I spent about 30 hours on the streets of London to be at the front of the crowd and see the King's procession go by on May 6th. It was my first Coronation after two royal weddings, and over 100 royal engagements photographed since the 1980's.
Back in the 1990's and early 2000's, when I still did weddings, there was no better lab in the country to send my film to than Burrell Color in northern Indiana. For years, there was a regular flow of film and prints back and forth between my office and their lab. So it was pretty cool yesterday to shoot a video interview of the lab's founder and owner, Don Burrell, in his home for another long-time client of mine. For years his smiling face was ever present at the front of every catalog the lab sent me and it was nice to see that he was just as friendly a guy as he always appeared to be. He even showed us his beautiful home and indoor pool. I told him he'd done pretty well, and he thanked me for giving him my business all those years. Then he even told me to look around– and that I had helped him build that big, beautiful home. You're welcome, Don.
At 5:45am, my wife and I arrived at the college’s dock ready to go, with cameras, lenses and a drone. An hour later, we disembarked on Great Duck; the island is about 200 acres all together. There’s also a private home owned by a local couple who rent it out to visitors, though I was told they’d been living there for the last couple years to ride out Covid. There is also buried treasure on the island, though that’s another story for another day…
My photography comes in all shapes and sizes, and as well as doing commercial photography and video, I’m also a landscape photographer, have written a couple books on the topic and lead workshops. Since 2017, I’ve been leading landscape photography workshops in Acadia National Park, on an island off the beautiful coast of Maine. This year’s dates are now fixed at October 11-16th.
The beauty of my job lies in the variety of work I do. One day I might be shooting videos for a healthcare client, and the next shooting college sports, and on another day teaching landscape photography. I thrive on that variety.
Last weekend, I was hired to shoot Winter Beauty at the nationally recognized Morton Arboretum. I spent four hours walking, hiking and driving in the 15 degree temperatures, but never really got cold… the adrenaline from a shoot usually warms me up. Apart from shooting many images on the ground level, I also brought along my drone to get some new and interesting angles.
Although I’ve been flying since 2017, I never tire of the unique perspective from a few hundred feet in the air. It was cool to see the bare trees deep in the woods, covered in snow but showing their stark bare branches. And my favorite shot… the small patch of trees in the middle of a field of snow. Can’t wait to do it again soon.
For the fourth year in a row, I’ll be running my Autumn in Acadia photography workshop this October. This is always a highlight of the year for me and I can’t wait to do it again in less than six months.
Allow me to back up a few years and explain why I do this workshop…. Twenty years ago, I wanted to go to Tuscany (Italy) and photograph the beautiful landscapes I’d only ever seen pictures. But I had a few problems to overcome– I’d never been to Tuscany before, I don’t speak Italian and I knew I would spend the whole time trying to find my way around. So in the end, I booked a trip with an established British photographer who knew the area and had experience running photography workshops in Tuscany. I flew over in 2004 and had the time of my life– it’s still one of the favorite things I’ve ever done in my photography career. The instructor was very personable, he knew where to go and what to photograph at all times of the day. We had a week of all-out photography, leaving the hotel at 5:30am and taking pictures until after the sun had set. Then afterwards, we enjoyed a great Italian dinner at one of the local restaurants. The camaraderie of fellow photographers was a highlight of the trip.
That experience taught me a lot, but most of all it taught me how enjoyable several days of landscape photography with a group of like-minded photographers can be. So that’s my goal in all my workshops– that you have fun, get to take pictures all day long in beautiful locations, learn from me and others on the trip, enjoy the company of fellow photographers and enjoy a well earned meal at the end of the day, not to mention that you leave Acadia with several images you can be really proud of.
So who is the workshop for? Basically, anyone with an interest in photography, whether amateur or professional. It doesn’t matter what camera you have; I only ask that you use a ‘real’ camera and not just a phone, though if that’s your thing, I won’t stop you! I’ve had photographers in my workshops with $400 cameras, up to one who came with a $50,000 camera, plus $30,000 worth of lenses. Photographers have come from all over the US to join me, and I’ve had some come from as far as Mexico, Ecuador and Argentina. I’ve had seasoned photography veterans who have just made the switch to digital after a lifetime of film photography, but on average, most are amateurs who have a passion for photography and want to be taken around to some awesome locations to shoot. I’ve never had anyone tell me they regretted being on the workshop; on the contrary, several have told me they can’t wait to do it again, and I’ve had some come back two years running to do it again.
You can read about the 2020 workshop here; despite the pandemic, we played it very safe and kept the numbers low (only four photographers and me). You can also read about the 2019 workshop to give you more a sense of a ‘normal’ year.
One last thing… the cost for the workshop includes your hotel accommodation and transportation. I’m one of the only workshop leaders to include both of these. By traveling together, we get a better sense of community, no one else has to worry about driving, and we only take up one parking space in an already crowded park.
If you’re interested in joining us this October, click the button below, enter your email address, and I’ll send out a registration form right away. The workshop is first come, first served, After I reach the maximum of eight participants, I will put you on a waiting list.
Questions? Contact me here and I’ll get back to you right away.
Hope to see you in October!
FEI World Carriage Driving Championships, August 1986
Some of you know I photographed the Royal Family 'once or twice' in the 1980's. Actually, I honed my photography skills photographing them from 1985-88, just before I finished college and turned pro. The Duke of Edinburgh was at many of the events I attended, almost always at the Queen's side. The only time I photographed him on his own was when he competed at the World Carriage Driving Championships in August 1986.
These unpublished photos have never been seen anywhere until now.
RIP Prince Philip.
Guards Polo Club, Royal Ascot week, June 1987
I went downtown with a friend a couple days ago to photograph "Chicago-Henge," a phenomenon I don't think anyone thought about until recently. However, it happens twice a year, during the Spring and Autumn equinox, when the sun sets due west, right down the end of the road– in this case Lake Street. I shot with my medium format camera and was limited to just a 120mm (96mm D-SLR equivalent) lens. I should've brought a super telephoto and really gotten up close and personal with the scene.
For prints, email mike@hudsonfineart.com
This summer, I passed my commercial drone pilot's test and am now a fully licensed pilot by the FAA. This is just some practice footage from a recent drive through rural Ohio.
The Little Popcorn Shop (far left) has stood in an alleyway since the 1920’s. The new lighting and plaza recently opened in 2019.
After a heavy rainstorm a few days ago, I took my medium format camera down into the town I live in for some night photography while the streets were still wet with rain, and the sidewalks were empty– even though it was only 9:30 on a Friday night- normally a busy time with people filling the restaurants and ice cream shops.
One of the oldest buildings in downtown Wheaton, built c 1870’s.
The medium format camera is so well suited for architecture and night photography– the dynamic range (the ability to record details in the shadows and highlights) is amazing, and with a 51-megapixel sensor, the images are so sharp you can see smudges on the window panes.
Carlsons has been a fixture in town for over 100 years.
Quiet streets
Front Street
The old Wheaton Grand Theater (opened in 1925) has been empty for almost twenty years. Many have attempted to revive the theater but so far, all attempts have fallen short.
One of the newest restaurants in town.
More new restaurants on Hale Street.
Office building on Wesley Street
The old Post Office, c 1933