Still Moments 2 - New Book now available! {Michigan Photographer}

I'm so excited about publishing a new book through Blurb featuring my photography! Stop by and take a look! Available in soft cover, hard cover and pdf download for viewing on Kindle and book readers!

A Still Moment 2 by O. Joy StClaire | Make Your Own Book

Strangers #10, #11 and #12 - Bass Lake, Sleeping Bear Dunes - Northwestern Michigan Portrait Photographer

 One of my favorite haunts in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is Bass Lake,  a beautiful tranquil little "no-wake" lake. This gorgeous, sunny day, I was there with a friend Vicki & my dog Maggie. It's Maggie's favorite place to enjoy doggie dock diving!

While there, I decided to do some stranger shots for my 31 Strangers project. Cat was at the lake to do some kayaking with her long haired daschund "Willie", & just enjoy the fabulous day. She was kind enough to stop for a quick shot! It was so cute that Willie & my Maggie were wearing doggie life jackets! Randy & Tom were also out that day in a paddle boat to do some fishing & spend time in the sun. They were eager to get out on the lake, so I just got a quick shot!

Patty & Bob - Strangers 8 & 9 /31 Strangers Project { Michigan Portrait Photographer }

While in northern Michigan, the Strangers Project came with me! For 2 days, we had incredible dense fog along the Lake Michigan shore. It made for some spectacular shots while hiking, but it also was beautiful in Crystal Gardens in Frankfort, Michigan - one of my favorite places to wander & look for plants. While there, the fog rolled in even heavier & I thought I should take advantage of it for my stranger shots. Meet Patty - Stranger 8. She came to Crystal Gardens one day about 22 years ago looking for a job. She got the job & has loved it so much she never left! She said that what is even better than being in northern Michigan, is being there & having a job you love! I don't think I have ever met an unhappy person while on my trips Up North. I also ran into Bob (Stranger 9) wandering through the greenhouses. He said he is an amateur photographer who is inspired by the beauty of the area.

Strangers 6 & 7 - Marsha & Ruth Ann [ Michigan Family, Child & Fine Art Portrait Photographer ]

As much as I like to think I color outside the lines and blaze my own trail instead of following the one already marked & mapped - I do sadly realize I am also a creature of habit.  And so, on my travels to my beloved northwestern Michigan to do an environmental portrait session & a commercial shoot of a cottage vacation rental - I found myself stopping (as usual) at the Clare Michigan Welcome Center. This is always my last rest stop on the journey north - only 2 hours from my final destination of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

It seemed only fitting that I capture some strangers for the 31 Strangers Project at the Welcome Center! Marsha & Ruth Ann were happy to oblige! Marsha (left) usually works at the Port Huron center, but was called to duty to the Clare Center. They obviously were very happy to be Michiganders (Wolverines?) and were delighted to impart some facts about their state.

Michigan has over 64,980 inland lakes.
Other than California, Michigan grows the widest variety of fruits and vegetables..... and Michigan doesn't have to irrigate.
The name Michigan is a French alteration of the Ojibwe word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake".
A person in the state is never more than six miles from a natural water source or more than 85 miles from a Great Lakes shoreline.
Lake Huron rushes into the St. Claire River at the same force as Niagara Falls.
Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state.

... And just some of the reasons I'm always heading north!  Thank you Marsha & Ruth Ann for participating in the Strangers Project!

Stranger 25 ~ Michael

While in Northern Michigan, I met up with a photographer friend, Ken Scott, to do some shooting on the Elberta Pier during moonrise. I thought it would be a great opportunity to capture some more strangers for my 31 Strangers in 31 Days Project. I have to say, Michael - Stranger 25 was one of my favorites! Just look at that smile & mischief in those eyes! I wanted to adopt him as my dad!

Michael (ironically my real dad's name!) has been retired for 14 years from consumers Power Company, and does some consulting work. We talked about nature, fish, life and the Nature Conservancies in the area. He told me how the power company would donate land to the conservancies when it was no longer of use to them - a good thing as one of my favorite places to hike is Arcadia Bluffs CS Mott Preserve (land that was donated). All in all, it was a wonderful evening & a fabulous trip north!

Stranger 24 ~ Rick

Rick was on the Elberta Pier fishing for Coho Salmon with 2 friends. They were doing some male bonding & I think the fishing was secondary! Although from the look of the nets they were carrying, they looked pretty optimistic! Rick & friends were just hanging out & I sensed they wanted to experience to serenity of fishing.... so I left to find another stranger!

Stranger 23 ~ Randy

My 31 Strangers in 31 Days Project went to Michigan with me, where I found some interesting strangers. One evening I met up with a fellow photographer Ken Scott (Ken Scott Photography ), and we went shooting on the Elberta Pier. It was a nice evening & I was able to photograph 3 more strangers!

Randy (Stranger 23) was up with friends hoping to catch some Coho Salmon... but they weren't running in numbers at the time. He said he'd heard it wasn't going to be a good year for catching Coho. The fish were running late and just hanging around the entry to the bay. No Coho for Randy, but He was going back to town for some prime rib with friends!

The Gulf Coast Disaster

Images of tar balls on beaches and oil covered birds and wildlife are streaming across our TV screens, computer screens and iPhones. The lives of animals & oil rig workers, & the livelihoods of Gulf Coast residents are being lost. I feel helpless.

A shop on Etsy, Help the Gulf Coast, has been formed uniting Etsy sellers to bring help to the Gulf Coast. Proceeds from sales from this special shop will be split 50/50 between Oxfam America & American Bird Conservancy . This is a great opportunity to purchase art by independent (indie) artists and at the same time have your purchase help OUR Gulf Coast in this disaster. We can do little things to make a difference! Please visit this shop. If you are an artist, please consider making a donation to this shop. I have donated the above image to this cause and will be donating more art in the future.

Kaitlyn's Preview / Frankfort Michigan Senior Photographer / Benzie County Senior Photographer

It was a little iffy, but the weather held for senior portrait day! We had a couple beautiful settings - Crystal Gardens for a natural feel, and the old Smokestack building for a bit of a neglected, industrial mood! It was a fun day with great backdrops, and even a friend for a little moral support!

Things I Love Thursday... Going to Michigan

Next week, I'll again be in Northern Michigan for portrait sessions. So, with Michigan on my mind, things week's Things I Love Thursday is devoted to the place I love most - Up North Michigan!

Winter Essay...

I love winter...!

PUBLISHED!!

I have some exciting news!! This image has been published in TRAVERSE Magazine - Northern Michigan's Magazine. It appears in the January 2009 issue on the last page. This shot was taken on very cold and blustery January day along Lake Michigan by Point Betsie Lighthouse. I love traveling to this area to recharge my soul!

Up North Vacation

I'm heading North for a much needed vacation! This is my favorite time of year to get away, but also the busiest for my business. Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes are so beautiful at this time of year. The colors are turning and the area is slowly closing up! Of course Maggie May will head North, too! The photo shows Maggie in Crystal Lake on one of our last trips! Check out the area!