Films

I have been creating films since late 2017. While some capture my love of Northern Michigan, some are also creative idea projects.

December 2017 - Northern Michigan Insane Asylum

First film I ever shot and edited together. I have a great love for old buildings filled with history, so I am delighted that this could be my first film. Lots of room to improve though with practice.

I didn’t know anything about music, so it is quite amazing this turned out fairly well from the stock choices on iMovie.

January 2018 - Mornings with Fin

I had signed up for a filming online course using your mobile phone. As much as I wanted to use my dslr, I knew that the phone would be a lot easier.

At the time, the only dog in our lives was Findley the grand dog, so he got the starring role as I worked on projects for the course.

January 2018 - Delivery Service

Learning to incorporate a story line more and more. Also using more titles in it. Still exploring music possibilities.

February 2018 - Paisley Photo Walk

This week in the course, we were charged with going out on a walk. Obviously, another thing covered was slow motion, which does add a nice element.

I have always loved self-portraiture photography, filming was a continuation on of that idea.

February 2018 - A Northern Weekend

A weekend away in Northern Michigan with friends.

A combination of motion and tranquility in my favorite place.

February 2018 - Winter at Grammy’s House

The adventures of Findley the Grand dog continue. That dog would be outside no matter what the weather.

February 2018 - Fin Turns Two

I made a film for Findley’s 2nd birthday for my daughter to have as a precious memory. Since I didn’t have a lot of film clips of him as a puppy, this used a lot of still photographs. Then the trick is to use fairly fast transitions so it still feels like it is moving.

This is the first one where I feel I really got the music and the sequence of clips timed right.

February 2018

Part of the film making course was also to do a 30 day film. A few clips everyday to combine into a film about the month.

This is the first time I really combined atmospheric sounds layered along with the music soundtrack.

March 2018 - Adventures of a Wanderer

A whole film shot in a day. One that required a tripod, and some serious handholding, especially while driving. No worries though, I made sure there were no other cars around when I was shooting.

This is very indicative of the early years of my photography and blogging. I would pack the car for the day with my camera, some snacks, and clothing layers, and explore the backroads of my state. Photographing things that delighted me along the way.

March 2018 - Butterfly Exhibit

My daughter took a much needed day off from work so we could have a play day. We went to the butterfly exhibit that happens at a local botanic and sculpture garden every spring. The movement of the butterflies was so much more interesting filming over still photographs.

March 2018 - The Idle Hour

My first film of a creative, fictional nature. I did not have a written story or storyboard this, but the scenes did come together in my head.

While not shot in black and white, I did convert to black and white for unity throughout the story.

April 2018 - Day 1 of Leelenau Vacation

Our little family of three has been vacationing in Northern Michigan, specifically the Leelanau Peninsula for over twenty years now. It is a place that has captured all of our hearts.

I have photographed it many times, but armed with new film making skills this year, we decided to make a collaborative film of our vacation. We all used our iPhones and I put it together in iMovie. Findley, our daughter's golden retriever tends to be the star of each film. I decided to make a short film of each day, instead of one long film of the whole week.

April 2018 - Day 2 Leelanau Vacation

April 2018 - Day 3 Leelanau Vacation

April 2018 - Day 4 Leelanau Vacation

This one includes a look inside the some of the buildings at the Insane Asylum.

April 2018 - Day 5 Leelanau Vacation

April 2018 - Day 6 Leelanau Vacation

April 2018 - Day 7 Leelanau Vacation

April 2018 - Day 8 Leelanau Vacation

Final Day. Going Home.

March 2019

Almost a whole year went by and I did little to no filming. But in March, the same teacher who had taught the online film making course issued a 30 day filming challenge.

In a year’s time we had added a puppy of our own, Atticus. He was five months old when I shot this, so past the worst of the puppy stage. He loves riding in the car with all his heart, first dog I have ever had for that.

My husband and I also went on a cruise for a week for his work.

April 2019 - 2nd Annual Farmhouse Vacation

April, and we are back at the Airbnb farmhouse in Leelanau that we had rented the year before. This time with an additional dog, and no snow this year when we arrived.

April 2019

Bit of a wet vacation, and my back went out early in the trip. Thankfully it recovered quickly. My husband’s whole goal for the trip was to get our dog, Atticus, in the water and to swim. He didn’t. And still doesn’t like to go in the water.

April 2019 - Love of Northern Michigan

A bit of a mash up of the whole trip. This one includes inside scenes of the asylum as well.

March 2019 - Michigan Weather

I didn’t get this one edited until after our vacation, hence it being out of order.

There must be a 30 day filming challenge every March, or that is when I feel most motivated.

July 2021 - Northern Michigan Insane Asylum

July 19, our 35th Anniversary, and we stayed on the grounds of the asylum for four nights. There is a renovated building with condos, and retail. Some of the condos are Airbnbs.

It was the perfect place to celebrate, and four days of wandering this amazing buildings made me so happy.

September 2021 - The Journey

I was asked to do a video for an art group that I am in, something that represented who I am. My art, all of it, has always been about the Journey. For part of that video for them, I created a short film using the words of Mary Oliver’s poem The Journey and my own creativity. This was the first film where I used storyboarding in the prep work. I storyboarded out each line of the poem, a very helpful process.