PREPARING FOR BEACH SEASON

As the brisk and chilling mornings soon become a memory, our thoughts lead back to warmer and happier times.  This comes from a trip I took last summer and imagine I will be revisiting this site in near future. Otsego Lake State Park is located up North near the sleepy Alpine Village of Gaylord, Michigan.

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Sunset on Otsego Lake

Established as a state park in 1920, Otsego Lake State Park is shaded with large oak, maple and pine trees while spanning 62 acres and providing more than a half mile of sandy beach and large campgrounds near or within sight of the lake. Whether you want to absorb the rays while on the beach, catch some trout or camp out for the weekend, Otsego lake checks all the boxes for nice relaxing and serene weekend.

Anchors Away

Today's photo comes from a photowalk with a group headed by Alanna St.Laurent in downtown Detroit.  We visited a few locations on a chilly winter evening to get some great night photographs of the Motor City.

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The Princess riverboat cruises are generally 2-3 hours long, traveling from Hart Plaza to Belle Isle, and back. The boat hosts dinner cruises, fall color cruises, moonlight cruises and dinner cruises. The boat is available to book for private parties when you want to take it to the next level. This is something to consider during the dog days of summer for some great sunset shots of Detroit or when you are looking to make a serious splash for a special occasion .

WAITING FOR A BUS

Every year as summer comes to a close, I end up in Chicago to witness the spectacular Chicago Air and Water Show which showcases some of the finest acrobatics in Aviation known to mankind. Unfortunately, mother nature was unwilling to cooperate this year causing the show to be dramatically downsized and limited to one day. 

Later that evening I ventured around the city to capture some photos of the vibrant city scene. After visiting numerous attractions throughout city while enduring a constant light rain, I headed back to my hotel via the world famous Michigan Avenue. With the addition of the nameplate being added to Trump tower, it was now possible to capture a small portion of the landmark while still remaining recognizable to most people who do not frequent Chicago. I positioned myself on a bridge noticing the famed Wrigley building in background and composed the image capturing both landmarks. As a light mist continued to fall, I incessantly wiped the lens clean as I waited for a bus to enter the scene in order to provide the broad light trails for an extra emphasis to the photo. A four second exposure proved to be ideal to capture the scene - good thing- since I waited another 20 minutes and witness very little traffic. This just goes to show that timing is critical and half the battle is simply being in the right place at the right time.

TAKING FLIGHT - THE CHICAGO AIR SHOW

As the temperatures in the midwest begin to dip, I cannot help but reflect back on the warmer memories of summertime. 

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Blue Angels Moving Up

Every August, The City of Chicago along with Shell Oil Products US hosts The Chicago Air And Water Show, which happens to be the largest free show of its kind in the entire United States. Visitors from all over the world inhabit the Windy city during this weekend to witness one of the greatest spectacles in Aviation, The infamous Blue Angels. 

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Blue Angels in Action

The Blue Angels represent the some of the most highly trained pilots in the world. The commanding officer known as "Boss" must have accumulated a minimum of 3000 tactical jet flight-hours while the other members of the fleet must need a minimum of 1250 hours to be eligible for admission to this elite squadron. The Angels have an extensive travel schedule and can be seen in a city near you. I highly recommend experiencing this spectacular and invigoration display - there is simply nothing quite like it.

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Team Aeroshell in Action 

The Aeroshell Aerobatic Team seen above has quite a following of its own. Perhaps not as famous as the Blue Angels, they are more than capable of stealing the show. They can be seen entertaining families throughout the country on weekends and have recently been inducted into the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Hall of Fame.

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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Team

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University was founded just two decades after the Wright Brothers history-making flight. The institution is a highly respected authority on aviation and aerospace providing education in the fields of research, marketing, engineering, manufacturing and management of modern aircraft systems. There are over 150 campus locations throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and the Middle East. The University is represented at numerous air shows throughout the world. 

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The final plunge

The Chicago Airshow provides ample entertainment for young and old alike. There is no better place to spend your day on a warm summer afternoon than consuming the breezes of Lake Michigan while dipping your toes in the sand.