Wild Blue Lupine

Remember - you can click on the photo above to see it on a larger scale...

Last weekend, my son Alex and I went camping with his Cub Scout troop. When we got up (VERY bright and early!) the next morning, I asked him if he would like to go out to the lovely local nature preserve just down the street. He and I grabbed our cameras, and headed out. It was a nice morning - a little overcast - so it was perfect for photographing wildflowers. And here's what we found ... about 17 acres of wild lupine!

Most of the property is “savanna” habitat – an open, prairie-like field with scattered trees. The field of blue lupine is more than just a scenic amenity, though. The lupine creates crucial habitat for one of Michigan's rarest native animal species: the Karner blue butterfly.

I only saw a couple butterflies, but want to check the area again next week to see if the butterflies are still out and about. They only come out for a brief period in May and in July, so hunting for them is quite a challenge. Especially since they are no larger than your thumbnail!

Happy Spring!

Honey Creek in Spring

Because I've been so busy preparing for next week's Festival of the Arts sales booth, I haven't found nearly enough time to get out there to actually take NEW images.

I have been trying, at least once a week, to find an hour or so to go exploring around some local parks and places I've passed by while driving.

My dear friend, Mary Lou Moll, pointed out this lovely area in Ada where someone built a little waterwheel over Honey Creek. The sun had already set and this was taken with a long exposure in the afterglow of the last evening light.

I love how green everything is this time of year - fresh and new and clean!

The Experiment...

I've been experimenting with panoramic photography after attending a George Lepp seminar in December. It got my mind really going about trying some new photography techniques, and I've started trying out a few of my ideas.

Attached is an image I shot last November, but lacked the skill and knowledge to stitch together until I went to his seminar. So I pulled up these images tonight and worked them up.

This photo of Holland Harbor at Lake Michigan was created by stitching 9 images together into one large panoramic print. The final Photoshop file size is 161 MB!!! As a JPEG, it is about 15 MB, and prints as a 36" wide by 6" high print.
Any thoughts? Please click on the image to view it a bit larger, as the online version doesn't contain the amount of detail needed to appreciate it.

What to have some real fun? Click here and the photo will "play" so you can virtually move through the horizon!

Festival Art Sales Booth #14

I have been given my booth assignment in the Art Sales Tent at Festival of the Arts 2007 in downtown Grand Rapids. Look for me (and a slew of wonderful friends who are helping out in the tent!) at Booth #14, right on Calder Plaza.

Festival is the largest all-volunteer arts event in the nation! A three-day arts celebration, held the first full weekend in June in downtown Grand Rapids. It encompasses almost all of downtown Grand Rapids with six performance stages; lots and lots of food booths offering ethnic delights of all kinds; singers, dancers, thespians, visual artists, and performers from all over West Michigan; more than 20,000 hard-working volunteers; and over half a million people in attendance.

Visit the Festival website for more information

Art Tents on Calder Plaza - June 1, 2 & 3

- Friday	Noon - 9 pm
- Saturday	10 am - 9 pm
- Sunday	10 am - 5 pm

West Michigan's finest artists and craftspeople sell their wares, including pottery, jewelry, folk art, photography, handmade paper, metal sculpture, wood sculpture, fiber art, glass sculpture, watercolors, acrylics, and oils.

Be sure to stop by and say hello - and be sure you bring an extra shish-ka-bob with you...

Where in the World?

I'm still processing many images taken during the winter months. Can you guess what this is?

At first glance, it doesn't appear as it seems...

And if you'd like to see it larger, just click on the small image at right!

An Evening Road Trip...

I finally made it over to the Muskegon State Park area last night! I must say - it was lovely there, and I can't believe I've never been there before now.

I had both boys with me, so I couldn't exactly get to the places I'd like to be for THE ultimate photography image. Trying to push my youngest son Lucas through the sand in a stroller didn't quite make for the best of photo outings.

It was a great evening for a stroll. There weren't even any clouds! I like to have a bit of something in the sky when I do a lake scene, so again, not the best photo ops. Still - it's a very nice area, and I know I'll be back when I get the chance.

We spotted terns, herons, swans and a crazy little raccoon who was dangling himself by his hind paws into a trash bin, happily munching on french fries he discovered. We had to laugh when we noticed he had a collection of fast-food paper bags in the rocky areas beneath the boardwalk pier.

Two New Websites Launched!

I'd like to share a couple of new websites with you that I created over the past couple of months!

The first one is for the Sparta Chamber of Commerce. DDA Director Elizabeth Gorski said she is quite pleased and very excited about the major upgrade to the overall look, feel and operation of the site.






The other site was created for Traverse City nature photographer Tom Haxby. His beautiful images are able to be viewed in new galleries, and are available for purchase via PayPal.

And the Envelope Goes To...

The results are in! Two of my entries made it into the NCCA Statewide Photography Competition and Exhibition. One earned an honorable mention...(drum roll...)

Frozen Fractals!

(the one in the silver frame - it's a close-up detail of morning frost on a windowpane)

If you'd like to see the whole show (and it's a very good one!), it runs through May 26.

There are 62 photographs from Michigan artists to enjoy in the Ray & Phyllis Jansma Gallery at NCCA-Artsplace, located in downtown Fremont.

For more information about the show and Artsplace, click HERE.

Flowers for Mommy...

Awww...it's nice to have someone who loves you bring a handful of flowers.

Even if they are dandelions from the yard...