March is almost over and as I start this newsletter the world outside of my window looks like a giant snowglobe. This year winter started early in Northern Michigan and has decided to hang around a little bit longer. Now that April is here the robins have arrived, chickadees are building nests and the tulips have awakened from a long winter sleep. April will be a busy month for my photography.
However, before spring arrives in the north country I am going to be traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains. Although I have had the good fortune to experience springtime in the Smokies, I have never been there when the dogwood trees blossom. Unfortunately, a disease has been affecting dogwoods and they have been disappearing from the park. Hopefully, this will be an opportunity to capture some of their majesty. Other plants, such as the fern photographed in the Smokies in the spring of 2008 will be emerging.
Checking into some of my previous dated images, it would appear that April 25th is a time when the trout lilies, spring beauty, wakerobin, and large white trillium are all blooming in the northwoods. So, with an early trip to the Smokies my spring photography will have an extended season.
Photography Presentations
In April I will also be presenting sessions on "How To Take Better Photographs" including my top ten tips. The first will be at the Grand Traverse Hiking Club Chapter of the North Country Trail Association Meeting on April 21st at 7:00 P.M. at the Munson Community Health Center Classrooms A & B. The next program will be at the first annual Ausable River Expo on April 25th in Grayling at the Ramada Inn from 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Potential Show Dates:
June 27th, Elk Rapids
July 17th and 18th Cadillac
July 25th Traverse City
For more information see links below.
Last month when the moon was just past full and the moonset was after sunrise I did something that I have not done before. I took a morning hike by moonlight!! I hit the trail at approximately 6:30 a.m. In early March it is still quite dark, but I had the moon to light my way. On snowshoes I hiked about a mile to the overlook on the Manistee River. What a great experience it was. I was thinking of the Van Morrison song "Moondance" as I hiked through the snow lit by the moonlight. As I arrived the scene was of the moon reflected in the Manistee River from the overlooking bluffs. As the only access here in the winter is via snowshoes, skis or snowmobile, and being very early in the day when most are still sleeping, I had it all to myself. It was quiet and peaceful and really not all that cold. I took many photos as the sun rose to the east and the moon set to the west. I would like to say that I got great images from the trip, but this was more of an experiment and adventure. However, the adventure was the best part. My hike out to bright sunlight glistening on the winter snow left me feeling energized and excited by the morning adventure.
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Shows The applications are in and the waiting begins. I have applied for art shows this summer in Elk Rapids on June 27th, Cadillac on July 17th and 18th and in Traverse City on July 25th.
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New Images- New
Websites Several new images have been added to the website. A photo of the Boardman River taken just after a heavy wet snow overnight and on a brilliant sun morning and a photo from this past fall of Aspen Leaves Also, some of my photos can now been seen on the website "Michigan Moments"
Traverse Area District Library Display Two of my photos Aspen and Maple and Sunflowers will be on display at the Traverse Area District Library during the month of April. Other members of the Traverse Area Camera Club will also be showing their images.
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If you know of someone whom you think would like to subscribe to my newsletter please e-mail me with their e-mail address. The newsletter is free, hopefully informative and subscriptions can be discontinued at any time. Also, comments are always welcome. Below is a photo of a Wake Robin Trillium taken on April 25, 2009. That is not far away. THINK SPRING!!!!
As always, thank you for taking the time to allow me to share my photography with you. I will try to keep capturing images to share and posting on my website at www.tomhaxbyphotos.com . There will be shows this summer and I still have images at the Downtown Frame Up in Traverse City. I am anticipating having photos published in Traverse Magazine in May and Michigan Blue Magazine this in the near future. The coming spring and summer should be an exciting time to capture new images. Check back to my website or my blog to see the new captures.
One Last Word
The North American Nature Photography Association will be conducting a workshop at Sleeping Bear Dunes from October 8-11 of 2009. This will be a great opportunity to capture great fall images from one of the truly special places in Michigan. More information will soon be available.