Photo of the Month: Seeing the Forest Through The Trees

Some of you might enjoying seeing an image that was recently chosen as Photo of the Month in its category (Plant Life) at MyParkPhotos.com.

The photo was taken at Townsend Park in Cannonsburg on a 1o-degree day after a rather large amount of snowfall. Brrrr!

MyParkPhotos.com Photo of the Month: Plant Life

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!

An Update...

Here's an update on the BetterPhoto.com entry I mentioned yesterday - I took Second Place! This is quite an honor, as there are thousands of entries and I never made it even to to the final round before.

To see the finalists, please visit HERE. I am in the "Details and Macro" category.

I find it just wonderful that one of my favorite Michigan photographers, Dean Pennala took First Place in the very same category. I'm flattered to even be featured alongside such amazing talent.

It's All in the Details...

This evening I received the following email:

Congratulations! You have placed as a finalist in this month's BetterPhoto Contest!

Over 23900 photos were entered into the competition; it is an honor to have your image selected among the top finalist photos. During the next few days, the judges select the top winning photos. If your image is selected as a winner, you will be emailed again.

To see the photo enlarged, visit BetterPhoto.com. The image is a very detailed macro of a spider on a dew-covered web I took in the early morning back in September.

The competition at this web site is extremely challenging - there are hundreds of amazing photographers. It's an honor to have even been selected, and although I've been participating here for about a year, it's the first time I had an image make it to the finals for judging.

Sleeping with the Bear...

Today, I was accepted into the Glen Arbor Art Association Artist Residency program! What a thrill for me to have an opportunity such as this.

The GAAA offers several creative residencies each year. In cooperation with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, participants work at Thoreson Farm, a farmstead in the historic Port Oneida district of the National Lakeshore. Its newly remodeled buildings provide studio space and overlook open fields and woodlands. The National Lakeshore includes several miles of spectacular Lake Michigan shoreline, wooded hills and the Crystal River. The goal of the residencies is to allow artists a respite in order to work and to leave the cares of the world behind to focus on their creative process.

For now, the plan is I will be in residence from September 30 through October 6, with a presentation to the community on the Tuesday evening of my stay. I plan to educate myself on the ecology of the Sleeping Bear region, and emphasize the importance of the Park as a place of pleasure and preservation via my photographic images. I hope my work will bring people new insights, enjoyment and understanding of such a wonderful place in our own state.

Here are some images I took one evening last June - when I decided I was completely smitten with the place!

Sleeping Bear Dunes

The First Post...

And so I jump into the trend of blogging... Here's my first attempt at trying to make my photography journey available for the masses. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so they say.

Perhaps I should chronicle where and what I'm currently photographing? List the places where my work is offered for sale or exhibit? Show you all some examples of recently captured images?

What would you, dear reader, be interested in knowing more about? Drop me a line and let me know...