Photo Trip to Ann Arbor

The young photographer
Originally uploaded by mfophotos.

Get your good photo-shooting hat on! Tomorrow, Sunday April 1st, Ann Arbor will be having their first annual FestiFools parade. It will run 4-5 pm on Main street. Basically, they've been creating Mardi Gras-type outfits and papier-maché puppets and plan to put on a grand show for the public. A kinda street-performance-art type thing using "enormous street puppets, inventive musical instruments, expressive choreography and resourceful costumes." Their words not mine.

It sounded like fun, and at the very least an interesting photographic opportunity well-suited to my Krappy Kameras, so I'll be there, probably toting a Holga or Diana or Polaroid of some sort. Let me know if you plan on going, perhaps we can meet up and strategize.

Play Ball!

Olds Park
Originally uploaded by MichSt.

Lansing's class A Lugnuts baseball team is set to kick off the season on April 3rd with a game against the MSU baseball team. If you're unfamiliar with the Lugnuts, they play in the heart of downtown Lansing, in Oldsmobile Park. It's a great location, and the atmosphere is laid back and very enjoyable.

An especially enjoyable promotion is Thirsty Thursday, when you can get a beer or soda for $2. You get close to the action, and I'm sure you could get some great shots if you bring your camera.

If I remember right, tickets are $5-9 each, so it can be a really cheap way to enjoy the afternoon. Couple tickets, couple hot dogs, and a couple drinks would get you in and out under $30. Can't beat that!

Nighttime at the Capitol

Michigan's Capitol
Originally uploaded by Apocaplops.

I noticed the nice soft light today after getting off work and decided to hurry over to the Capitol to see if I could get some photos. When I got there, I saw that someone else had much the same idea - a woman had her SLR mounted on a tripod and was beginning to set up for a few shots.

I said something like "Hey, no photography!" when I walked up carrying my camera bag and tripod. I was intending on getting her name and info but I didn't notice her leaving until it was too late. If you know her, or you are her, let me know.

It's always fun to compare notes and stories, and that's something I really want to start doing locally. The more we get together and trade knowledge, the better photographers we all will be. To me, Photography isn't about who has the best shots necessarily, it's about improving yourself, and helping others if you are in a position to do so.

I got some nice shots, but I wonder what hers look like...

Spring Fever

First ride of the season!
Originally uploaded by 8ran.

Oh man, do I want a motorcycle. A few short days ago we had 70 degree weather in Lansing. It was enough to make everyone I was around sick with anticipation of spring's arrival. Those unlucky enough to work through the day found themselves sneaking outside for a break and just enjoying the return of sun and warmth.

Personally I don't mind the winter, but it becomes photographically boring in its later stages, and a day like this is all it takes for me to get excited again about going out and taking pictures. My Polaroids don't work all that great in the cold months, so that is something I look forward to in the thaw.

And then of course, a day later, comes the crushing reality that it is still mid-March, brought on by a 30 degree drop in temperatures. Now I'm sitting inside, wishing for warmth all the more because of that first taste. I want more, and looking at the forecast, we're all going to wait for some time to come.

Local Show: Call for Entries!

Fast as you can
Originally uploaded by MichSt.

A local alt-art studio is hosting a show soon, and they have a call for entries out right now. If you're a local photographer and have some work you're proud of, this would be a great way to have your work included in a show. The exhibit will be based on the theme of action, motion or movement. Get your entries in ASAP, deadline is April 6th!

Press Release:

East Lansing's alternative art space, (SCENE) Metrospace
announces a call to artists for an upcoming exhibit based
on and around motion, action, and movement. All artists
over the age of 18 are invited to participate. Applications
will be accepted through Friday, April 6, 2007.

The exhibit will take place Friday, May 11 - Sunday June
17, 2007. 2-D works presented must be framed and equipped
with hanging wires, or otherwise ready for presentation.
This could be interpreted through an assortment of medias
and styles including but not limited to: graphic design,
photography, collage, painting, installation, drawing,
sculpture, performance, video, and sound. Artwork in any
media or any combination of media will be reviewed.

To apply, artists must submit images or documentation
representative of the work to be exhibited, along with a
description of your project idea, a corresponding artistic
statement and a resume (submissions with missing
information cannot be considered). Artists must also
include an SASE for the return of their materials. There
is no entrance fee.

Please send your information to: (SCENE) Metrospace, C/O
Peter Richards, Coordinator, 410 Abbott Road, East Lansing,
MI 48823. Application deadline is April 6, 2007, and early
submissions are strongly encouraged.

(SCENE) Metrospace is located at 110 Charles St., and is
open Wednesday through Friday afternoons from 1-4 PM
through the gracious support of volunteers; as well as
regular hours Friday from 6-9 p.m., Saturday from 6-9 p.m.,
and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. during scheduled exhibits. For
more information, please contact Peter Richards at (517)
319-6832.

Night Photography

Snowy Night
Originally uploaded by MichSt.

Night is a great time to go out shooting if you can brave it. One local who seems particularly adept at the stuff is Mario Q, aka MichSt on Flickr. Digital cameras are great for night photography because they don't have the exposure problems film does with long shutter speeds. One thing you have to watch out for is added noise, or speckled grain, in the photo when taking a long exposure. Winter is great for night photography too because of the way the snow reflects light, providing for a nice division between ground and sky.

Advice for newbies to night photography? Get some gloves, a tripod, some extra batteries (the cold kills 'em) and let 'er rip. Use the self-timer to avoid camera shake if you can, and take a couple exposures for each shot. What looks great in camera may not when you get indoors. And trust me, when you get back inside you won't want to go out again.

Michigan in Pictures

Mackinac Bridge
Originally uploaded by mandj98.

If you're looking for a place to look at beautiful photos of Michigan, there are a lot of places to look, and it can be overwhelming. You could peruse Flickr, or check out some of Flickr's many Michigan groups. But that all takes time. Sometimes you've got the time, but we all know it's not a renewable resource.

Thankfully, Michigan in Pictures has you covered. One of my favorite blogs, MichPics scouts out some of the best photos pertaining to our great state and shows them off on a daily basis.

Another great place to check out is Absolute Michigan. AbMich is a collection of news, stories, links, and other Michigan-relevant information. More to my sensibilities, they profile local photographers every once in a while. They even have a photo-specific segment where they post a photo with a story behind it every Friday.

Lansing in Winter

Michigan Avenue
Originally uploaded by fullframe.

Is it just me, or is Lansing particularly black-and-white in the winter? I can barely see color in the winter around here, much less photograph it. I'm really looking forward to spring for something fresh to look at. Still, black and white works this time of year, no doubt about it.

Upcoming Photo-worthy events

I'd like to make this a place where people can find out some interesting things to photograph, and perhaps get together later and do photo outings for events. With that in mind, here is the first of my monthly photo calendars. If you have any events to add, leave a comment, or email me.

March
3rd: Total Lunar Eclipse! Should be mid-eclipse right before midight at moonrise. Hopefully we'll get clear skies.

12th: Bluegrass Jam Local musicians get together to jam with their acoustic instruments. No electric instruments allowed. Should be some good people shots there.

21st: East Lansing Film Fest I don't know how much photography you'll be able to get in, but it will be a fun event, and maybe some good "street" photography as well.

23rd: Cheap Shots Exhibit I talked about it earlier - this will be a photo show in Ann Arbor featuring work from Toy Cameras. I'm in it too, you really should go. 7-10pm

31st: MSU Vet School Open House Come photograph the Vet students and a ton of animals as MSU CVM shows off what it does to the public. This will be a fun event for anyone, camera in hand or not.

Spring means Construction

construction
Originally uploaded by macinjoshdotcom.

Spring is just around the corner in Lansing. You can tell by the way construction signs keep cropping up. I thought Lansing was the worst place to drive when I got here last year - what with 127 and Michigan Ave practically shut down all summer. I hope it's not that bad this year.

If you ever want something to photograph and aren't feeling inspired though, there's always construction. The people are a little dirty, the signs are brightly colored, there can be a lot going on. Watch the guy directing traffic. I guarantee he has a great expression of boredom on his face, and he'll never notice you taking his picture. Just yesterday I took a new Rolleicord out to practice and found some ditchdiggers in the middle of Pennsylvania.