Grand Haven, Michigan’s outer light got pounded on Sunday with 30 mph winds out of the NW, gusting to 45 mph, and bringing 12-foot waves.  But for once the windchill wasn’t 30F below zero.  It was a balmy 65F.  The seas were big enough to strand the SS Badger in safe harbor for the day. 

Add to this a sun setting nearly due west and a very smokey Canadian wildfire sky and you have a recipe for drama.

@prime.focal
#lakemichigan
#grandhavenmi
#grandhavenstatepark
#grandhavenpier
#puremichigan
#thirdcoast 
#westmichigan
#saltfree
#greatlake
#greatlakes
#sharkfree
#michigantourism
#greatlakestate
#winterwaterwonderland
#nofilters
#nikon
#nikond5
#nikon500mm
#nikonprofessional

It’s just before dawn on September 21, 2024 - the autumnal equinox.  So knowing that means the sun will rise out of true 90 degrees (due east), I decided to get to the Capitol complex good and early so I could see if I could actually watch the sun come up directly behind the dome and whether that might be something interesting. 

So I hiked down to the new Supreme Court building, which is exactly a half mile west of the dome, and waited for any possible fireworks.  What I ended up with was different, and fun, and proved yet again what an astronomy nerd I am.

At any rate, in nothing else, these 10 frames prove that we’re still spinning around the sun on our wobbly Earth axis, and that the Michigan State Capitol complex is full of angles and lines and curves that are far more interesting up close than if you’re speeding past it all in your car.

The most interesting of these 10 images to me might be the close up of the tiny smidge of the lower left corner of the sun as it clears the tall narrow windows of Level 6, which is just above the sturdy classical  ladies of the Capitol allegories.  Those windows are approximately 60 feet above the glass block floor at the base of the dome.  But in clearing the top of the narrow window, it feels sort of like a solar eclipse.  Oh - and the two little smudges of light at the bottom of several frames is sunlight shining in the east doors and out the west doors. 

The sun rises at 7:25 a.m. on the first day of fall in mid-Michigan, and by 7:50 a.m. the show was over.  But I’m glad I decided to test the theory.  Maybe next year some enterprising science teacher will drag students out to see for themselves.

Finally, a few people asked me what filters I used for this shoot.  Actually I only used a standard polarizer.  The rest was just a matter of constantly riding ISO, exposure and aperaturefor the constantly changing light.  Kudos to anyone who made it to the end of this post.  Thanks for checking this out! ☀️

@prime.focal
#michigancapitol 
#michigancapitolcomplex
#michigancapitolphotographer
#puremichigan
#sayyestomichigan
#elijahemyers
#elijahmyers
##nikond5
#nikon500mm
#nikonprofessional 
#michigancapitolcommission

I was going through some recent photos I’ve created for some new materials the Capitol will be releasing soon and a couple made me do a double take. Many of the Capitol spaces (especially the exterior) can really feel like Rome. Such classic architecture, and such a commitment from so many to keep this national historic landmark in exquisite condition. Believe me when I say this is not smoke and mirrors. I’ve climbed and crawled and wiggled just about everywhere a human can fit under this dome. It’s authentic from its iron spire to its stone foundation.
@prime.focal
#michigancapitol
#puremichigan
#elijahemyers
#nikonprofessional
#michiganmymichigan
#michigancapitolbuilding
#michigancapitol
#michigancapitolcommission
#nikond5
#nikonf2.8_24-70

Even when the Aurora Borealis forecast says the odds on viewing last night was only 15%. But it changes like the weather, and sure enough, at 11 pm they appeared over the Reykjavik skyline.  Seeing these twice in one year makes you feel pretty lucky. 

@prime.focal
#aurora
#auroraborealis
#northernlights
#reykjavik
#iceland
#66degreesnorth
#nikonprofessional
#nikond5
#sigma14mmf1.8

What a lovely Michigan summer day for polo.  Mostly sunny and 82, and the Meadowview field was in perfect.  Imagine 12 acres of putting green. Gorgeous, with a beautiful wooded background.

The view west from Michigan Street at North Division.  In daylight you would see all the way to John Ball Park and the ancient West Bank of the Grand River. 

@prime.focal
#grandrapids
#MSUmedicine
#michiganstateuniversity
#medmile
#grandaction2.0
#puremichigan
#westmichigan
#experienceGR
#sayyestomichigan
#varnumlaw
#rowehotel
#oldsmanor
#nikonD5
#nikkor500/f5.6

History meets future at the foot of the Michigan Street hill in Grand Rapids.  A 100 year old beaux-arts hotel sandwiched between some high profile doctors and lawyers. 

On this particular evening (8.3.24) these buildings are bathed in a soft evening light that Pantone could brand as a new color “Western Wildfire.” It’s beautiful, but I’d gladly give up the lighting if the fires would end.

@prime.focal
#grandrapids
#MSUmedicine
#michiganstateuniversity
#medmile
#vanandelinstitute
#grandaction2.0
#puremichigan
#westmichigan
#experienceGR
#sayyestimichigan
#medmile
#corewellhealth
#butterworthcampus
#varnumlaw
#riverhouseatbridgewaterplace
#bridgewaterplace
#rowehotel
#oldsmanor
#nikonD5
#nikkor70-200f2.8
#nikonproservices

Tonight was worth the wait through rain on Friday.  I shot the Aurora at a great little darkish spot north of Ada, MI.  It’s been a few years since I’ve shot the  Northern Lights, but they did not disappoint!
@prime.focal
#aurora 
#auroraborealis 
#northernlights 
#adamichigan 
#grandrapids 
#kentcounty 
#puremichigan 
#experiencegr 
#experiencegrandrapids 
#thompsonphotos
#nikonprofessional 
#nikond850
#sigma14mmf18

The 1500 block of Woodward Ave. in Detroit.  I spent a few hours on the ground here shooting an event during the NFL Draft on April 25, 2024. I have to say I was impressed with the way Detroit turned out for this crazy-high profile event.  I didn’t see anything that didn’t reflect well on the city and its resilient peeps.  Even the historic architecture looked as good as it did in 1955, when the Motor City was in its prime.
@prime.focal
#detroit
#woodwardave
#motorcity
#motown
#NFLdraft
#puremichigan
#greatlakesstate
#nikonD5
#nikonprofessional
#thompsonphotos

This view looking northeast along Ottawa St. includes some of the oldest commercial structures in the city, including the bright yellow flatiron building in the center of this image, along with some of the newest, like the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) at left.
@prime.focal
#grandrapids
#kentcountymi
#monroecenter
#puremichigan
#discovergr
#nikon
#nikonprofessionalservices
#nikonD5

It’s hard to believe it’s almost over.  This has been an inspiring and rewarding year working inside the Capitol dome in the great state of Michigan.  The repaired and restored elements look almost new, and the painted surface, which have been taken back to their original colors, look magnificent.  It’s been decades since the blue sky of the oculus has looked so good.  Dozens of artisans from around the world have applied their expertise — and it shows.  Now comes the process of deconstructing 160 feet of scaffolding, which will give us a slow motion unveiling of the rotunda.  I’ll share more as we see new views over the next few weeks.
@prime.focal
#michigancapitol
#puremichigan
#sayyes
#sayyestomichigan
#nikond5
#nikonprofessional
#michigan
#michigantourism
#elijahmeyers

A peek of sunset on the McKay Tower at ground zero in Grand Rapids, MI.  First constructed as a three story bank in the 1920s, before another 15 stories was added a few years later.  It was the tallest building in the city from 1929 until 1981, and Its classic Greek Revival architecture never goes out of style. This late winter (or are we still midwinter?) shot of some of the McKay Tower’s gorgeous detailing as the sun sets over GR.  The McKay can also boast that it had a cool light display on its roof long before it became a part of the branding for every high rise.  Hard to believe this landmark will soon celebrate 100 years as a symbol of the river city. 

@prime.focal
#mckaytower
#grandrapids
#greekrevival
#westmichigan
#puremichigan
#monroecenter
#nikonprofessional
#nikonD5

Happy new year from the Ada Covered Bridge.  White snow and blue skies - finally!!

@prime.focal
#adamichigan
#adacoveredbridge
#puremichigan
#grandrapids

The road to Camp David. This is for everyone out there who say “blizzard” and “lake effect” like they’re bad things.

@prime.focal
#adamichigan 
#vergennes 
#lakeeffect 
#lakeeffectsnow 
#puremichigan 
#kentcounty 
#grandrapids 
#grandrapidsmi 
#nikon 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikond5 
#nikkor70-200f2.5
#sayyestomichigan

What better way to spend the day after a blizzard than by photographing Icelandic horses from the Hestovin Stables?  These amazing therapy horses (Gunnar, Gloa, Saer, Tatari, & Jorda) have been in the US since 2021. 

Because of the rigorous laws that safeguard the purity of the relatively small Icelandic stock living in Iceland, these five are destined to spend the rest of their lives in Michigan, which this week reminds them of home.  These horses are full of personality and they love playing in deep snow. 

And I can confirm that standing in 20 inches of snow as 6000 pounds of equines come at you going 30mph is quite an experience.  They were playing a game of “who can get closest to the photographer without touching him.” Gunnar won this round, and I’m not kidding when I say I could smell his breath when he went by me.  Over and over and over. 😅🐴 
Hestovinstables.org

@prime.focal
#hestovinstables 
#icelandichorses 
#icelandichorse 
#icelandic 
#grandrapids 
#grandrapidsmi 
#puremichigan 
#cascademichigan 
#cascademich 
#nikond5 
#nikkor24-70f2.8
#nikkor70-200f2.8
#nikonprofessional

Spending another day feeling very fortunate that I get to do what I love.  Climbing up into the dome, 17 stories above the street, is so humbling.  So many amazing people.  It’s still a breathtaking experience every day.

@prime.focal
#thompsonphotos.com
#michigancapitolbuilding 
#michigancapital 
#nikonprofessional

The rostrum of the Michigan Senate Chambers.

One of the many really cool things about photographing the Michigan Capitol are the little tricks and secrets you learn about along the way from colleagues, staff, and best of all, the experts who have worked in this fabulous building for years or even decades. 

I’m talking about the types of people who know everything you ever wondered about the building and it’s history, plus behind the scenes shortcuts to pretty much anywhere in the building.

Recently I was walking through the Michigan House chambers looking - without much luck - for light switches, and trying to close the blinds covering the exterior windows to darken the room some. 

I was frustrated that I couldn’t change the lighting for a specific photograph I needed. 

An unseen engineer who was watching me scared me half to death when he said, “Are you trying to change the lights in here?” 

As I thought quickly about what the right answer might be, he said, “Come over here and I’ll show you.” A nondescript little light board had a new setting added in the last few years that simply said “TV.” He flipped the toggle and the room turned into a breathtaking cathedral lit with hundreds of silent LEDs.  So cool.

@grandrapidsshooter 
#mistatecapitol 
#michiganmymichigan 
#elijahmyers 
#beststateintheunion 
#capitolcommission 
#michcapitol 
#michiganheritagehall 
#michigan 
#puremichigan 
#puremittigan 
#sayyestomichigan 
#rotundadecorativesurfaces
#thompsonphotos 
#nikonD5
#nikonprofessional 
#nikonprofessionalservices 
#lansingmichigan

The highest point where you’re still indoors is this stairway and door above.  The oculus is climate controlled with the rest of the building inside that glass housing.  I’m standing near the outside dome wall, which is curving inward at a greater and greater angle as it rises.
#michigancapitol

Looking down on the Michigan House of Reps, and the corner West Ottawa & Seymour streets.
#michigancapitol

Grand Haven pier and lights on an exceptionally calm night on Aug 31, 2023.  I came for the sunset but stayed for the reflections of the pier. 

@grandrapidsshooter 
#grandhaven 
#grandhavenlighthouse 
#grandhavenbeach 
#grandhavenmi 
#puremichigan 
#lakemichigan 
#greatlakes 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikond5
#nikon500mmf4lens 
#weatherchannel 
#michigantourism

Flight of four sandhill cranes take flight over rolling hills of Ada, MI. There were nearly 100 of them munching away on field corn. What scared them all away, I wondered. About 45 minutes later tornado sirens sounded and Ada got hammered. Clever birds.

@grandrapidsshooter
#sandhillcranes
#sandhillcrane 
#sandhillcranemigration 
#sandhillcranesofinstagram 
#vergennes 
#adami 
#adamichigan 
#perfectaerodynamics 
#nikonprofessional 
#d5 
#nikond5 
#nikon500mmf56epf 
#blackandwhitephotography 
#puremichigan 
#grandrapids 
#grandrapidsmi 
#westmiphoto 
#westmichigan 
#westmichiganphotographer

Cirrus clouds over another beautiful summer day in Grand Rapids, MI.  I think we’ve hit 90 degrees once this whole summer - maybe twice. “It’s cooler by the lake” is more than just tourism tagline here.

@grandrapidsshooter
#puremichigan
#sayyestomichigan
#westmichigan
#cirrusclouds
#nikonD5
#nikonprofessionalservices
#adamichigan

The forest fire sunsets over Lake Michigan are fascinating.  More like Martian than terrestrial. 

@grandrapidsshooter
#grandhaven
#lakemichigan
#lighthouse
#greatlakes
#puremichigan
#westmichigan
#nikon

The Gerald R. Ford freeway over the Grand River, looking east.

@grandrapidsshooter 
#grandrapids 
#grandrapidsmi 
#fordfreeway 
#grandriver 
#puremichigan 
#experiencegr 
#experiencegrandrapids 
#msumedicalschool 
#secchiacenter 
#perrigo 
#grandvalleystateuniversity 
#spectrumbutterworth 
#ottawaave 
#collegeave 
#collegeavenue 
#nikon 
#nikond850 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikonprofessionalservices 
#thompsonphotos.com

The Kaye E. Barker sliding into Muskegon Lake on April 24, 2023 after spending 10 hours or so aground at the mouth of the lake.  None the worse for wear and wishing no one noticed.
@grandrapidsshooter 
#interlakesteamship 
#interlakesteamshipcompany 
#kayeebarker 
#muskegonlake 
#greatlakesfleet 
#nikonD5
#nikonprofessionalservices

::: CLICK ::: 
The Camp David perennials survived the drought and are in full bloom.  And the best part:  another year as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the NWF. 🌻🦆🐇🪺🦅

@grandrapidsshooter
#nationalwildlifefederation 
#certifiedwildlifehabitat 
#adamichigan 
#puremichigan 
#coneflowersofinstagram 
#coneflower 
#coneflowers 
#nikonphotography 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikonprofessionalservices 
#nikond850
#nikon105mmf/1.4
#experiencegr 
#experiencegrandrapids 
#sayyestomichigan 
#greatlakesstate #greatlakesproud

I shot this image of the Grand Haven pier and inner light last night at 9:00p.m. of what should be a blazing bright sun on June 28.  Instead, it looks more like late afternoon on Mars.  The smoke from the Canadian fires is so think it serves as a very effective filter used to watch a solar eclipse.  Look closely and you’ll see at least four groupings of sunspots.  Wow.

@grandrapidsshooter 
#grandhavenlighthouse 
#grandhavenmichigan 
#lakemichigan 
#puremichigan 
#westmichigan 
#greatlakesstate 
#canadianfires 
#canadianfiresmoke 
#waterwonderland 
#sayyestomichigan
#sunspots 
#nikond5 
#nikkor500mm
#nikonprofessionalservices 
#saskatchewanfires 
#canada🇨🇦 
#quebecjetaime

A beautiful late spring evening on Lake Michigan.  Sadly, the impressive glow of this orange sunset is brought to you by wildfires in Quebec.

@grandrapidsshooter
#lakemichigan 
#grandhaven
#grandhavenstatepark 
#westmichigan 
#greatlakesstate 
#greatlakesproud 
#puremichigan 
#nikonprofessionalservices 
#nikonpro
#nikond5 
#nikon500mm 
#temperatureinversion 
#sayyestomichigan 
#waterwonderland 
#quebecfires2023 
#ilovequebec 
#canada🇨🇦

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