more Tahquamenon Falls

into the mist

I've always wanted to shoot Tahquamenon Falls in the UP...but amazingly I've only shot in the Les Cheneaux Islands previous to this trip.

I arrived at the upper falls in the late afternoon today and found I was shooting squarely into the sun...not ideal.

But with a little help from a mild breeze, the mist off the falls was backlit.

Autumn in the U.P.

Many of you know I'm on an extended assignment shooting all over Michigan...this photo is from Hancock in the Keweenaw Peninsula in the U.P.

I thought the fall colors might be past prime already way up here...but boy was I wrong!

Michael Moore and Me

Today I was shooting in downtown Traverse City outside the State Theater. I pretty engrossed in shooting the facade of this lovely theater and wasn't paying much attention to anything else.

This guy walks up to me and asks, "Hey...where are you from?"

This is a pretty common question when you carry around a large camera and I'm used to being approached...but this time I looked up and it's Michael Moore standing there.

We chatted for a few minutes...he was curious who I was working for. He seemed like a really nice guy...almost made me want to go bowling with him.

At the end of the conversation I asked if I could take his picture and he said, "Sure, I know you're not the paparazzi because you asked permission."

Up North for a while

I'm leaving Friday morning on a 5 day trip to shoot a couple of amazing assignments. I'll be shooting all over northern Michigan.

I'll try to post some a photo or two each day. It looks like I'll have some good weather at least for a few of those days.

banjo player in the living room

I recently had this strange dream about a banjo player...luckily I was able to snap this picture before I woke up.

Massive Pillow Fight Downtown

The Pillow Fight at Rosa Parks Circle today...very surreal.

Another reason GR is the coolest city on the planet.

Umm...you need to watch this

Willy Porter is unbelievable...it's as if he plays guitar with 4 hands. I can't wait for his show on November 9 at The Photography Room.

Check out this video...imagine being a few feet away...and order your tickets here:

Willy Porter Concert - November 9

Wow...I've wanted Willy Porter to play at The Photography Room for about a year now and it's finally going to happen!

Willy Porter

Here's the link to order tickets (only $20!) from Brown Paper Tickets:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/45164

Our capacity is only 120...so there isn't a bad seat in the house. Willy has a tremendous and loyal following and this is sure to be a very special evening!

Here's a video of Willy playing "Available Light".

And here is "Flying":

Park(ing) Day in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids = Coolest City on the Planet

Thanks to my new friends Corey of Dot&Cross and Jason of KantorWassink for having some fun with me at their parking garden.

PS - click on each photo for a larger view

UICA Ground Breaking

UICA has officially broken ground on a new facility...with their typical artistic flair.

Feel free to suggest a caption for this photo...

Glen Phillips Concert - December 4

My wife Kathleen and I are pleased to announce that Glen Phillips is returning to Grand Rapids to perform at The Photography Room on Thursday, December 4.

Glen's show with us in April was sold out...here's a video. I still keep bumping into people telling me how amazing his performance was (you truly had to be there).

Here's the link to order tickets. We are using a new (and better) online ticket broker and you'll will be receiving physical tickets in the mail:

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/43560

See you at the show...you won't want to miss it!

Rockettes at Wealthy Street Bakery!

I'd venture a guess and say that 9 AM is not the most convenient time for a bakery to have four Radio City Rockettes, a photographer and two assistants, a public relations person, as well as the media relations person for the Rockettes drop in for a little photo shoot...

....whoops, forgot the limo driver too.

The staff at Wealthy Street Bakery were so accommodating and helpful...thanks, everyone!

And when my head wasn't completely lost in figuring out exposures and color balances, it was GREAT to listen to the reactions of customers coming in for a morning jolt of coffee.

It's not a stretch to say that everyone loves the Radio City Rockettes...

Rockettes at the Calder!

I just might have the most interesting job ever. The last few days are an example why.

Last week I shot some incredible penthouses for Rapid Growth Media published in this article.

On Tuesday I shot some INSANE window cleaners from the helipad of the JW Marriott for Rapid Growth Media...check out the article here.

On Wednesday I spent the morning shooting for the Radio City Rockettes. I just put a couple more shots up on my regular web site here.

Not a bad gig if you can get it...I'm very lucky to have such amazing clients.

Oh, and next week I'm shooting a story on skydiving in West Michigan for Rapid Growth...jeronimooooooooo!!

Rockettes and Yesterdog!

My many, many thanks to Bill and his management team at Yesterdog for letting me and the Rockettes completely take over this iconic Eastown eatery for a little while yesterday morning.

I doubt there was ever a better location to convey the oozing Amercana of the Radio City Rockettes...and Yesterdog!

Quick side note, I'm annoyed that Blogger desaturates photos when you upload them. They aren't nearly as vibrant as my files...so please go ahead and IMAGINE the extra color I'm enjoying on my computer right now :)

Radio City Rockettes - 1st Photo!

I'm sifting through and editing a ton of images from this whirlwind photo shoot with the Radio City Rockettes.

We shot at 6 different locations around Grand Rapids...in only 2.5 hours.

Admittedly that kind of shooting pace took some years off my life, but I was honored to be given complete freedom to shoot the girls anywhere I wanted during our time together.

I made the most of it...the girls were so fantastic!

I'll post more images later...gotta get back to editing!

Is it only Wednesday?

I just read a friend's post on Facebook and her status update read "I just saw Brian Kelly at Wealthy Street Bakery with the Radio City Music Rockettes and it was only 8:45 am...weird."

When I read that I laughed out loud...it sounded like someone recounting a crazy dream they had.

"...and then...get this...Brian shows up at a bakery with the Radio City Music Rockettes..."

Yes...I admit it was me...and it wasn't a dream. 

I can, however, safely say it's been quite a surreal week...and it's only Wednesday...right?

Wind farms...soon please!

About a month ago I was driving with the family across Indiana to my grandmother's house for her 90th B-day (go Grams!)...and came upon a HUGE wind farm.  It was amazing and there were what seemed like HUNDREDS of them. Crews were actively putting up more in what were basically corn and bean fields.

I couldn't help but think we are so incredibly STUPID here in Michigan not to invest in this simple technology more aggressively.  

Why do we allow ugly cell towers everywhere but not these elegant windmills?  The foot print isn't much bigger than what a cell tower requires.

Wind is free, and renewable; there will be more wind tomorrow (I promise). Plus no one will kill anyone for it...or have to scar the earth or oceans transporting it.

Please...please...please do this now...end rant.

Six Year Wait for a Car?

If I told you had to wait six years for a car to be delivered from the factory would you believe me. Six YEARS?

I shot this new Ferrari for part of an upcoming feature for Rapid Growth. The passionate owner told me he waited 6 years for it to arrive. He was a super nice guy, but none of what I write about below has anything to do with reality. I couldn't help imagine what it's like to wait 6 years for a car.

Here's how the story unfolds by year:

Summer 2002: Place your order at an exclusive car dealership...put down enormous deposit. Salesman gives you a big hug...perhaps holding the embrace just a bit too long...then pass awkward silence by giving each other high fives.

Late 2002: Set up camp in the showroom waiting area...manage to get familiar with many of the complicated plot lines of various daytime soaps...become slightly miffed when Oprah gives 200 audience members new Pontiac's.

Early 2003: Car salesman refuses to bring you more popcorn and rips the People Magazine from your hands after you can't agree on how many times Susan Lucci has lost the Emmy. In anger you shout that Erika Kane is a horrible dresser.

Summer 2003: You leave dealership realizing the coffee is terrible anyway...make mental note of your favorite foods from vending machine...swearing never to use CoffeeMate again as long as you have strength to draw breath.

2004: Occasionally remind yourself of your purchase by making scheduled payments and looking through the brochure the dealer gave you in 2002. It's a bit tattered and sun-faded but you still manage to get a bit misty looking at your car.

2005: Begin yoga classes and breathing exercises to help pass the time. Occasionally glance longingly out the kitchen window at all the cars paired with their happy owners. On sunny mornings the sight of convertibles becomes too much to bear...you wipe a tear away but somehow manage to choke back an embarrassing snort.

2006: Take up smoking and surprise even yourself by achieving a high average of 5 packs a day. You enter smoke ring blowing tournaments and travel to Turkey to test yourself against the top competition. Then quit cold turkey 6 months later.

2007: Dealer calls and says only 18 more months to go. 

August 2008: Take delivery of 2008 Ferrari F430...black...entirely customized for you...bring home to Grand Rapids.

September 2008: Barely drive car for fear of reducing it's value...but the car is such an amazing work of art you feel entirely at peace with your six year journey.

Little Trees at GRAM

Random shot...I love this side of the Art Museum.

Emma's Photos

I haven't photographed many senior portraits over my career. This has been more or less by design. I know quite well that any specialty area within photography requires your full attention...and I've mostly stuck to my established niches (architecture, advertising, editorial, fine art).

But recently I had the pleasure of photographing Emma. Her father is a good client of mine (I shoot buildings for him) and they asked if I might consider doing some outside the box shooting for Emma's senior portraits...the idea of which I found very intriguing.

Neither of us were interested in creating typical senior portraits...and we agreed we liked the idea of approaching it like a fashion shoot. Here's a sampling...Emma was great and we had a BLAST:

Fashion Shoot - S.D. Drake & Company

Today I worked with Steve and Margeaux Drake. They've recently launched a men's custom clothing business and I must say the quality of the clothing I photographed was unbelievable.

It's no surprise, Margeaux is a top interior designer.  I've shot a lot wonderful projects for her over the last few years. You can see a lot of her work (and mine) here on her web site.

Here are some quick favorites from today.

more concerts coming up

We're almost ready to announce two REALLY great concerts at The Photography Room. One in November and the other is in December.

As soon as we have ticket order information up and running I'll blast out the word. But you won't want to miss either one!

Here's a look at an earlier performance last spring at The Photography Room with Glen Phillips...an intimate setting and not a bad seat in the house.

Evie's Birthday Party

I had a great time today shooting for fun at Evie's 3rd birthday party...she's one of Faith's good buddies.

I gave the photos a kind of old Kodachrome look...sorta dreamlike in a way.

Happy Birthday, Evie!

Stairway to Heaven

I was shooting downtown today and stumbled into these guys. They said they were temporarily homeless and living in a car. Part of our conversation went something like this:

Guitarist: Yo, photographer...can I play you "Stairway to Heaven"?

Me: Sure, man...you play me anything you want.

Guitarist: Okay, cool.

Me: Wait...that's like an 8 minute long song...I'm not sure if I have that much time.

Guitarist: It's soooo long, dude...but I can only play the slow parts anyway.

He actually played it pretty good too!

Justice and Monroe (Starsky and Hutch)

My brother Brad was in town recently, we're working on some film projects together. One day we walked by the Justice and Monroe building in downtown GR.  Locals sometimes refer to it as the flatiron building...or even the "Blake's Turkey" building (named after the lunchtime hotspot on the 1st floor).

My brother...upon seeing the name "Justice and Monroe"...immediately conjured up a concept for a TV series.

Picture two tough Grand Rapids based private eyes...they have an office in the Justice and Monroe building. 

One guy is named...Justice.

The other guy is named...(get this)...Monroe. 

Sorta like Starsky and Hutch...or Tango and Cash.

The guys don't get along very well. Justice loves turkey sandwiches and has a serious jones for Blake's Turkey downstairs. Monroe can't stand turkey, he's a vegan and turkey makes him sick.

Ironically, Monroe (the vegan) is also the sole heir to the enormous Butterball Turkey fortune...and he lives in The Butterball Mansion.  His character is deeply conflicted and richly rooted in Grand Rapids high society.

...and then the fun ensues.

As of now the pilot has not been picked up...imagine.

Selective Focus fun

I shot this for fun a few minutes ago outside my office/gallery. I love playing with focal planes.

I never tire of the red brick streets and historic architecture of downtown GR...especially along Ionia Avenue.

more Integrated Architecture

I had a great week shooting with Trisha Spaulding of Integrated Architecture. Here's an interior shot from the new Campbell Insurance Group building in Caledonia, MI.

This is an example of one of those pleasant accidents that sometimes come out great! The silhouettes are chatting in the board room behind frosted glass and then another employee in a red skirt rounds the staircase to compliment the red Herman Miller chairs...perfection!

Integrated Architecture - Campbell Insurance Group

On Monday I shot night exteriors of a great building designed by Integrated Architecture.  It's the new Campbell Insurance Group headquarters out in Calendonia.

The building features a curving glass wall and the interiors are full of Herman Miller classic furniture.  I get to shoot that tomorrow morning!

Custard's last stand

I may be a photographer...but my real passion is ice cream. Custard is a rare treat since it's hard to find.

As far as I know, there aren't any true custard joints left around Grand Rapids. If there is one PLEASE let me know (sorry but don't say "Culver's"...it might as well be a Pizza Hut in my book).

The "Custard Cup" in Danville, Illinois is iconic...pure americana...and worth the trip all by itself.

(actual custard not pictured due to over enthusiasm)

Aerial Photo Essay on Rapid Growth

Hi...I put together a photo essay of aerial images of Grand Rapids at Rapid Growth Media.  If you want to check it out...here's the link.

flying over Grand Rapids

My brother Brad rolling High Definition video over Grand Rapids from a helicopter...BLAST!

I'd rather eat them

Workshop was a Blast!

The night photography workshop was a blast tonight...what a fun bunch of avid photographers we had along! The rain even stayed away until almost the very end.

I hope to do another workshop in late September or early October. I'll post more info soon if I can get a free date to shake loose!

The above photo was shot with a tilt/shift lens and you can distort the focal plane for some interesting results. I really enjoyed having some time to make less formal images and just play.

Thanks to everyone who came out tonight!

Sunday - Night Photography Workshop!

I'm conducting a night workshop this Sunday night from 7 PM - 11:30.

After a some basic instruction at The Photography Room, we'll head out with a small group.  There is still space available.  

The cost is $75...includes lots of one on one instruction while shooting the night skyline in downtown Grand Rapids.

Shoot me an email at brian@photographyroom.com if you'd like to come along and I'll send you all the details!