Notes from the Woods

seeing · environment · exploration · photography
Sempiternus Occasum

Sempiternus Occasum

Petrification is a process that always fascinated me. An organic living thing that becomes fossilized. Yet it isn't something that becomes frozen in time, it is something that becomes an embodiment of time. It may look like this static thing - but the organic...

read more
Michigan Ice Storm

Michigan Ice Storm

Last night we were hit with a pretty big ice storm, just as forecasted earlier in the week. The weather folks can take the win on this one - they warned us well in advance. At first, it didn't seem like it would be so bad. But as darkness fell, I noticed the tree...

read more
Seeking Pathways to Light

Seeking Pathways to Light

Mycologist Paul Stamets often refers to the mycorrhizal network within the Earth's soil as "nature's internet." Through these mycelial pathways, author/scientist Dr. Suzanne Simard explains how trees communicate with each other. Director James Cameron portrays...

read more
Snow-covered River Birch

Snow-covered River Birch

We had our first good drop of snow here in Southeast Michigan this week. Despite some brutally cold temperatures we had prior to Christmas, winter around here seemed a bit delayed - at least visually. The lakes are behind in freezing over. And it just never feels like...

read more
Blue Spruce

Blue Spruce

I've been finding pieces of blue spruce trees around my backyard a lot lately. I am not sure what animal is responsible for breaking off these healthy portions of the tree, but I wish they would knock it off. Blue Spruce trees here in Michigan have enough pressure on...

read more
Great Lakes ice cover

Great Lakes ice cover

The Great Lakes are a bit below normal as far as ice cover for this time in January at only 2.9%. But similar to past years, a lot can change in just a matter of a couple weeks. The little tilted heart-shaped lake down by Detroit is Lake St. Clair, where I do a lot of...

read more
Twenty Twenty-Two

Twenty Twenty-Two

For year sixteen of posting yearly favorites, I can say I spent more time in my head (and the office) than out in the field. In fact, 2022 can also be designated as the year (perhaps the very first in a long time) when I didn't go out to photograph a single sunrise or...

read more
Color of the Year 2023 Viva Magenta

Color of the Year 2023 Viva Magenta

Viva Magenta is unveiled as the Color of the Year for 2023 by Pantone®. For me, it certainly isn't a hue I think of when I think "magenta" - but I am influenced by the pinkish variety that is consumed voraciously by inkjet printers I've owned over the years than the...

read more
A word of thanks

A word of thanks

Just a quick note to drop some gratitude to the readers of my little corner of the online world. I appreciate the continued visits and comments, despite my haphazard posting schedule. I wish I had a knack for maintaining some type of regularity, but I'll put that on...

read more