Other Farm and Country

Eden township, in the southeastern part of Mason County, is such an undiscovered gem. I learned from my dad to find great joy in driving the backroads of Michigan. This old, abandoned building had a story to tell today and I felt blessed to be able to help tell that story with my camera.

North Peterson Road in Hamlin Township is lined with beautiful forests and fields. I have always loved this section between Decker and Fisher Roads. A blanket of fresh snow accentuated the repetitive patterns of this photograph. F10.0 at 1/25, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

The canopy that these maple trees drape over the roadway is one of the many reasons Conrad Road, between Ludington and Scottville, is one of my favorite stretches to drive. Photo hunting along area rural roads has been a favorite endeavor for decades. I have discovered countless unforgettable scenes and many memorable friendly people in my travels.

Lunar Launch

This home has been the subject of many photographers over the years. As I visit it today, I worked to let the light through the doorway while keeping the tree limbs on the right, reaching into the shot.

A windmill near Stony Lake catches the afternoon sunlight on its beautifully rusted blades and wind vane. I love discovering old windmills still functioning and still in place in their original farm settings. I find this one especially beautiful. F6.3 at 1/800, ISO 140, 300mm lens at 300mm

Spring Blossoms and Flowers

We have several special buildings on our family farm. One being my Bespop’s milk parlor. Tonight, the clouds and blue sky were the right accent to the weathered building.

Some of my favorite pictures are the ones I did not plan to take. After making some images along with my West Shore Community College students of Roger and Marcia Hansen's beautifully restored barn at Cherry Hill Farm, several of us are drawn to an open-sided pole barn where hay is stored. I like how the bales look like Nabisco Shredded Wheat. F5.0 at 1/40, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 17 mm

Icy Trees at Weldon Creek Farm

Icy Trees at Weldon Creek Farm

My grandparents, Bud and Dorothy Reed, had a house on the Pere Marquette River for 50 years just upstream from where I made this photograph today on the Shoup's property. This was a fresh view for me and it reminded me of all the amazing times the Reed family had at my grandparents' house. The reflections of the clouds in the river are what caught my eye and drew me down the steep bank to the river's edge. F7.1 at 1/200, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

Of all the farm stands I have seen in Michigan, this one on Old Mission Peninsula may be my favorite. The tiny, traditional hut at Twin Maples Farm on Center Road has a lot of curb appeal, compelling me to get out my camera. I also can't help but get out my wallet so I can take home some Michigan maple syrup.

I photographed this old house on Sugar Grove Road this winter but felt compelled to make a new image upon spotting springtime flowers in the front yard. The flowers put a little life in the abandoned building and make me wonder about the people who planted them and lived there many years ago. F5.6 at 1/125, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 17 mm

March often comes in like a lion, but during the month Michiganders can almost be assured that the sticky snow which comes with warmer temperatures will create some fairy tale worlds on Michigan country roads.

The kids and I love having snowball fights in springtime, courtesy of these snowball bushes! I will often fuel my mom with blossoms so she can ambush the kids from the porch.

I never get tired of my backyard view. The late afterglow allowed for a simple silhouetted framing.

The kids were working hard with their 4-H steers and couldn’t let a little rain shower stop them! We try to play hard in the summer, but we work hard too. The kids each pick their 4-H animals and spend all summer working with them for fair.

As my wife Debbie and I are on our way to our anniversary dinner at the Glenwood Restaurant in Onekema we make a stop at one of our favorite northern Michigan shops, MacBeth & Co. A sign on a portion of their building, which formerly housed the Onekema Square Deal Feed Store, catches my eye. The sign, like the building, feels old. F5.6 at 1/60, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 175 mm