” I thought. They’re the real intruders worth worrying about.

Shot on the Canon EOS M2 and EF-M 28mm macro. 

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Photography Microadventures

Irish Hills, Michigan

Back when I was single with no kids, taking off on a Saturday drive to take photos was easy: I just got up and did it.

Now, with a family and more responsibilities, spending time out taking photos has been harder to do. Many of my weeknight activities involve taking kids to their lessons or school functions. There are doctor appointments and musical practice. Someone has to do the dishes and mow the lawn. And my wife and I have a relationship to nurture. 

So what to do? How can a busy person support a photography hobby with such a constrained schedule?

My advice: take opportunities when you can, and don’t feel bad about it. 

The concept of microadventures has gained popularity in recent years, where you take a weekend, or a day, and head out into the world to do…something — anything out of the ordinary. 

For photography, it could be as simple as:

  • Waking up early and hitting the road to photograph a landscape or subject before the rest of your household even knows you’re gone. I do this on Saturdays when I know the weather and the light are optimal. Often, I’m back before everyone’s even had breakfast.
  • Taking advantage of work trips. I do this a lot with conferences, where you can head to a city across the country and wander into town to make pictures. Bring a camera with you on your next work trip and you can create something in the quiet moments.
  • Grab an hour when and where you can and check something off your to-photograph list. If we have nothing planned for the week, I’ll take a break after dinner and photograph a subject I’ve noticed during my travels around town. I’ll even stop somewhere on the way to pick up the kids (from the grandparents, from school, etc.) and capture something I’ve noticed. 

This could be true of any creative project. The point is: make your own adventures whenever you can. 

And for big projects? I communicate those with my family and ask for time to complete them. That may mean a few hours here and there during the week, but as long as you’re upfront about expectations and schedules, it shouldn’t be difficult. 

If it’s important, find the time.

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Irish Hills, Michigan

Return to the Irish Hills, Michigan

The Irish Hills in south central Michigan continue to be an ongoing project – one of the places I return to, time and time again, to capture an area that I love.

Except it’s been nine years since I was out this way. Much has changed. 

I brought along the Canon 5D Mark II and both the EF 40mm and 50mm lenses, and started with the little lakes that run along US-12.

As luck would have it, the fog rolled in on this cool September morning and made for some good imagery down these long country dirt roads.

Further East on US-12, I stopped to revisit the amusement parks and classic Irish Hills roadside stops that I’ve spent years photographing.

Sadly, many of my old haunts were either torn down or converted into unrelated businesses (Prehistoric Forest, for instance, is now a golf cart rental shop). A lot can change over nine years.

To me, seeing all these classic Irish Hills stops being torn down or transformed means it’s more important than ever to photograph them before they’re gone.

Just a little further down US-12, I stopped by a few more lakes – Sand Lake and Evans Lake – because they still had a little bit of fog, and the light was just right.

The bright reds, especially, stuck out from the background of blue and green on these lakes. 

Before the light disappeared, I headed back to my hometown of Brooklyn, Michigan, and stopped at a marina for some more boat shots before the fog burned off completely. 

I grew up in this area. It’s always nice to revisit these familiar scenes when the morning light is just right. Photographing a place you love shows a special kind of respect.

Part of these morning trips involves simply driving around, exploring, and seeing what scenes catch my eye. Dead ends are never a bad thing – it’s all about the adventure.

So when leaving Brooklyn, I stopped at a few final places to look at them with a photographic eye. 

It’s home, reimagined.

Shot on the Canon 5D Mark II with the EF 50mm f/1.4 and 40mm f/2.8.

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Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 on Canon EOS M

Testing the Viltrox EF-M 56mm

Over the years, I’ve built up quite the Canon EF-M lens collection.

I have the tried-and-true Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 – a reliable, sharp, portable pancake lens that shines in every situation. The EF-M 32mm f/1.4 is the 50 mm equivalent, more for portraits and street photography. And then the EF-M kit zoom and 28mm macro rounds out the selection.

Viltrox, before Canon discontinued the EF-M line, produced three fast prime lenses, too, and I have two of them now: the 23mm f/1.4 and 56mm f/1.4.

I took the 56mm for a test drive around the block as golden hour was lighting up the neighborhood.

The Viltrox 56mm is a chunky lens, featuring a tough metal construction, a nice lens hood for protection, and a substantial amount of glass to achieve a wide aperture. 

It feels like a quality lens. It performs like one, too: a bit of chromatic aberration wide open, but stop it down a bit and the image quality is excellent. 

There’s one little hiccup, though, and that’s that the lens tends to render images darker than they should be. When you preview the image on the back screen, it looks great, but as soon as you snap the photo, the final image feels a stop or two underexposed. 

I can adjust my Canon EOS M6 to overexpose a hair or two to get a properly exposed image, so it’s not a big deal, but know the preview image may be misleading.

Viltrox’s 56mm equals about a 90mm field of view on the M’s APS-C sensor, giving you some reach that’s nice for portraits. 

For a little north of $200, the Viltrox 56mm is an affordable lens to round out your Canon EF-M set.

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