More New Work!

Steve, the kids and I spent 10 days camping in the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) on Lake Superior early this month. I have the most patient family. The best un-kept secret in our family is that we vacation where I want to shoot. And I LOVE the Great Lakes. I love the ocean, too, but Lake Superior is where I love to be most.

This year we camped on the Tahquamenon River, near beautiful waterfalls that empty the river into the lake near a town called (I'm not making this up) Paradise!

Lake Superior is cold to swim in (we call it "invigorating"), expansive and completely isolated. We couldn't even get cell service! You can drive for miles without seeing another car, house or -- as we were a bit panicked to discover -- gas station! You will see deer, an occasional moose and acre after acre of pine trees. You never know what exquisite cove or beach is just beyond the trees. The discovery is magical. I can't imagine what it must have been like 200 years ago, when people respected and cared for the land and water.

We had amazing weather (68 degrees when it was 105 in St. Louis-- sorry about that.) We were buying -- and wearing -- sweatshirts all week. There's also a wonderful little micro-brew pub in Tahquamenon State Park, and we found an excellent brew pub and grill in Grand Marais on the eastern edge of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Just because these places are isolated and underpopulated, doesn't mean they don't know how to brew good ale and cook vegetarian food! AND it's close to Canada. What's not to like?

On the way up to the UP we drove long the eastern shore of Lake Michigan (chasing beaches and lighthouses). On the way home, we spent a couple of days in Mackinaw City and a day on Mackinac Island (yes, they are spelled differently).

While it's great to be away -- and we all love camping (well, Steve puts up with it. Aaron, Hannah and I love it!), my vacations are working trips.

I'll be producing work from the trip all winter, but I'm happy with these first four Polaroid images. And I'm hopeful that I found a new source of film from the Netherlands. If it works, I'll teach classes in the technique again.

I also shot lots of timed exposures and infra-red on this trip, too. Lots to do, lots to do!

ADOPTED!!!!

I hate it when people brag about their volunteer work, but I'm just going to have to -- because Shamon found a FOREVER FAMILY!!!!! I'm bound by my contract not to show his photo, but you can see it here: http://www.moheartgallery.org/Albumn/pages/Shamon%20H.htm

Two years ago, an amazing woman and photographer, Dana Colcleasure, founded the Missouri Heart Gallery Project. She organized about 70 fine art portrait photographers all over the state to volunteer their time to produce inspiring portraits of children awaiting adoption. The fine art portraits look SO MUCH BETTER than the snapshots of kids up against and brick wall, and truly show their personality. The exhibit travels the state and people see the photo, make a connection and want to meet the child. This year, already 39 kids have been adopted and there have been 1800 inquiries! How wonderful is that?

Last year I photographed two children, one who was adopted. I was so thrilled! This year Dana asked me to photograph 7 children, mostly kids with disabilities. Because my son has multiple disabilities, she knew I had some experience in that realm.

When I asked Shamon how he wanted to be photographed, he KNEW he wanted to be Batman. A studio fan got the cape flying and he took posing direction great (that is, AFTER he got over the disappointment of not wearing his Batman mask!

Now I can't wait to hear about the other kids!