Jackson, Michigan – shot on the Canon 5D mark II and EF 50mm f/1.4. | Continue reading
The mezzanine at work is our storage space. A large section of the mezzanine includes all of the Christmas decorations that appear this time of year. I use the mezzanine to take a walk during my lunch hour. Last spring, I saw these holiday figures and packages wrapped in plastic … | Continue reading
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” ― Anais Nin Replace “write” with “photograph,” and it’s easy to see the appeal of capturing your everyday. | Continue reading
First things first on our Portugal trip: Costa de 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 th … | Continue reading
At home – with the Canon EOS M and EF-M 22mm. | Continue reading
For Gary Willcock, art is something built from the inside out. His story begins with buildings. “I studied architecture at the University of Michigan,” he says. “I worked for a company in Pontiac called Custom Home Design, for Architonics here in Jackson, and I used to moonlight … | Continue reading
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 … | Continue reading
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. | Continue reading
Just celebrated her first birthday, and she is T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Shot on the Canon 5D (classic!) and EF 40mm f/2.8. | Continue reading
Jackson Michigan – shot on the Canon EOS M and EF-M 22mm f/2. | Continue reading
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. | Continue reading
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. | Continue reading
Fujifilm cameras are famous for their film simulations that give images a unique character straight out of the camera. One of the most beloved of these is Classic Chrome, known for its subtle tones, soft contrast, and cinematic feel. But what if you shoot Canon? Good news: as I’v … | Continue reading
Tim Péwé creates art that moves. Known for his figurative and kinetic sculptures, Tim’s work blends whimsy with craftsmanship. His pieces often balance, spin, or sway – sometimes, just for fun. “A lot of this stuff moves or has a purpose, but it’s not like a practical purpose,” h … | Continue reading
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 fre … | Continue reading
Enjoy your spooky weekend. Shot at the Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan, with the Canon EOS M6. | Continue reading
Jackson, Michigan – shot on the Canon EOS M and EF-M 22mm f/2. | Continue reading
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 Mi … | Continue reading
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 sin … | Continue reading
Jackson, Michigan – Canon EOS M | Continue reading
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. Whe … | Continue reading
I could watch videos like this all day long: a talented storyteller takes a camera and travels the world. A simple formula, and when done right, it’s so inspiring. These types of videos also provide a nice mental break when you need to focus on beauty instead of ugliness these da … | Continue reading
My family and I are participating in our local theatre production of The Full Monty. When our family performed in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2023, I was an observer as my wife and two girls starred in the show. This time, I joined the team as an ensemble member. For our rehearsal … | Continue reading
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? | Continue reading
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 n … | Continue reading
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 … | Continue reading
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 […] | Continue reading
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 … | Continue reading
Back at it again for marching band season. Just wish Jackson High’s football team were better. Shot with the Canon 5D mark II and EF 40mm f/2.8. | Continue reading
Usually, the amateur is defined as an immature state of the artist: someone who cannot — or will not — achieve the mastery of a profession. But in the field of photographic practice, it is the amateur, on the contrary, who is the assumption of the professional: for it is he who s … | Continue reading
It’s a helluva thing to leave beautiful Pentwater, Michigan – a quiet village along a sandy Great Lakes beach – and land in Brooklyn, New York, all in one day. But here I was, landing at JFK airport on a Sunday evening. I travelled to Brooklyn on business after a frazzled trip in … | Continue reading
Tim Brookes at Make Use Of has a list of issues to keep in mind when buying older digital cameras, like sensor dust and ISO limitations. Or, instead of seeing them as limitations, use this list to challenge yourself. | Continue reading
Our Methodist church hosts a summer family camp in Pentwater, Michigan, each August. My wife was a regular attendee growing up, but we – as a family – had never gone except for a brief visit a few years back. This year, we decided to join our church and make it part of our summe … | Continue reading
I picked a $40 camera toy just in time to test it at Lake Michigan in Pentwater, Michigan: the Retropia disposable camera lens fitted to the Canon EOS M system. First, it was exciting to still find an EF-M mount lens on sale. It’s nice to see a toy lens company supporting my belo … | Continue reading
All in all, it was quite the adventure. Our summer vacation to Nova Scotia and Maine was an endurance test for both driving (almost 70 hours worth) and photography (two weeks worth of photos to organize and edit). There’s probably such a thing as “too much travel,” and we were ri … | Continue reading
“Your hobbies don’t owe you anything.” Amen. | Continue reading
Just a few years ago, Jen Dixon couldn’t brush their teeth, let alone imagine being surrounded by community and creativity. “I was agoraphobic for five years,” they explain. “Didn’t meet people. I was training for COVID before COVID.” The isolation was deepened by chronic illness … | Continue reading
We had two opportunities to visit Bar Habor, Maine: one after we completed our Acadia National Park adventure, and the other was via a lobster boat ride. Our first visit, after the park, was during a beautiful evening where the town was hopping with people and activities. It’s su … | Continue reading
This is almost like cheat-code photography. Much like we saw at Peggy’s Cove, sometimes the fog would roll in off the Atlantic Ocean and flood our little corner of Maine in a dense haze. After the first time the fog rolled in, I made a point to check each morning to see if it was … | Continue reading
Sometimes I think travel is just a long way to remind yourself who you are. Not in a dramatic, life-changing way, but in the smaller details: what you notice, what you remember, what you feel when nothing is happening. Faizal Westcott | Continue reading
I had the chance to visit Acadia National Park almost 20 years ago. It’s where I climbed my first mountain, and I was excited to show off the park to my family. Acadia is not the biggest national park, but for sheer variety, it has a lot to offer: great hiking, mountains, oceanfr … | Continue reading
After leaving Canada by way of New Brunswich and the border, we landed in Brooklin, Maine, our home for the next week. We arrived at nightfall, so we had no glimpse of the peninsula where we sat. Not until I got up early the first day and went to the beach. This was the Maine […] | Continue reading
No better combination. Shot on the Canon EOS M6 and EF-M 22mm f/2. | Continue reading
Up here, the locals call it “Carny.” To us Americans, Pictou, Nova Scotia’s Lobster Carnival was nothing short of a wonder. Pictou is a small town. But walking around on the last day of our Canadian trip, you’d think the whole town had turned out. And why not? On the East Coast, … | Continue reading
Imagine a New England state-size island, full of its own little towns and natural wonders, and that’s Cape Breton – off the eastern coast of Nova Scotia. It was a bit of a drive to get there, but boy, it was worth it. First, we took some nature trails and discovered Egypt Falls a … | Continue reading
After our Halifax adventure, we took an hour’s drive to the famous Peggy’s Cove. As we approached the shore, we noticed the fog rolling in off the Atlantic. This would be a theme for our vacation. It was certainly a vibe: a rocky, jagged coast, a little fishing village, and not m … | Continue reading
You haven’t experienced a national holiday until you’ve seen Canadians celebrate Canada Day on July 1. The first clue came when we were driving into Halifax. “Everyone’s wearing red,” I noticed. Like, everyone. First, we hit the waterfront district because that’s where the action … | Continue reading
Here in Brooklyn, Michigan, where I grew up, you can’t spit without hitting a lake. Clark Lake is the popular one, especially at the members-only Consumers Energy Boat Club. A few friends invited us to spend a warm summer Sunday by the beach with them. Shot on the Canon 5D Mark I … | Continue reading