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

Does anyone think they have a cooler office than me? Photographing the major restoration of the Michigan Capitol rotunda over the next nine months. This building is just so amazing. I’m standing on the oculus level, almost at the top. The oculus is what’s painted sky blue, with a field of stars when you look up into the rotunda from the ground floor of the capitol building. This level is roughly 16 stories above street level.
#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🇨🇦

The Doug & Maria DeVos Building on the corner of Lyon St. & Monroe Ave. is a huge improvement from the vintage 70s MichCon Gas HQ.

@grandrapidsshooter 
#dougandmariadevosfoundation 
#grandrapids 
#lyonstreet
#monroeavenue 
#puremichigan 
#grandaction 
#oldkentbankbuilding 
#universityclubgr 
#calderbuilding 
#freyfoundation 
#nikond5 
#nikonprofessionalservices 
#thompsonphotos 
#beercity 
#experiencegr
#realseafood

All roads lead to Campau Square.  I was scouting a photograph for a client and this vehicle went by me very fast. I don’t remember if it was a fire engine, a police car, a bus, or a superhero, but I liked it.

@grandrapidsshooter 
#grandrapidsmi 
#monroestreet
#windquestbuilding 
#reserverestaurant 
#amwaygrandplaza 
#pantlindhotel 
#calderbuilding 
#devosplace 
#mckaytower 
#happystpatricksday 
#nikond5 
#nikonprofessionalservices

The planetary alignment this week requires a very good imagination.  I found Venus and Jupiter.  Maybe you can see Venus at 12:00 high.  Jupiter is at 12:00 low, just above the starboard light on the north pier.  Mars & Uranus were tucked in close to them.  Mercury got lost in the sunset (I think). Oh well.  Pretty sunset.  Pretty and very, very cold!

@grandrapidsshooter
#grandhavenpier 
#grandhavenstatepark 
#lakemichigan 
#puremichigan 
#nikond5 

#nikon2470vr 
#nikon2470 
#nikonprofessional

The Windquest Building, home to Reserve and gets my vote for some of the coolest lighting.

@grandrapidsshooter
#windquestbuilding
#windquest⚓️ 
#grandrapids
#lyonstreet 
#monroestreet 
#nikond5
#nikkorpc-e24mm
#tiltshift 
#architecture 
#reserverestaurant 
#devosplace 
#thompsonphotos 
#architecturalphotography
#starsouttonight
#gillettbridge

Cold, drizzle, fog, and yet out city on the Grand still looks great!
@grandrapidsshooter 
#grandrapids
#grandrapidsmi 
#grpm 
#grandrapidspublicmuseum 
#grandvalleystateuniversity 
#grandriver 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikond5 
#bluebridge 
#jwmarriott
#amwaygrand 
#pearlstreetbridge

One of the proud Scottish Highlands steer of Cascade, looking tough and grazing in 18 inches of snow.

So I went out tonight to shoot comet C/2022 E3, because tonight it is nearest to the Earth and brightest. Unfortunately, on top of p/c to m/c skies and -10 windchill, the full moon is tomorrow, conveniently rendering anything dimmer than Venus practically invisible. 

I'm told this weekend the comet will begin to fade as it heads out towards Pluto and beyond for the next 50,000 years. But with a full moon tomorrow, and the new moon not until February 20, tonight might have been the last best chance. Crap. 

But hey, when all else fails, shoot the moon! It's so much easier to find. 
(Nikon D5 w/ Nikkor 500mm @ 1/1600s @ f/10 @ ISO 400)

@grandrapidsshooter 
#moon
#luna
#NikonD5
#nikonprofessional

Autumn colors and clouds over Ada, MI near the Grand Rapids Polo Club.

@grandrapidsshooter 
#fallcolors 
#adamichigan 
#vergennes 
#grandrapids 
#grandrapidsmi 
#grandrapidsmichigan
#puremichigan 
#sayyestomichigan 
#kentcountymichigan 
#westmichigan 
#westmi
#nikond850 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikkor24-70f/2.8

Looking east over close to two miles worth of Bridge/Michigan Streets at sunset.  I was shooting from the western edge of the Grand River Valley, through the west side, under the US 131 S-curve, over the Grand River, up the east bank of the Grand River Valley, past the Medical Mile to Lafayette Ave.
@grandrapidsshooter 
#grandrapids 
#grandrapidsmichigan 
#bridgestreet 
#medicalmile 
#puremichigan 
#grwestside 
#experiencegr 
#experiencegrandrapids 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikond850 
#500mm
#helendevoschildrenshospital 
#helendevos 
#vanandelinstitute 
#vanandelinstitute❣️ 
#immanuellutheranchurch 
#westsidebusinessassociation 
#cookdevoscenter 
#cookdevos
#steelcat 
#atwaterbrewery 
#therowegr 
#msuresearchcenter 
#msumedicalschool 
#msucollegeofmedicine 
#msucollegeofhumanmedicine 
#spectrumhealth 
#beatchildhoodcancer❤️🎗 
#grandvalleyuniversity

Mallards on the Thornapple River at dusk. 

@grandrapidsshooter
#thornapppleriver
#mallards 
#puremichigan 
#sayyestomichigan 
#westmichigan 
#nikond850 
#nikonprofessional 
#light

I came home to find some neighborhood kids on my lawn.

@grandrapidsshooter
#whitetail 
#whitetaildeer 
#whitetailfawns
#puremichigan 
#adamichigan 
#grandrapids 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikond850
#whitetaildeer 
#fawns

A beautiful Saturday night with live jazz at Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids.

@grandrapidsshooter 
#grandrapids 
#parkscircle 
#monroemall 
#rosaparkscircle 
#mckaytower 
#amwaygrand
#puremichigan 
#gram 
#grartmuseum 
#westmichigan 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikond850 
#nikond850prophotographer

It must be July if the Milky Way and Andromeda are directly over my house.
Bonus: no wildfire smoke (so far).
@grandrapidsshooter
#adamichigan 
#grandrapids 
#experiencegr 
#grandrapidsmi 
#puremichigan 
#milkyway 
#andromeda 
#andromedagalaxy 
#chezthompson 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikond850 
#nikond850photography
#nikon14mmf2.8
#campdavidmichigan

Chez Thompson in summer colors.  Or as my friend Mike calls it, “Camp David.” 😄

@grandrapidsshooter 
#adamichigan
#puremichigan 
#experiencegrandrapids 
#experiencegr
#experiencegrandrapids 
#gerberdaisy 
#blackeyedsusan 
#coneflower
#japanesemaple 
#catnip 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikonprofessionalservices 
#nikond850 
#nikond850prophotographer 
#nikkor24-70mm2.8

This year’s Eastern Purple Coneflowers of Camp David are as photogenic as ever. I love a hearty perennial that gets sturdier and bigger every year. 

Purple Coneflower is a member of the Echinacea species used to make a popular herbal tea, said to help strengthen the immune system. 

The genus name is from the Greek “echino,” meaning hedgehog, an allusion to the spiny, brownish central disk. 

@grandrapidsshooter 
#adamichigan #coneflower #coneflowersofinstagram 
#coneflower
#puremichigan 
#experiencegrandrapids 
#experiencegr
#experiencegrandrapids 
#nikonprofessional 
#nikonprofessionalservices 
#nikond850 
#nikond850prophotographer 
#nikkor105mm1.4
#campdavidmichigan

The GR skyline on May 12, 2022.  The city never seemed so purple until now.
@grandrapidsshooter 
#grandrapids 
#westmichigan 
#grandriver 
#grandriverconservationauthority 
#amwaygrand 
#amwaygrandplaza 
#jwmarriottgrandrapids
#gillettbridge
#puremichigan 
#experiencegr 
#experiencegrandrapids 
#nikonpro 
#nikonprofessionalservices 
#nikond850prophotographer 
#nikond850official

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