us-12

Divine Pine Gathering 2026

Divine Pine Gathering Photography

There are times when I feel like an archeologist, or one of those National Geographic reporters who delves deep into the Amazon rainforest to discover a long-lost tribe.

For instance, I often go to heavy metal concerts. If you’ve seen me, I tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Maybe it’s all in my head, but I’m the average guy in the crowd who’s not covered in tattoos, chains, or sporting a mohawk haircut. 

After photographing Abby Dawson for my Artists In Jackson project, I learned that she, her husband Phil, and her friend Gracie host a bi-annual festival called the Divine Pine Gathering:

Divine Pine Gathering is focused on traditional skill shares, ancestral knowledge, healing, arts, live music and movement.

DPG is as much a retreat into nature as it is a chance to connect to and learn from others. Divine Pine shows the power of love and community that results from gathering in an intentional way.

I love music and the arts, but for the rest of that description, I’m a newbie. So I came to this festival to take photos and learn something – another chance to be a relative outsider looking in. 

And don’t get me wrong: I love this kind of experience. Since everything is new, everything is interesting, and I love using my camera to discover new ways of living. Of being. 

And Divine Pine offered newness at every turn. 

First, the land. Phil and Abby’s property in my hometown of Brooklyn, Michigan, was amazing. And huge. The festival sprawled across fields, under trees, up hills, and around wetlands. 

I got my steps in walking from how-to classes to concerts to sound healing sessions.

Second, the people. Everyone was there for love and community, to learn and to live, and you could feel that in every concert, every talk, and every gathering that took place. 

The vibes were everywhere, and those vibes were great. 

I offered to take photos of the event in exchange for tickets to attend. This opportunity highlights that having a camera and offering your services will give you access to new experiences.

Selfishly, I wanted to be there, and if trading photos for tickets was the method, then I was up for it. 

On Friday and Sunday of the festival, I brought along my Canon 6D with the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 as my general walking-around lens. It was flexible for most situations and, looking over the photos, did a bang-up job. 

On Saturday, I brought along the rest of my family, so I traveled light with the Canon EOS M6 and mostly used the Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 for the reach. Sometimes I would switch to my kit zoom EF-M 15-45mm lens for extra flexibility.

In both cases, I made the right call. I got what I needed and never felt hampered by my photography gear. 

What I came away with was an awesome new experience, some reconnections with old friends (and a few new ones), and a series of photos that I’m proud to share.

Those photos will help Phil, Abby, and the event team promote their next event on the Divine Pine website and social media. 

, , , , , , 0 Comments

Old Michigan Avenue

US-12

Fun look back at the history of US-12 at Concentrate Ann Arbor:

Michigan Avenue has been recognized for its significance as a Historic Heritage Route. Given the fact that it’s persisted so long and been so essential to the state, it seems more than fitting to refer to this road, which spans the entire east-west length of the state, as Michigan Avenue.

US-12 has fed a life-long fascination for me, and is becoming a long-term photography project. It’s a road, and an area, rich with history.

Parts two and three are up, too.

 

, , , , , , ,

Urbex, (Mostly) Abandoned

Not So Abandoned

I used to have more time to make photos.

My commute was 30 minutes, but if I left early I could stop and take a landscape, or catch a beautiful sunrise. And sometimes, I’d have enough time to explore an abandoned building or home. Beautiful country roads, lovely scenery, and no rush.

Not so much anymore. My commute is now an hour long, at minimum, and it’s mostly interstate driving. This cuts back on the time I have to get out and explore.

One of the casualties of this new setup is my abandoned photography. My commute is longer and busier, I work on a big-time college campus in a mid-sized city, and I just don’t have the time like I used to. It’s a bummer.

Part of me also feels like I’m moving on from urbexing, creatively. I want to do new things, and make different kinds of photographs.

Except when I take a new way into work, like I did last week. Instead of busy I-94 East, I ventured down US-12. It added 20-30 minutes to my drive. It was so worth it. For one, it felt like my old commute: moseying at a nice pace, lots of scenery to check out, and the fog helped make the landscape extra interesting.

For two, I noticed a few abandoned building opportunities (including my old haunts in the Irish Hills) – like this abandoned farm structure.

The itch still gets me when I see an abandoned property. It used to be a big part of who I was, creatively, and I’ve had to let some of that go. But it’s okay. I’ll try to make time for adventure when I have the time and inclination.

, , , , , ,

US-12 Yard Sale

Dean-o
Chickens!
George and Abe
Furious
What Now My Love?

Imagine it: 180 miles of LPs, kids clothes, and missing-piece puzzles.

That’s the US-12 Yard Sale – a giant bargain bin stretching across southern Michigan.

We typically check out the local section, stretching from Clinton and Saline in the East to Allen (Antique Capital!) in the West. The tough part isn’t the driving – it’s the figuring out which yard/garage sale is worth stopping at.

This past year, I had no complaints: I picked up a Canonet in fantastic condition for $5 in Jonesville. Everything beyond that was gravy.

, , , ,

Abandoned Irish Hills

Abandoned Irish Hills: Go Karts

Used to be that the Irish Hills, a section of US-12 between Detroit and Chicago, was quite the tourist attraction.

As a kid, my family often went to Stagecoach Stop and Prehistoric Forest, and played putt-putt and drove go karts at the little amusement parks. Even back then there was a level of hokeyness – but it didn’t matter. Those places were tons of fun.

Abandoned Irish Hills: Arcade

But now, it’s all shutting down. There are a few attractions that are still humming along. The majority, though, lie in disrepair (or worse).

In high school, my dad and step mom were married at Stagecoach Stop’s little chapel, and their reception was held in the old timey tavern.

Abandoned Irish Hills: Lonestar

Stagecoach was a bustling place back in the day. You could watch a gun fight in the town square, grab some ice cream, pet a goat in the petting zoo, and even stay overnight in the motel. There was a working lumber mill, and horse rides, and a drive-through haunted Halloween tour.

Now those places are overgrown and fading away.

Driving down US-12 now, and passing through the Irish Hills, it feels like a ghost town. It’s almost like a run-down part of town, with all the windows broken out and no one left to protect it. Eventually, I’m sure, these roadside attractions will be mowed down completely.

Abandoned Irish Hills: Bridge Over Track

Maybe the dinosaurs at Prehistoric Forest will survive. But more and more each year that place gets eaten by vegetation.

So last fall I took a drive out there, seemingly back in time, to capture some of those attractions I remembered from childhood. Before they disappeared.

Abandoned Irish Hills: Stagecoach Courtyard

At Stagecoach, I ran into a couple that was hosting a garage sale of sorts on the property. Most of the area was closed off, but I asked if I could walk around to grab some photos, and they said “yes.”

Abandoned Irish Hills: Fun Center

The Irish Hills Fun Center, a general amusement park with putt-putt and go karts, was completely abandoned. The kart track was still in decent shape, but the rest of the property was fading fast.

Prehistoric Forest, the true goal of my trip last fall, has been known as a target for vandalism. With motion sensors and cameras guarding the place, it was risky to try to grab photos of the place. When I drove past, there was a utility truck and a man taking measurements, so I played it safe and drove on.

Word is that the place has been sold. Who knows what will happen to it.

Abandoned Irish Hills: Twin Towers

It was weird to see a place that was so bustling turn into such a dead spot. I may take another drive out there this fall to see what’s changed – if anything.

(See the rest of the set on Flickr)

, , , , , , , , , , , ,