Another day of "crash clouds" (can't keep your eyes on the road).

There were beautiful, amazing clouds all day long and then this sweet sunset. Sometimes when the sky is like this, I just have to really FOCUS and quit looking at the sky when I’m driving.

For those of you interested in HDR photography, or meeting me, I’ll be lecturing about HDR photography at the Spring Lake Library on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 7:00 PM. The library is located at 123 East Exchange Street,
Spring Lake, MI 49456-2018. The lecture is free.  I’ll be talking about what HDR photography is, how it’s done and give photography tips.

Here’s a link to my Take Five appearance on WZZM in Grand Rapids, Michigan where I talk about HDR photography and give tips: Video Link

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Lake Michigan is Waiting for You to Come for a Visit this Summer.

An email I got a couple of days ago from Dustin, who served in the Marine Corps for five years, made me think about how hard it must spend holidays like this so far from your loved ones. Today I’m dedicating my post to all of you serving in the military. You are loved and appreciated here at home. Thank you for your sacrifices, you are not forgotten.

Since so many of you are overseas in the desert, here’s a nice cool drink of the Northern Michigan shoreline.

The Public Beach in Manistee, Michigan

This is what I’m waiting for at this point. The beautiful Michigan summer, winter, be off with you!

Time to get inside and cozy up by the fireplace.

Yep, that’s what Lake Michigan is link in the winter. I took this photo in January near the Grand Haven Pier in the Grand Haven State Park. It was so cold, that if I had a mustache, it would have frozen and broken off.

Just beyond the dune, is the mighty Lake Michigan

I woke up. The sun was shining. And, it was deep freeze cold outside, so of course I decided to head to the lakeshore. On the way to Grand Haven, I was admiring the pretty blue sky, the wind whipped snow glittering on the vast fields of nothing and… what’s that in my rear view mirror? Why, it’s a jacked up truck tailgating me with a huge American flag mounted to the truck gate and flapping in the wind. Welcome to Michigan. You never know what to expect.

The Frederik Meijer Gardens at Christmas

No one does Christmas quite like the Frederik Meijer Gardens. Their Christmas & Holiday Traditions from Around the World exhibition features over 300,000 lights, strolling carolers, horse drawn carriage rides, and more than 40 international trees and displays. Create some memories and check it out with someone you enjoy!

Black CrowesMSS
Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes at Rothbury 2009

Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes sure does know how to rock. I saw him at Rothbury this year. It was the second time I saw them in concert and the festive summer atmosphere at Rothbury made a great backdrop for the performance.

The Black Crowes’ producer Paul Stacey, who was also the interim guitar replacement for Marc Ford,  uses the guitar effect pedals that local innovator, Jon Gundry makes at his company ThroBak Electronics, based right here in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Yesterday, I decided to take a trip to downtown Grand Rapids and volunteer at ArtPrize headquarters. I have to tell you that after seeing what I saw, you need to know, this is a big, big deal. If you are from anywhere near Grand Rapids, you will be sorry you missed out, if you don’t make it in to see this. Wherever you come from, if you love art, again, you will wish you made it to this event.

As an artist, I volunteered to help support ArtPrize because it helps us all, and to check out the competition. I was curious because I just didn’t know what to expect. I live about 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids and as I drove into town, I could literally feel the excitement. Artists were everywhere relaxing, working and checking out the sites. The work to be exhibited is inspiring and incredibly diverse. I love this because it exposes so many creative solutions and ways of thinking that it is opening my mind in a way I had never imagined.

I hope you will make it to ArtPrize, it’s a unique event that’s a little confusing until you actually come to town and see it happen.

Here’s downloadable maps from The Grand Rapids Press to the venues where art will be shown.

Map A Download Map B with Downtown Venues For those interested in seeing my entry, I will be at Venue #124 (shown on Map A), at Spectrum Health, Butterworth campus in the lobby off Michigan Street. You will need to download and print both of these maps, they need to be viewed together, viewed alone, they won’t make sense.

From September 23 – October 7, the city of Grand Rapids will serve as a “venue” for over 1,200 artists from around the world. They will be competing for the world’s largest art prize ever, with $250,000 being awarded to the first place winner. The winners will be chosen by the public. To vote, you must register at one of the ArtPrize registration sites, voting is done online or by texting. I’ve had a lot of people ask me where they can register to vote for ArtPrize. Ask and you shall receive!

You must be 16 years or age or older and you must register at the event to vote. You can pre-register on artprize.org and save time activating your voter status at the event.

Voter registration stations will be available throughout the city from September 23-October 7. All locations have agreed to be open the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 23–Opening Night.

ArtPrize Registration Sites

ART PRIZE REGISTRATION SITE MAP LINK

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
187 Monroe Ave
M-Su: 9a-6p, except 9/24 Th: 12-10p

ArtPrize Headquarters @ Old Federal
155 N. Division
M-Th: 5p-8p, F-Sa: noon-10p, Su: noon-6p

Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park
1000 East Beltline NE
M: 9a-5p, Tu: 9a-9p, W-Sa: 9a-5p, Su: noon-5p

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
111 Pearl NW
M-F: 8:30a-5p, Sa-Su: closed

Grand Rapids Art Museum
101 Monroe Center
M: closed, Tu-Th: 10a-5p, F: 10a-9p, Sa: 10a-5p, Su: noon-5p

Grand Rapids Ballet Company
341 Ellsworth SW
M-Th: 9a-7p, F: 9a-5p, Sa: 9a-1p, Su: closed

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
11 Sheldon NE
M: closed, Tu-W: 9:30a-5p, Th: 9:30a-8p, F-Sa: 9:30a-5p, Su: noon-5p

Grand Rapids Community College
Student Community Center off Lyon St
M-Th: 8a-5p, F: 8a-6p, Sa-Su: closed

Grand Rapids Symphony
300 Ottawa NW, Suite 100
M-F: 9a-5p, Sa-Su: closed

Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl NW
M: 9a-5p, Tu: 9a-9p, W-Sa: 9a-5p, Su: noon-5p

GVSU University Bookstore
401 W. Fulton
M-Th: 8a-6p, F: 8a-5p, Sa: 8a-2p, Su: closed

JW Marriott
235 Louis NW
M-Su: 9a-6p

Main Public Library
111 Library NE
M-Th: 9a-9p, F-Sa: 9a-6p, Su: 1p-5p

UICA
41 Sheldon SE
M: 9-8p, Tu-F: 9-10p, Sa: noon-10p, Su: noon-7p