Orangey

Apple Storage

There's a road in the upper lower peninsula of Michigan, inconspicuously called M-22, that offers delights of all types - especially visual. It winds along Lake Michigan,through the southern Cherry Belt so the primary industry is fruit farming. Some of the orchards are thriving, others...not so much. So the scenery along the road is a cacophonous juxtaposition of prosperity and dilapidation.

Sunset on Lake Michigan from M-22. I'm not much of a sunset/sunrise photo person, but...given Lake Michigan's bag of tricks with clouds, the colors and textures are an ever-changing tableau that is sometimes impossible to resist snapping.

Taking Flight

Firefly taking flight (and starting to glow, note the tail/abdominal area).

Firefly...not firing or flying. Just another beetle.

Light My Way

My parents' yard is chock full of fireflies this time of year. I took on the challenge of trying to photograph them. I quickly learned catching images of fireflies is tricky, to say the least. One positive aspect: Fireflies are attracted to the flash of the camera (their "glow" is how they attract mates). So attracting them isn't the problem...snapping them when they're 1) in focus and 2) glowing is ridiculously difficult, especially when you factor in the fact that you're shooting in near darkness and when they're not glowing they're black. After some internet investigation I learned that capturing fireflies in photos is one of the most vexing and complex nature photography challenges.

Hot Barbecue

It's July in Michigan and that means...it's blueberry season!!! The best blueberries in the world are grown in Michigan. It's a fact. I know. I've eaten a lot of blueberries in a lot of places and Michigan's are far superior in every way.

 

I found my thrill on blueberry hill...