Michigan's Upper Peninsula
We spent several months planning a trip to Montana. Our plan was to head north on Interstate 75 until we entered the Michigan’s Upper Peninsula then head west on Rte. 2 until we reached Glacier.
National Park. So, we headed North through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, then into Michigan. We did a few overnighters on our way, but our first planned stop was in Dearborn Michigan to visit the Henry Ford Museum. When we arrived at Detroit’s Greenfield RV Park, we were incredibly happy to see that the campground sold tickets to the Henry Ford museum. We spent five days in Dearborn taking a breather and visiting the Henry Ford Museum.
As I journey through this beautiful world, at times I am so struck by what I see, and the emotions that these images stir within me, that I am compelled to stop what I am doing and capture what I see. I hope that these prints, as interpretations of what I see, will stir those same emotions in you, the viewer. My work is basically landscape and cityscape photography. In speaking with other photographers that have the same passion I have for these locales, I am frequently told that it is difficult to find areas that provide opportunities for this type of photography.
OUR GALERY
Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area
I have lived along the Delaware River most of my life. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, as a child, I swam and fished in the Delaware River with my Mom, Dad and two sisters. When I got older, I would go fishing there with my friends. Then I went off to serve in the Navy and, when I returned, there was family and work. Not too much time for fishing in the Delaware. However, I had become enamored with photography and some of the photographers I knew told me about a photography workshop in Peters Valley, NJ; formally Bevins, NJ. I was doing large format photography at the time and they were running large format photography workshops. I took several workshops there and I fell in love with the area.
The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area runs along the Delaware River and consists of heavily wooded areas with cliffs, abandoned houses, barns, and outbuildings. It is a landscape photographer’s dreamland.
South African Photo Safari
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be on a South African photo safari. It all started a year earlier at a fund raiser for our church. There was an auction and one of the things they were auctioning was a South African Photo Safari. My wife and I knew the safari was going to be auctioned off and we had decided that it would be a great photo opportunity. However, in previous years these safaris auctioned off for more than we could afford but we decided we could at least participate in the early bidding. You would not believe our amazement when God blessed us with the winning bid. We were so extremely excited…..
This trip had also been offered at the auction the previous year but, Mary Lou and I were unable to attend. However, the two couples who had won the bids last year had not yet gone on their safaris. We were all so glad we were able to coordinate the three packages together as they were also members of our church and friends.
Northern California
We had heard that Northern California had excellent landscape opportunities. But we had never had the opportunity to spend any time there. However, while on a trip to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary in Hawaii we found ourselves in San Francisco. So, we decided to spend a few days in Northern California, specifically north of San Francisco around Mendocino and the old Fort Bragg area. As always, we had done extensive research on the Northern California area before our trip and had decided, based on that research to our home base in Mendocino for this photo shoot. During our research one of the interesting things we found about Mendocino was that it was used for filming the TV show “Murder She Wrote” which we frequently watch on TV.
I always thought that Cabot Cove was in New England (who knew?). After renting a car at the SFO airport and loading our luggage, we were ready for the 4-hour ride to Northern California. We decided to take the expressway route to Northern California and the scenic Pacific Ocean road back to San Francisco.
Big Cypress Preserve
I have lived along the Delaware River most of my life. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, as a child, I swam and fished in the DelawareLiving in Florida, we always hear a lot about the Everglades. We really don’t hear that much about The Big Cypress Preserve. One of my all-time favorite contemporary photographers, Clyde Butcher has his Big Cypress Studio on the Tamiami Trail, which runs through the Preserve. When I speak with other photographers and we talk about Clyde Butcher, most people think his studio is in the Everglades National Park, but it isn’t.
The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida’s southwest coast. Big Cypress Preserve protects over 729,000 acres of this vast swamp, the Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to a diversity of wildlife, including the elusive Florida panther.
The Big Cypress Preserve is a part of the National Park System. You can find more information about the ranger led activities by going to the National Park service / Big Cypress web site.
Friends of mine told me about Ricketts Glen in the early 2,000’s and finally about 5 years ago, Mary Lou anFriends of mine told me about Ricketts Glen in the early 2,000’s and finally about 5 years ago, Mary Lou and I made it to Ricketts Glen. We were there for a week but unfortunately, I became ill and was not able to photograph for a few days. The days I was able to photograph provided me with excellent images. I will start with a little history and description of Ricketts Glen.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Robert Bruce Ricketts enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army. Fighting for the Grand Army of the Potomac, Ricketts led Battery F during the Battle of Gettysburg. Ricketts swiftly moved up in the ranks and when the war ended, was discharged a colonel.
Colonel R. Bruce Ricketts, owned over 80,000 acres in the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but spared the old-growth forests in the glens from clear cutting. His heirs, through the Central Penn Lumber Company, sold 48,000 acres to the Pennsylvania Game Commission from 1920-24. This left them with more than 12,000 acres surrounding the Ganoga Lake, Lake Jean, and Glens area.d I made it to Ricketts Glen.
Ricketts Glen PA. State Park
