Channelling Kevin

My friend and fellow photographer Kevin McCollister does a lot of wonderful cityscapes, many with quite striking lighting.  I don't do a lot of cityscapes myself, so when the above shot presented itself to me it was impossible for me not to think of him while capturing it.  So he gets to take inspirational credit for this shot.

Don't worry, Kevin.  I have no plans to photograph all (or even most) of Grand Rapids.  I am already back up in the woods where I belong. :)

Some architecture for March

This is the copper dome of the Basilica of St. Adelbert in Grand Rapids, MI.  Like pennies, when it was new it was the typically orange and shiny color one associates with copper.  As it weathers it turns this lovely shade of brown before eventually turning green, just like the Statue of Liberty.  I would love to have seen the Statue of Liberty while it was still that fresh copper color, that would have been magnificent!

We are just a few weeks away from spring here now, and although the winter has been particularly mild this year I am still awaiting its departure very eagerly.  I am getting to an age where I do not appreciate winter as much as I used to, I suppose. 

Until next month, Cheers!

Blue Poison Dart Frog

Breaking with form again, and posting this month's entry a day early!  Taking one from the archives this February, this gorgeous frog is found in Suriname and parts of extreme northern Brazil.  Its skin excretes a substance that makes it horrible-tasting (and potentially dangerous) for predators to eat.  As the name implies, the substance can be concentrated and used to poison the tip of small arrows and darts to disable small animals.  Interestingly, the patterns of spots on these frogs can be used much like human fingerprints to identify individual specimens, as no two are ever identical.  Truly blue animals are quite rare, and these frogs are some of the most strikingly beautiful examples.

Snow. Clouds.

There hasn't been a lot in the way of snow around here this year...yet...so I thought I would pull one out of the archives to ring in the new year.

It has been busy around here since the relocation plans were scrapped.  Lots of improvements to the place have been made, new roof, some new windows, and we gutted the main bathroom.  Plumbing and all.  It is much nicer now.

This photo is from 2012.  It isn't all that interesting a photo at first glance, but I always enjoy the way the snow echoes the clouds.  Whenever I look at that it invariably draws me in deeper.

Happy New Year, from all of us!

A Rooted Path

For someone who loves the outdoors, it is really hard to beat Michigan.  Especially in the autumn.

Although it appears to be in a remote forest, this path, with its root-stairway, is actually in a small county park just outside the Grand Rapids city limits. 

Ciccone Vinyard, Suttons Bay, MI

Stunningly beautiful views, friendly people, and of course good wines.  They are known best for their Cab Franc, but the Gewurtztraminer here is exceptional as well.  And don't let the name put you off, this is not a tourist trap or marketing hub for the owner's famous daughter.  If you are looking for Madonna merchandise or tie-ins you will be disappointed...if you didn't know the connection ahead of time you'd never be the wiser, because this place is all about the wine.  As it should be.

This shot is looking east over the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay, with the Old Mission Peninsula visible on the horizon.  The huge old barn here has been set up inside as a reception hall for weddings and the like, but has retained all of the charm and atmosphere of the vinyard, which is what this shot is all about.

Frankfort Lighthouse

This is the lighthouse in Frankfort, MI, taken as a dark raincloud passed overhead.  A thin spot in the cloud allowed just enough light in to catch this shot before the rain started.  I am not a huge fan of all the cliche "lighthouse with sunset" and "lighthouse with full moon" photos.  They make good postcards, but I think in some ways those shots really short-change what lighthouses have to offer, aesthetically speaking.