One Hundred Years of Photographic Evolution…

These are just a few of the cameras I found around my house (my dad’s treasures). This is over 100 years worth of photographic evolution…

Photography by Mandy Getschman is my current portfolio website – I really need to update here more often!

Three Months is a Long Time…

Well this summer has gone by in a complete whirlwind. I always have every intention of keeping up with this blog, but I never seem to get around to it. But I guess I owe my readers an update. It’s about time, eh?

First of all, my last post was a qualified new beginning for me. Cinco de Mayo in Mexicantown – of course I was just itching to go. I’m always up for an adventure and how cool is that? Plus it was with a group of my peers – something that really never happened for shy little me. It was a lot of fun, and a turning point. I could just tell that more adventures were to follow.

Of course, things never change unless you do something about it.  And I really have been working hard for a better life. I put my heart into my new photo club so that other people would have a chance to experience some photography adventures. Plus I knew that I needed another way to meet new people, and what better way to meet people than to start a club? The college really had a need for a photography club, and no one else was going to bother starting one. So I guess my random burst of initiative has been successful. It has certainly lead to some memorable adventures.

Our first official trip was to a Detroit Tigers game. I think everyone only saw the game through the viewfinders of their cameras.

We went to the Red Bull Air Race and watched from various free spots along the Detroit River (until security kicked us out of course)

We went to the Toledo Zoo for a day and photographed the animals

This is from the annual "Mud Day" in Westland - it was totally unique to photograph. Plus I couldn't resist joining in the fun!

I got my second experience as an official wedding photographer last month. I got to drive all the way out to northern Ontario (Canada rocks!) to photograph the wedding of Jessica from 'The Bottle Chronicles'.

That was an adventure that I will always treasure. Jessica and I have been friends since middle school. We both have MHE and have had many surgeries, so we can totally relate. Back in seventh grade, we got to see each other in Chatham, Ontario. She was the first person outside my family I’d ever met with MHE. But anyway, I got to drive nine hours to see my amazing friend and be there for her wedding. It was an experience other wedding photographers could envy – complete with guys in top hats and waterfront scenery! I’m so glad I was there and have some great photographs to remember it by. To see the wedding photos, check out Jessica’s blog post at The Bottle Chronicles.

This is from "The Michigan Challenge" - the largest hot air balloon event in Michigan. It is held every summer in Howell, MI.

This year I brought a couple members of the photo club to the "Fire Muster" festival in Frankenmuth, MI. My uncle owns a yellow antique firetruck so we got to take photos of all the other trucks right from the middle of the parade on the back of our own firetruck. I know riding a firetruck in a parade is a bit dorky, but doesn't it sound like fun?

So these photos are just a sample of my adventures from this summer. They are all totally worth blogging about, so I want to give them each their due post. While I still have loads of adventures planned, this fall is bringing a bit more responsibility to my plate. I still plan on helping with the photography club, but I can’t be the president now that my new job as Photo Editor for The Schoolcraft Connection newspaper has started (college rule: no student can be an officer in more than one club – bummer.). I am still excited – this job is going to be A LOT of work, but an amazing experience. I work with some great people and I now have the chance to get creative and put some of my style into the paper. Plus I’m responsible for the staff photographers, so I can work with them and teach them some of my tricks. I think that responsibility is going to be exhausting, but I actually like teaching (despite my shyness) so it should be good for me.

Of course, this all means that I now live, breathe, and sleep photography. I’ve got my club, the newspaper, my computer graphics classes, and not to mention my freelance career. I have done three weddings now and have another three scheduled in the next year. Plus I have a few gigs for portrait shoots. At least it’s all fun. Anything to build my portfolio, right?

So this semester is definitely going to take everything I’ve got. I recovered from that left ankle surgery in the spring pretty quickly, and I’ve been doing pretty good this summer. Unfortunately, good ol’ MHE just has to keep sending me challenges. My right ankle has a couple tumors that have been getting worse. I really figured I’d be able to wait until Christmas break for that surgery so it won’t interfere with the newspaper schedule, but I don’t think I can wait. I’ve got my first round of blood tests next week and then I gotta make another appointment with my oncologist. Sheesh. It’s a good thing I’ve realized I can handle anything.

Cinco de Mayo in Detroit

I think the best kind of adventure is when you get to experience a different culture. I’m thrilled when I get to experience anything new and this year since I’ve been feeling better, it seems like everything is new to me. That means I find everything exciting and it’s a great way to live.

This year on May 5th I was lucky enough to spend the evening with some great new friends getting a taste of Cinco de Mayo in Detroit. We drove out to Mexican Town for dinner and arrived right in the middle of a huge celebration with tons of people. All of the Mexican restaurants were way booked for dinner, so we spent some time exploring. It was great just to take in the festivities – to watch the girls dancing in the streets, to look through the shops and vendor displays, and of course to take pictures.

We never did end up getting Mexican food for Cinco de Mayo, but instead went over to Greektown for pizza. That was still cool with me – I was just loving every minute of the whole experience. I’ve never before had such a great opportunity to photograph the beautiful city of Detroit.

Michigan Central Station

Ok, so this second shot isn’t great – but I took it from a moving car and I think it looks cool

Charlie’s Nature Walk

After the past two weeks of warm sunshine and cloudless skies, my dear Michigan has decided that’s enough good weather for now. But Spring has definitely sprung – I’ve seen all my favorite wildflowers – the snowy white Trillium and the abundant Marsh Marigolds. I’ve been dying to get on my mud boots and go picture-taking, but have been way too busy. I’m not complaining though – I’m finally filling my time doing what I love. After so many years of devoting all my energy to fighting MHE, I’m starting to feel my strength coming back. I know I’m not in the clear yet and I will have more struggles in the future, but for now I’ve got some room to breathe. I’ve actually got some spare energy to follow my ambitions and I’m starting to feel like myself again.

One of the things that I have always loved to do is go for nature walks. Maybe it’s a side-effect from all those years of Girl Scouts. But I live in the perfect place for it – my neighborhood is small and kind of secluded. There are lots of trees and most of the neighborhood gossip is about sightings of coyotes and foxes. Of course there aren’t as many trees as there were when I was little, due to all the new houses popping up in the community. But there are still forests and I’m always a short walk from the park.

When I was growing up, my best friend and neighbor and I loved to play in the trees. We were explorers. My little sister, Marissa, who is now 8, is a lot like me in that she loves to be outside. So over the weekend I decided to take her on a little nature walk. It is really something I need to do more often – there is always something to discover – this toad, for example. Such a grand discovery will make any 8-year-old’s day.

Charlie, the big orange tabby cat, is the terror of all the neighborhood critters. He spends most of his time outside, enjoying his role as King of the Neighborhood. He’s great fun though – he just loves attention and is always around to keep you company. Every time I go for a walk in the neighborhood, he trots alongside me, more faithful than any guard dog. So on this walk he never left our side, only occasionally falling behind when he just couldn’t resist chasing his own tail. Charlie has definitely got character.

Marissa is also following in my footsteps towards becoming a photographer. I was quite impressed with my little protegee – she’s got “the eye”. Plus she knows no rules so she got some interesting shots. True, most of them were of my feet, but it was kind of fun going through her shots when I got them on my computer. Lots of them were pretty good.

The weather obviously didn’t hold up for long and it was pretty cold, but fresh air can work miracles for the spirit. It was a nice day. So my advice to all my readers is to get outside, even if just for a short walk, and enjoy just breathing the fresh air. It will change your whole day.

The Season of New Beginnings

A lot has happened in my life since the last time I really posted. About three weeks ago I had my 23rd surgery, this time on my ankle. I wasn’t as worried about this one as I was last year – the chances of the tumor being cancerous were WAY less. Plus I knew I would recover a lot faster since it wasn’t as deep. But still, each surgery takes every bit of strength I have. This time I was totally determined to not let MHE interfere with my life – and that really helped. I put everything I’ve got into getting moving again and was able to walk without crutches after just two weeks. My hard work and determination really paid off.

This year has been a bit of a transition for me. Last year seemed to me like it was just school and doctors. It was a fight. This year I have been feeling a lot stronger and thus gaining a bit more ambition. I’ve been trying to get more involved with my school and it’s been great. I’ve had a lot of fun working on the newspaper (which finishes next week). I’m actually a bit sad that the semester is almost over. However, I am taking this ambition and totally running with it. I have decided to stay at my community college for at least another year and get a second associate’s degree – this time in Graphic Design (this semester I finish my Liberal Arts Associate’s). I’ve always loved playing around with Adobe Photoshop and I take pride in the fact that I was able to teach myself the program. Why not make a career of it? So I am taking my first Computer Graphics Technology (CGT) classes starting this spring semester.

I’m really excited for next fall – I’ll be getting into more Graphic Design classes, I’ll be working on the newspaper again, and I will be working on running my school’s new photography club. I’ve been thinking about starting a photography club for years – but I’ve never really felt up to it. But now that I know a lot of people will be backing me up, I’m really excited to take on the project. I’m a sucker for a challenge anyway. And I think that’s a pretty good way to live.

Have a Great Easter

And It’s Still Winter

For over a century now, this magnificent sculpture has been created every year in Detroit. It is made by taking a few Christmas Trees, attaching a sprinkler to the top of them, and letting it run all winter.

 Once again I am guilty of neglecting this blog – I had planned on continuing with the shots from Belle Isle for a few posts (while they were still current). When things get complicated, I always end up neglecting something – i.e. Photographica.  So now I will add the shots from my latest photographic adventure (even though its been a few weeks) to Detroit’s Bell Isle.

The Bell Isle Aquarium was North America's oldest running aquarium when it closed in 2005 after 101 years of service.

Lately my mind has been overwhelmed with plans for next year as to what I am going to do with my education. I’ve changed my mind more times than I can count. At the beginning of the year, I was pretty sure I wanted to go to Grand Valley State University, which is far, but has an excellent photography program and an idyllic campus. As great as it would be for me, I’ve noticed too many negatives if I were to go. In addition to the University price tag, I think it would be a shame for me to leave metro Detroit now – I’ve been making contacts, learning loads, and have to include the fact that it would be difficult for me to be so far from my doctors.

 

So now where does that leave me? That is what I am trying to figure out. The (local)school with the best program for me as far as photography is the Art Institute of Michigan (in Novi)- which has only been around for a couple years. In fact, they only started their photography program this fall. I would learn photojournalism, studio lighting, location photography, business techniques, photo manipulation, and more. The Art Institutes have had great success throughout the country and I believe would guarantee me a career once I got my bachelors degree. Unfortunately, it also carries a private university price tag that I couldn’t handle without loads of scholarships and loans – which would be very uncomfortable on top of all my medical bills. I really wish I could pick some of the classes and skip others – I already know basic camera operations, composition, basic design, and photo manipulation. I wouldn’t feel right paying over a thousand dollars for a class where I wouldnt learn anything new.

The North American International Auto Show is a huge deal for Detroit - a great honor for our city

   Now I am considering spending another year at Schoolcraft College – which I have grown fond of this year. I will have my Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts by the end of this semester (it took me three years!). I may try and get a second Associate’s Degree – this time in Graphic Design. I would have to work on my own to advance my career in photography, or possibly go to the Art Institute another year. So many decisions, seems like so little time.

A Taste of Spring For the Winter-Weary

         Like many other people, I was starting to get a case of cabin fever. I need fresh air as much as I need food and water. The winter gray skies were starting to get old. I also needed a new adventure for my collection (I keep a folder on my computer called “Photo Adventures” in which I organize all my most memorable photos). So last week I talked my dad into going to Belle Isle to check out the conservatory.

The Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle in Detroit is America’s oldest conservatory (built in 1904). It is home to an incredible collection of rare orchids.  In fact, during the WWII bombings in Great Britain, many rare orchids were saved and brought to the conservatory on Belle Isle.  

 

 

 

The Green Show

Starting on January 15th (my dad’s birthday), Madonna University in Livonia will be hosting an art exhibition with the “green” theme. Works from eleven different artists (including myself and my dad) will reflect on environmental issues and will be hanging in the gallery above the Kresge Auditorium.  Protecting the environment is an issue that I feel strongly about. I am never happier than when I am outside, enjoying nature.  When I have my camera with me, I try to capture the beauty of the natural world and save it to look at when I can’t enjoy the fresh air. I think that’s why I spend so much time editing my pictures when I am sick or after surgeries – they remind me of what nature can do for the soul. I can’t imagine life without the chance to explore the outdoors.

Nancy Paton, the curator of the Green Show, was inspired to plan the exhibition after hearing about the massive conglomeration of plastic garbage which floats in a “toxic stew” in between currents in the Pacific Ocean known as “The North Pacific Gyre”.  All this plastic cannot biodegrade and stays in the oceans for decades, leaking toxic chemicals into the water. It’s really sad that we are SO dependant on plastic and never think about where it goes.

 

                        

  The Green Show will run from January 15 – February 22 at Madonna University on Schoolcraft Road in Livonia.  The opening reception will be on Saturday, January 23rd from 5-7pm. Singer/songwriter J.D. Lamb will performing along with poet John Jeffire. Participating visual artists include: Karen Clawson, me, Donald Getschman, Marat Paransky, Judy Enright, Maralena Howard, Anthony Bacon, Tina Marie Carter, Fremont Thompson, Janel Dziesinski, and Dolores Carlson. The exhibit is free and open to the public. If you live in the Metro-Detroit area and are interested in art, please check it out!

Still in the Christmas Spirit

 

 

   This is a really old picture, but I like it : )