Aerial Portfolio: Video
Title: An Aerial Perspective of the Grand Traverse Region
Role: Drone pilot, editor
A dramatic exploration of regional landscapes, set to a reflective piano piece. From slow-motion waves on Lake Michigan’s shores to the winding Betsie River and the rolling hills of Old Mission Peninsula, each aerial shot lingers on the region’s natural beauty. Captured with care, this montage offers a peaceful perspective on familiar places.
Aerial Portfolio: Still Photographs
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A winding river bend filled with Manoomin (Zizania palustris) weaves through an expansive wetland, its dark waters contrasting with the vibrant green grasses and aquatic plants. The marshland extends to the horizon, with subtle variations in vegetation density creating a textured landscape.
The Lake Michigan shoreline looking south from Elberta Beach glows under the golden light of sunset. Rolling dunes and sandy trails stretch along the coast, meeting the deep blue waters of the lake. Gentle waves ripple toward the shore, and the distant bluffs fade into a hazy horizon.
Grass Lake near Interlochen is surrounded by dense forest, with its calm blue waters contrasting against the green marshlands that encircle it. The wetland vegetation transitions into a thick tree line, while the sky above is a clear, deep blue, stretching endlessly over the tranquil scene.
Dead Stream Rd. Crossing over the North Branch Platte River showcases a meandering waterway weaving through a lush, green forest. The winding river snakes beneath a straight, paved road that cuts through the dense foliage, creating a striking contrast between nature and infrastructure.
The Upper Betsie River flows through a sprawling wetland, its reflective waters mirroring the sky. The surrounding landscape is covered in vibrant green grasses and patches of darker vegetation. The river twists and turns, creating a natural pattern of curves and oxbows.
A pine plantation stretches in neat, geometric rows across a rolling landscape. The precisely spaced trees create a mesmerizing pattern of repeating lines, while a single dirt road cuts diagonally through the plantation, adding a contrasting element to the structured scene.
The Lake Michigan shoreline looking south from Elberta Beach is illuminated by the warm hues of sunrise or sunset. The sloping dunes and evergreen trees are bathed in golden light, while the water shimmers with gentle waves. Above, a sky filled with soft clouds adds depth to the scene.
A winding stretch of the Upper Betsie River snakes through a vast wetland, its mirrored surface reflecting the sky. The surrounding landscape is a mosaic of green and golden marshland, shaped by the movement of water and time.
A sweeping aerial view of the tip of Old Mission Peninsula, where dense forest meets the deep blues of Grand Traverse Bay. A curving shoreline hugs the land, with a winding road disappearing into the trees.
A dense mat of lily pads (Nymphaea spp. and Nuphar spp.) floats on still, dark water. Leaves range from deep green to tinged with autumn reds and yellows, their surfaces textured with the marks of a changing season.
The clear, shifting blues of Lake Michigan lap against a sandy shoreline, the water’s gradient transitioning from pale green near the shore to deep turquoise. The beach stretches into the distance, edged by dunes and sparse vegetation.
Waves roll in along Elberta Beach, their crests catching the late-day light. Frankfort Harbor’s breakwall extends into the lake, leading toward the lighthouse, with warm, golden dunes in the foreground.
An aerial perspective of Crystal Lake, its calm, glassy surface reflecting the sky. The sandy shoreline curves along the water’s edge, meeting the tree-covered ridges that surround the lake.
A rugged Lake Michigan shoreline unfolds southward from Elberta Beach, where sand dunes, patches of evergreens, and leafless trees meet rolling waves. The lake stretches to the horizon under a heavy sky.
A meandering river curves through a vast expanse of Manoomin (Zizania palustris) and wetland grasses. The green landscape is shaped by water, while the wind moves through the tall rice, shifting its surface in rhythmic waves.
The historic Point Betsie Lighthouse sits atop a narrow strip of dune, its white walls and red roof standing against the teal waves of Lake Michigan. The shoreline is lined with protective barriers, remnants of an ongoing battle with erosion.
An overhead perspective of Point Betsie Lighthouse and its surrounding buildings. The red-roofed structures contrast with the swirling greens and blues of the lake, where waves break against the shore in endless repetition.
A winding stretch of the Betsie River carves through a dense hardwood forest, its banks ablaze with autumn color. The fiery hues of sugar maples contrast with the cool, dark water, which reflects the sky in fragmented patches.