Fire

In Midland county, which I used to cover, there are around 83,000 people. In Kent and Ottawa counties combined there are approximately 892,000 people. The 800,000 more means more of everything. And especially more fires to cover. Here are a few images from chasing the scanner.

Fort Michilimackinac

Naturally

When I started taking photography seriously in high school many friends asked me if I wanted to do nature photography. I smiled politely as they asked, "Do you want to work for National Geographic?" Yes, yes I would. But not to shoot nature (though I did do that internship in Denali National Park...). I am too interested in people and their stories to focus solely on nature. But now, ten years later I find myself assigned fairly routinely to cover the weather. The destructive power of the wind or the beauty of the first snowfall. And I love it. It is a mental break from documenting the horror of the crimes that people commit against each other or the fires that leave people without a home. I'm thankful for the part of the job that allows me to capture nature scenes and show them to others. Here are a few photos from this fall.

Annnnnd that's a wrap

Football is over. (For me anyway.)  Here are some of my favorites from the season.

School secrets

Waves II

Mighty Mac

ArtPrize

Waves

I remember as a kid going out and experiencing the power of Lake Michigan waves. On my birthday last week, the waves were roaring in and I went out to document it for the paper. I stayed in the shallows as the currents are potentially deadly. Even when I was there, a few teens were swept out and a surfer and rescuers barely were able to pull them back to shore.

Floating

Wild Wild West

Shooting.
Coast Guard Festival.
Mission Trip.
Fishing.
Rob Bell.
Mall Opening.
Storm.
Steven Tyler.
Fair.

It's been a good few weeks shooting full-time for The Press. I missed this. Today I'm grateful to be here in Grand Rapids. Grateful for great coworkers. And grateful for MadCap coffee.